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Most hotels I have stayed at offer neither bad nor incredibly good service. At every hotel, I get a comfortable bed, cable television, and a hot shower. Your hotel doesn't have to be mediocre by offering “us too” services. Below are 4 ways to take your customer service to the next level.

1. Find out why the guest is in town

By finding out why the guest is staying in town, you may be able to do something extra special for them. If a couple is staying for their anniversary, wouldn't it be nice to give them a card or a complimentary dessert to show your congratulations?

2. Offer value-added services at check-in

Many hotels offer food service and wake-up calls. However, most hotels wait for the customer to request these services rather than informing the guest during check-in.  Every attendant should end the check in procedure by saying things like:

“Mr. Smith you're almost all set. Would you like to schedule a wake-up call for tomorrow morning?”

“If you are hungry, you can call our food service. There will be a menu on the telephone table in your room.”

“Is there anything else I can help you with?”

3. Use room phones with programmable buttons

Offering a modern phone with easy one-touch dialing for food service, wake-up call scheduling, taxi cab requests, and luggage assistance will please your guests by saving them time and hassle. At Telcom & Data, we recommend the Scitec T5-08 telephone.  It has 5 programmable buttons, one-touch message retrieval, and customizable volume controls. The phone packs a lot of value into a very economical price. Learn more here.

4. Send guests a hand-written thank you note

Didn’t your mother teach you to say thank you? A handwritten thank you card from the attendant that checked in the guest will make sure they remember the extraordinary customer service they experienced during their stay. The next time someone asks them for a hotel recommendation, your hotel will be the first one mentioned.

Final thought

Little things make a big difference with customers and will differentiate you from your competitors. I hope these tips make your hotel the best in town!

Telcom & Data, a leader in business phone systems, is proud to introduce the Partner 18D series 2 telephone from Avaya. Avaya is known for producing world-class phones and this unit fits right into their product line. Practical features make the phone extremely user-friendly.

The 18D Partner phone has a backlit display to show the number dialed and caller information for incoming calls. The viewing angle of the display is adjustable, ensuring great visibility. An auxiliary port makes it easy to connect devices to the phone such as answering machines, extra telephones, headsets, and credit card readers. The phone is easily personalized with 16 customizable buttons and 14 steps of volume adjustments. Built-in conference, transfer, hold, and speaker buttons enhance productivity.

When Ricardo Trinidad, President of Telecom & Data, was asked about the Partner 18D Series 2 Phone, he said, “This Phone has been extremely popular with our customers. It’s an affordable unit that delivers all the features office workers demand.”

For more information on the Partner 18D series 2 telephone, visit Telcom & Data’s website or call 1-800-335-0229.

Working from home is on the rise!  Whether your running a start-up business  or telecommuting , we have the equipment to get you going.  Let’s take a look at a sample home office.

1)      Advantage A4 Computer Desk from Guardian Case & Cabinet

Every office needs a desk.  We recommend Advantage computer desks because of their durability and performance.  Advantage computer desks are ruggedly constructed with heavy-duty steel to ensure strength and longevity. The storage drawers and overhead compartments are lockable. Many accessories can be added to the units including peninsulas, cable management solutions, and LCD flat-panel display mounts. Learn more.

2)      Partner 18D Series 2 Telephone from Avaya

Your at-home office needs a high-performance phone to ensure professionalism and efficiency.  The Partner 18D Series 2 phone from Avaya features 16 programmable buttons, an auxiliary port, and a built-in speaker phone for superior functionality.  Learn more.

3)      The Polycom VSX 3000 Desktop Conferencing Display

The Polycom VSX 3000 is the only personal video conferencing system that delivers the highest levels of video and voice quality in a desktop system and doubles as a PC display.  If you need professional quality video conferencing in your home office, the Polycom VSX 3000 is for you.  Learn more.

4)      CS530 Wireless Headset from Plantronics

Keep your hands available for writing, typing, and grabbing files with the CS530 headset from Plantronics. The CS530 is incredibly flexible. Multitasking hands-free is easy with 350 feet of wireless mobility. Additionally, users are able to conference with up to three additional headsets. The headset features convenient one-touch volume control and answer/end buttons. The headset also includes a handset lifter to remotely answer and end calls.  Learn more.

