Hospitality IT solutions specialists, Avenue9, is delighted to announce that it has been awarded a one-year contract to operate as an outsourced IT Director for the luxury 163-acre Galgorm Resort and Spa – incorporating a spa village, three restaurants, 122 bedrooms and 12 self-catering cottages and cabins – at Ballymena in County Antrim, Northern Ireland.
“This is an extremely exciting project,” said Avenue9 Managing Director Kevin Edwards. “Galgorm Resort and Spa is a highly successful business that has plans for growth, with a new-build development due to open in Belfast in late 2016, early 2017. Prior to being awarded the one-year IT Director contract, Avenue9 was engaged by Galgorm to conduct an inter-departmental audit which examined every hotel system from an operational standpoint. Working closely with the Resort’s department management and staff, the audit highlighted opportunities to drive efficiencies, functional and integration challenges, as well as the need to re-engage with certain IT vendors.
“Like many hoteliers, Payment Card Industry compliance is high on the agenda and we have conducted a PCI Compliance Gap Analysis and currently are working with Galgorm towards achieving full compliance, as part of our contract to operate as an outsourced IT Director for the luxury resort and spa.”
In response to the inter-departmental IT audit, Avenue 9 is currently engaged in implementing remedial solutions and developing a long-term IT strategy for Galgorm, with built-in potential for expansion and diversification. There have been some quick wins in terms of upgrading a number of key systems, such as Golf and Spa Management and Human Resources Management.
Commenting on Avenue9’s work at the hotel, Galgorm Resort and Spa General Manager Colin Johnston said: “We have been working with Avenue 9 for six months now. During this time, they have been instrumental in helping us complete a number of IT projects; and we are currently working on a future three-year plan with Avenue9 on all our in-house systems. The knowledge, expertise and advice which we have received so far – along with the results – have been fantastic. We are looking forward to working with Avenue9 over the coming year.”
As an independent organisation, not aligned to any particular product or vendor, Avenue9 is in an ideal position to advise on this process and assist Galgorm Resort and Spa in selecting and operating a suite of IT hospitality systems that will work best together – to service the business, maximise its potential, and support any future plans for growth and diversification as efficiently and effectively as possible.
Galgorm Resort and Spa joins the ever growing portfolio of Avenue9 clients – that currently includes major brands such as: The Gleneagles Hotel, The Hotel Collection, SACO (The Serviced Apartment Company), Generator Hostels, Redefine BDL Hotels, Bourne Leisure and Watergate Bay Hotel in Cornwall.
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Pictured (left to right): Mark Jelley, Hospitality Consultant, Avenue9, with Colin Johnston, General Manager, Galgorm Resort and Spa
Notes to Editors:
Avenue9 – a division of JLL Hotels & Hospitality Group – is a highly experienced IT solutions delivery company, specially designed to take the fear out of IT systems management in the hospitality industry through a clearly defined, seamless and independent bespoke approach to solving client IT challenges.
Based on their extensive industry experience and market knowledge, Avenue9’s Co-founder/Managing Director Kevin Edwards and Co-founder/Sales and Marketing Director Philippa Witheat identified a key challenge common to many hospitality Finance and IT directors – namely, the need for a seamless and independent approach to managing a multitude of vendor relationships and disparate systems, often inappropriate to the nature of many hospitality and leisure operations.
Avenue9 have been and are currently involved in, the following types of projects:
For further information:
Philippa Witheat |
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+44 (0)191 269 6956 +44 (0)773 922 4062 |
Avenue9, Clavering House, Clavering Place, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 3NG
Or: Dr Julian Demetriadi FIH PhD, Managing Director, CommunicationsPoint,
Email: julian@communicationspoint.net;
iPhone: 07585 505 309; Work: 01722 238 627
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