Crowne Plaza Hunter Valley
Shortly after opening in October 2006, Crowne Plaza Hunter Valley enhanced its position as a place for business and leisure travellers to meet and stay connected with a significant technological upgrade. Working with communications integrator Integ, Crowne Plaza Hunter Valley introduced a converged voice and data system, comprising more than 500 Internet protocol-based telephony handsets and associated equipment such as wireless access.
The new technology enabled the resort to run multiple services and applications across a single network, including wireless high-speed Internet and Wi-Fi services, point of sale transactions for real-time processing of guest orders via handheld terminals and digital video-on-demand technology integrated with more than 200 LCD televisions in hotel rooms and villas.
What’s more, the network allowed connectivity of a new electronic door lock system supporting both magnetic and smart keycards, rolled out across Crowne Plaza Hunter Valley’s 324 deluxe hotel rooms and self-contained two- and three-bedroom villas, restaurants and bars, Tea Tree Spa, Kids’ Club and nine meeting rooms.
The resort worked with Vintech Systems to implement the electronic locking system, choosing from a range by Saflok, manufacturers of the world’s first electronic lock.
For maximum security, the locks record and retain a memory of each time a keycard is used by guests and keycards are encoded with vital guest information such as time and duration of stay as well as location-specific access permission.
Guest rooms were also fitted with Saflok digital safes, supplied and installed by Vintech.
The implementation of these new technologies effectively streamlined Crowne Plaza Hunter Valley’s back-office processes, reducing telecommunication costs, increasing staff efficiencies, boosting connectivity and improving responsiveness. Crowne Plaza Hunter Valley was able to achieve a true mobile office for business and leisure travellers in a luxurious environment, surrounded by picturesque vine-lined countryside and the resort’s own 18-hole golf course, just two hours from Sydney.
Hotel Facts
Opened: October 2006
Floors: Two
Rooms: 324 deluxe hotel rooms and self-contained two- and three-bedroom villas
Restaurants and bars: Redsalt Restaurant, star anise restaurant, Grapevine Cafe-Bar, Vista Lounge
Meeting rooms: Nine
Setting:
Less than two hours drive north of Sydney, surrounded by picturesque vineyards and its own golf course, award-winning Crowne Plaza Hunter Valley features a range of deluxe hotel and villa-style two- and three-bedroom self-contained apartments.
Key features:
Crowne Plaza Hunter Valley offers the only complimentary supervised kids club of any hotel in the Hunter Valley. While the kids make the most of the play equipment, evening cinema and supervised activities at Water Dragons Kids Club (kids aged 3-12), parents can sneak away to enjoy the resort’s extensive leisure facilities.
Leisure facilities:
Include Tea Tree Spa, 18-hole golf course, choice of restaurants or bars, 24-hour gym and fitness centre, barbeques, three tennis courts, basketball court, pool and outdoor spa.
Meetings and events:
Crowne Plaza Hunter Valley offers a range of purpose-built meeting facilities and numerous special event options, including a 500 -square -metre pergola and lawn suitable for large marquee set-ups for up to 1000 guests.
What’s nearby:
Must see: The Hunter Valley Gardens spanning over 60 acres of display gardens that will amaze with sensational sights, colours and fragrances.
Must do: Visit some of the numerous cellar doors and wineries in the local area to sample the wines from region, or take advantage of one of the festivals held in the region such as Lovedale Long Lunch and Jazz and Opera in the Vines.
Local attractions:
Hot Air Ballooning (0.1 KM)
Hunter Valley Visitor Information Centre (0.1 KM)
Hunter Wine Helicopters (0.1 KM)
Hunter Valley Wineries (1 KM)
Hungerford Hill and Terroir Restaurant (2 KM)
Hunter Valley Gardens (5 KM)
Small Winemakers Centre (5 KM)
Tyrrell’s Vineyards (8 KM)
Mt Pleasant Wines (10 KM)
Bimbadgen Estate (10 KM)
Orlando Wyndham Estate and Winery (17 KM
Wollombi National Park (25 KM)
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