Let us help you build a custom at-home office today!  Call 1-800-335-0229!

Below is a list of the reasons businesses choose to lease phone systems from Telcom & Data.  Find out if our leasing services are right for your business.

1)      Free Cash Flow

Our phone leasing program features 100% financing with no down payment. This allows companies to get the equipment they need without a major cash outlay. As a result, the leasee has more free capital to make other investments.

2)      Tax Benefits

A business may also choose to lease equipment for tax benefits. Businesses can deduct the lease payments, reducing their tax burden.

3)      Expanded Credit Availability

Businesses benefit from expanded credit availability because leasing may not affect leverage ratios.  A leverage ratio estimates your ability to meet financial obligations.

4)      Equipment Obsolescence Protection

Tech equipment like computers and telephones go out of date quickly.  If your business needs the latest technology, leasing can save you money.  Purchasing a phone system that only has few years of reasonable useful life may not be worth it.

5)      Professional Equipment from Trusted Brands

We are proud to offer phone systems from Avaya and Allowrx – two of the industry’s most trusted brands.

To find out more about our leasing services, visit our website or call 1-800-335-0229!  Telcom & Data’s leasing program gives businesses access to industry leading phone systems at a low monthly rate.  Get started today!

If you work at an auto repair shop, you know how noisy the garage can be.  I’m sure you have experienced missing a customer call because you were working on a car.  The customer may leave a message but by the time you call back, the customer has already made an appointment with your competitor.  It doesn’t have to be this way!

At Telcom & Data, we recommend Wheelock’s UTA-1 phone loud ringer to make sure you never miss another customer call.  In an auto repair shop environment, the ringer ensures customer calls are heard over the noise of the cars, machinery, and tools. The unit rings at a 109 db and users can choose from 4 ring tones: horn, bell, single chime or vibrating chime.

The UTA-1 operates off of standard telephone ringing voltage. The unit is FCC and DOC registered for the public telephone network and can be used behind PBX and key systems. The UTA-1 is ruggedly constructed with a weather resistant backbox and conduit enclosed wiring for optional outdoor use.

There is nothing worse than losing money just because you missed a customer call.  Make sure this never happens again!  Learn more about the Wheelock’s UTA-1 phone loud ringer at Telcom & Data’s website.

Telcom & Data, a leader in server racks , is pleased to introduce Advantage computer desks from Great Lakes Case & Cabinet. The desks can serve as a one-person terminal or can be expanded to create an organized IT office. The furniture is easily personalized with adjustable storage compartments, shelves, and drawers. All of the units feature a clean and modern design.

Advantage computer desks were built for maximum usability. The units are ruggedly constructed with heavy-duty steel to ensure strength and longevity. The storage drawers and overhead compartments are lockable, delivering critical security requirements. Many accessories can be added to the units including peninsulas, cable management solutions, and LCD flat-panel display mounts. The Advantage product line contains numerous models and configurations to fit any office environment.

When Brian Franz, Regional Sales Manager at Great Lakes, was asked about Advantage computer desks, he said, "IT departments have a completely different set of needs when it comes to furniture. Great Lakes Advantage delivers high quality, heavy-duty functional desks, tables and shelving that are unlike anything else."

For more information on Advantage computer desks, visit Telcom & Data’s website or call 1-800-335-0229.

A standard conference phone won’t perform well in large conference rooms; audio quality diminishes dramatically as the distance between the individual speaking and the receiver is extended. Telcom & Data, a leader in business phone systems, is proud to introduce the Polycom SoundStation VXT 1000 conference phone as an ideal solution. With the VXT 1000, conference call participants can speak at their normal voice level and be heard clearly from up to 20-feet away from the receiver. The accompanying SoundStation VTX subwoofer extends down to 80Hz, providing great in-house sound.

The VXT boasts many great features and benefits. The unit automatically selects wideband or narrowband mode based on the far-end phone. If a call is placed to another SoundStation VTX 1000, the phone will automatically connect in wideband mode. The unit is the world’s first phone to deliver wideband voice over ordinary telephone lines. Additionally, the phone automatically turns off the microphones that are not being used by the speaker, removing the “in the well” sound.

When Ricardo Trinidad, President of Telcom & Data, was asked about the Polycom SoundStation VX 1000 conference phone, he said, “Sound quality is a real problem for many conferencing calls. This phone implements noise reduction technology and many automatic sound features to eliminate poor audio.”

