Challenge.

The Hotel Deimann in Schmallenberg is idyllically situated in the Sauerland region and is known far beyond its borders for its luxurious service and unique combination of historic architecture and modern comfort. As the only five-star hotel in the region, it offers its guests not only relaxation, but also a wide range of activities and culinary experiences. A reliable IT infrastructure is essential for the smooth operation of such a sophisticated hotel. This not only supports the administration and service, but also numerous amenities that make guests' stay something very special - from room bookings to the control of comfort systems and digital concierge services. Naturally, this also includes WLAN in all rooms and public areas. However, when the existing network infrastructure at Hotel Deimann became less reliable, the IT manager looked for a new solution that would be easy to administer and, above all, stable and reliable. The new switches and their control system had to be modern and future-proof, meet all current security requirements and be able to cope with future expansions and requirements without any problems. They also had to be flexible enough to cover the diverse requirements of a large hotel and be available at all times. At the same time, it was important that the solution could be easily integrated into the hotel's existing processes and systems to ensure a smooth transition.


Thanks to Bechtle's excellent work, the changeover to the new Cisco Meraki infrastructure went absolutely smoothly and met our expectations in every respect. We are delighted with the reliability and ease of administration of the new solution. The implementation by Bechtle was also excellent, we didn't notice anything in our daily operations. The new switch infrastructure gives us the security of being able to continue to offer our guests the first-class service they are accustomed to. We are delighted that, thanks to Bechtle, we are now using reliable technology that is ideally equipped for the future

Andreas Deimann, Managing Director Hotel Deimann


Solution.

Hotel Deimann and Bechtle have enjoyed a trusting partnership for many years. As part of a support contract, a technical specialist from Bechtle was regularly on site and therefore knew the infrastructure very well. Due to the requirements of Hotel Deimann, it was clear from the outset that Cisco components should be used for the new network. They offer centralized and intuitive management via a cloud-based dashboard that allows the hotel's IT department to efficiently control and monitor the entire network. During a meeting with Bechtle and Cisco, Hotel Deimann was able to see the performance of the Cisco Meraki products in conjunction with the cloud solution for itself. What's more, Hotel Deimann was able to experience the benefits of this technology first-hand during a test installation of the Cisco Meraki switches. The switches are flexible enough to meet the requirements of a large hotel like Hotel Deimann, they are energy-efficient and easy to install. However, their key advantage is cloud-based management. This allows the hotel to monitor and control the entire network via a central dashboard. The IT department can see what is happening in the network at all times. The remote diagnostics and remote configuration functions are also particularly helpful when scaling the network. Potential problems can be identified at an early stage and additional resources can be provided easily if required. This flexibility and efficiency, as well as the numerous functions of the Meraki Dashboard, made the Meraki switches the ideal choice for the Deimann Hotel for a reliable and future-proof IT infrastructure. Bechtle not only advised on the selection of suitable switches, but also carried out the implementation. After a complete inventory of all existing switches and the planning of the replacement, Bechtle configured all Cisco Meraki switches. The access switches were replaced first, followed by the core switches, which form the heart of the network. Bechtle took great care not to disrupt hotel operations. Finally, Hotel Deimann and Bechtle carried out extensive tests to ensure that the new Cisco Meraki switches functioned perfectly.


Advantages/benefits.

Through the targeted and careful implementation of the new Cisco Meraki infrastructure, Bechtle created a future-proof and robust network infrastructure across the entire Hotel Deimann site. Thanks to centralized management via the cloud, the entire network is controlled via a dashboard without having to log into each device individually. This simplifies administration and configuration. VLANs can now be created centrally and with just a few clicks, allowing the hotel to adapt flexibly to new circumstances. The numerous automatisms integrated into the Cisco Meraki Dashboard make it possible, for example, to define port groups and apply these settings to all relevant ports simultaneously. In this way, even complex network interventions can be carried out quickly and efficiently and new ideas can be implemented directly and easily. The result: an adaptable network that works reliably and provides a robust basis for the Hotel Deimann's guest WLAN, among other things