Caterer and Hotelkeeper – 6382

POS-linked swipe unit

New from Welcome Computer Systems is a credit-card swipe unit which is fully integrated with its POS system and the front desk. This integration of a swipe unit with networked EPoS and the hotel PMS is believed to be the first of its type for the hospitality industry.

The POS system is now offered with on-line credit card authorisation. A single phone line from a computer can serve up to 16 swipe readers in bars and restaurants, as well as the front desk.

The system checks the "hot card file" and individual floor limits before automatically dialling up for authorisation if required. At the end of the day the polling bureau collects the transactions which are consolidated with the Welcome business report.

Information also transfers automatically to the guest record and the system has built-in security features to prevent misuse.

The system has already been approved by major credit card payment acquirers, including Barclays Merchant Services.

Among the first customers for the unit are Premier House, part of Greenalls Group, which installed the system at the South Marston Arms and Leisure Club, near Swindon, and is now extending it to other hotels in the group.

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Software savings

Navion Fabco Systems has installed its Master Series property management system at the Old Swan Hotel, Harrogate.

Grant Lowe, front office manager at the 135-bedroom hotel, has identified costsavings in installing thesoftware, which frees employees "to do more productive tasks related to guest-based services".

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