The VXT 1000 is easy to install and integrates with Polycom Vortex® installed room systems, Polycom VSX™ group video conferencing solutions, and Global Management System™.

For more information about the Polycom SoundStation VXT 1000 or other conferencing products, visit Telcom & Data’s website or call 1-800-335-0229.

Telcom & Data, a proud partner of Great Lakes Case & Cabinet, is excited to offer businesses customized data center solutions. For more than 25 years, Great Lakes has been supporting data center needs with the highest quality racks, wall mount and free standing enclosures. Based on the user’s cooling resources, power availability and infrastructure, Great Lakes will develop the right solution to meet a data center’s unique specifications.

Great Lakes’ custom product capabilities are among the elite in the industry. The company’s team of engineers and manufacturing experts can bring a design from blueprint to the data center in a matter of weeks. Custom products can be produced in just six weeks (compared to the industry standard of eight) and Great Lakes’ premium, Fast Track Production Service can cut that time to just ten days from blueprint approval. The company can create customized products, whether it is a particular color to match the décor or corporate logo, a design change to one of the company’s standard products or something completely custom.

When Brian Franz, Regional Sales Manager at Great Lakes, was asked about the company’s customized data center solutions he said, “Customizing product for data centers can be as simple as adding an extra knockout to an existing enclosure, or as complex as building a complete data center solution that may contain enclosures, aisle containment doors, chimneys, and floor grommets. Depending on what the customer is trying to accomplish—better cable management, increased cooling capacity, energy efficiency—Great Lakes will listen to your problem or idea and together we will determine the best possible solution.”

For more information about Great Lakes customizable solutions and designs, visit Telcom & Data’s website or call 1-800-335-0229.

There are many emergencies that industrial and office buildings encounter including fire, medical, security, chemical spills, injuries and severe weather. The Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) requires employers to use an alarm system to alert employees of necessary emergency action (OSHA) 1910.165. Telcom & Data is pleased to introduce Cooper/Wheelock’s SP40S SafePath system, an OSHA approved emergency evacuation product. Cooper/Wheelock SafePath products are used by Department Of Homeland Defense, the US Military, and have been written as the standard in many building and fire codes in the United States.

The SP40S is ideal for both small and large facilities. The SafePath System can be used for general phone paging, messaging, background music delivery as well as emergency voice evacuation. The system comes standard with an on-board digital voice messaging system with 8 standard messages, a hand-held microphone, and a power supply/battery charger. Because the system is OSHA 1910.165 compliant, it does not require reliability inspections every two months or the required spare parts inventory.

When Ricardo Trinidad, President of Telcom & Data, was asked about the SP40S SafePath system, he said, “The last thing a business wants is to be unprepared for emergency situations or be held liable for failing to meet safety regulations. This SafePath system ensures businesses meet the highest safety standards.”

For more information on the Cooper/Wheelock SP40S SafePath system, visit Telcom & Data’s website or call 1-800-335-0229.

There are many emergencies that industrial and office buildings encounter including fire, medical, security, chemical spills, injuries and severe weather. The Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) requires employers to use an alarm system to alert employees of necessary emergency action (OSHA) 1910.165. Telcom & Data is pleased to introduce Cooper/Wheelock’s SP40S SafePath system, an OSHA approved emergency evacuation product. Cooper/Wheelock SafePath products are used by Department Of Homeland Defense, the US Military, and have been written as the standard in many building and fire codes in the United States.

The SP40S is ideal for both small and large facilities. The SafePath System can be used for general phone paging, messaging, background music delivery as well as emergency voice evacuation. The system comes standard with an on-board digital voice messaging system with 8 standard messages, a hand-held microphone, and a power supply/battery charger. Because the system is OSHA 1910.165 compliant, it does not require reliability inspections every two months or the required spare parts inventory.

When Ricardo Trinidad, President of Telcom & Data, was asked about the SP40S SafePath system, he said, “The last thing a business wants is to be unprepared for emergency situations or be held liable for failing to meet safety regulations. This SafePath system ensures businesses meet the highest safety standards.”

For more information on the Cooper/Wheelock SP40S SafePath system, visit Telcom & Data’s website or call 1-800-335-0229.