Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants needed a technology partner that could provide software, knew how to centralize information technology and understood Kimpton dynamics. To meet those needs, Kimpton, with 38 boutique hotels in 14 states, formed an interdepartmental team.

“Our primary goal was to select a technology investment that would allow us to implement standardization within our properties and improve the processes throughout the organization in order to reduce costs, improve services, grow our company and continue to grow our profitability,” says Alan Baer, Kimpton vice president and controller.

The first focus was the property management system at the core of the implementation; Kimpton had to make sure the IT partner it selected would have enterprise software to enhance the functionality of the PMS. “We are successfully installing what we believe to be the next-generation solution for lodging,” says Andrew Furrer, director of information technology at Kimpton. The Windows-based PMS solution currently being installed on the properties will be followed by central reservation management, central rate & availability management, distribution channel management, central guest management and web reservation management software, all in an Internet-native application. “Our hotels will be able to manage guest, rate and availability information centrally,” Furrer says. “This solution gives us the critical tools for managing up-to-the minute performance analysis.”

Ultimately, Kimpton's internal consulting team selected Hotel Information Systems, a technology partner that would address the needs of the flag. “Kimpton Hotels made a thorough search for a technology partner that would provide them the next-generation solutions,” says James Dolan, HIS chief financial and operating officer.