Garam Information Systems based in Seoul, South Korea was founded in 1993 with the goal of providing hotels with integrated digital systems to reduce hotels energy costs, provide more efficient services for guests, improving a guests stay as well as cutting the hotel operators costs. To date Garam systems have been installed in over 40,000 rooms across South Korea. In the future Garam Information Systems is looking to expand into international markets and provided their systems to universities, hospitals, and retirement homes.
When a guest checks into a Garam equipped hotel they can select their own room from a monitor. When the guest enters their room they insert their key card into a control panel, this activates the room and allows the guest to turn on lights and use other electrical devices. If a guest leaves the room they must take their key card with them cutting off the rooms power supply. All Garam guest rooms have a panel that controls all the lights, and a remote that will control the TV and air conditioner.
Some rooms are equipped with a valet parking system, at the push of a button the valley is notified the guest requires their vehicle. Security cameras in the halls provide a constant feed to the hotels server, and sensors on the door alert hotel employees to doors that have been left open. Hotel employees can monitor what rooms are occupied and the electricity the room is consuming from the front desk. They are also alerted to any requests for room service or cleaning services.
Garam Information Systems seems to have hit on a wining combination that provides added value for a hotels guest, while offsetting the price of the system by saving hotel operators money on utilities and providing an opportunity to operate with less staff.
