Tech Talk

A vertical ride

The hotel industry is not restricted to expand horizontally but has also carved its way vertically to fulfil the demand of this fast expanding market. Priya Krishnaswamy explores the elevator technologies used in these upwardly mobile hotels

India's rapidly changing hotel industry is headed for further influx of business and leisure travellers, driving hotels to add more rooms to its property. But the existing space constraint and high land costs makes practically difficult for newer buildings to sprout. Hotels are left with no other alternative than to move upward, raising the number of floors to the existing property, thus making elevators and escalators important transport systems in the hotel.

The journey

Few years back, elevators were controlled by switches, operated by pulling on adjacent ropes. They also didn't have any automatic landing positioning.

However, elevators today are built under strict supervision of the building codes. Technology has advanced to such an extent that modern day elevators are computer-controlled and microprocessor based.

In most of the hotels today, traction elevators are the ones that are used. Says Henry Noronha, senior manager - safety and quality, Schindler India, "Traction elevators are suspended by strong steel cables propelled by a hoisting machine. However, we specialise in making 'machine room-less' elevators, a recent innovation which has not only reduced the amount of overhead machinery required but also does not require any special room to handle the elevator machinery."

On the other side Manisha Deshpande, corporate communications, OTIS India, says, "With increased security awareness and guest convenience in mind, many hotels are planning to install 'Secure Access Systems' (SAC) especially in guest elevators. SAC turns out to be an excellent option as this system enables the guest to register a call to their destined floor by simply using their room key smart card. However, this is just a value added service and the final choice is left with the hotels to decide what they want."

OTIS has added to its portfolio, the 'OH5000 gearless Elevator' that combines environmental care with energy savings. The elevator, like all other industrial products, is capable of being improved to ensure reduced levels of pollution of the environment. The OH5000 series is the outcome of research in the areas of sound pollution, environmental pollution and pollution resulting from electromagnetism. These elevators require no lubricant, which reduces environmental pollution. Disturbances due to electromagnetism are prevented and electromagnetism pollution is invariably reduced.

Speed is the need

Today the elevators are expected to be extremely fast, says Henry, "In most cases that is the only demand, as the guests cannot be made to wait for long. Keeping in mind the specific requirement of the hotel, such as service lifts, passenger lifts, luggage lifts etc., we customise the client's need."

Bearing ‘high-speed’ and ‘less waiting time’, the attraction in elevator technology is Schindler's Miconic10. Miconic10 is a revolutionary control system that groups passengers according to their registered destinations. The new technology eliminates pushbuttons inside the elevator cab, as the destination is stored before boarding the cab. The system also speeds the destination time by an average of 30 per cent.

Manisha explains that to ensure smooth and efficient movement of guests and material a detailed traffic analysis must be undertaken. She says, "While conducting the traffic analysis study, factors that are taken into consideration are the building population, traffic flow pattern, etc., to ascertain number of elevators to be installed, speed of the elevators and their location/grouping. Ideally, service elevators should duplicate the guest elevator in all aspects except finish, to provide high quality service.

Beauty is alluring

Commenting on the popularity of panoramic elevators in the hotel industry, Johnson P, managing director, Hephzi Elevator, says, "Panoramic elevators are a welcome change in hotels, as it gives an aerial view of the property." In agreement with Johnson, Manisha says, "Panoramic elevators are fast gaining popularity specially in mixed use developments. Hotels prefer to install them when they have an atrium area or where the building face has a scenic view. Panoramic elevators add aesthetic value to the building and seems to attract passenger attention, apart from adding glamour and style to the property."

Most hotels seek fine aesthetics in the interiors of an elevator. Says Manisha, "In hotels the elevator aesthetics play a very important role in adding value and creating a pleasant ambience. Hotels prefer etched mirror finish stainless steel or gold mirror finish for elevator cars and landing doors."

Safety is paramount

Elevators are characterised as being extremely safe. Indeed, their safety record, that of moving millions of passengers every day, with extremely low rate of incidents is unsurpassed by any other vehicle system. Although fatalities due to malfunction have been known to occur on occasion. "Practically, it's a safe ride," says G Phaneedra, chief engineer, Royal Orchid Central, Bangalore. He further adds, "Today's elevator systems incorporate a wide variety of features designed to reduce the chances of accidents and give passengers a quick, dependable ride. We have not experienced any mishap due to faulty elevators. The maximum mishap can be a maintenance problem."

Although many elevator doors are provided with protective edges, designed to reopen when touched, they should be treated like any moving equipment.