State-of-the-art Network Solution from Huawei for the Grand Resort Bad Ragaz

Huawei's fast network for the Grand Resort Bad Ragaz

The Grand Resort Bad Ragaz focuses on more than just relaxation and culinary experiences to offer its guests an unforgettable experience. Fast Internet access and its own applications for hotel services are just as much a part of this today. In close cooperation with CANCOM Switzerland, the hotel's old network was replaced by a state-of-the-art network infrastructure with Wi-Fi 6 technology.

The Grand Resort Bad Ragaz in the picturesque municipality of Bad Ragaz in the canton of St. Gallen stands for enjoyment, culture and relaxation. Spa facilities, culinary specialities, own golf courses, various facilities for events and a five-star service – all promise guests an unforgettable experience. But the Grand Resort also wants to ensure that guests are not missing anything from a technical perspective. No guest should have to forgo Internet access or telephone calls. A stable Internet connection is also required throughout the Grand Resort for the hotel's own "myStay" app, which guests can use to book spa services, for example. This was enough for a reason to replace the old network with a modern and easy-to-use solution.

"Thanks to Huawei's new network solution and the uncomplicated collaboration with CANCOM Switzerland, the network can now be adapted easily to the individual wishes of our guests. Things that we previously had to have done for us by an external partner can now be solved ourselves in just a few simple steps."

Reto Schwengeler, Head of Infrastructure and Security at the Grand Resort Bad Ragaz.

The Task

"We have set ourselves the goal of providing our guests with an excellent Wi-Fi network at all locations and around the clock. As part of the renovations in 2019, we therefore decided to modernise the existing network infrastructure," explains Reto Schwengeler, Head of Infrastructure and Security at the Grand Resort Bad Ragaz. The size of a Grand Resort in Bad Ragaz is a challenge that should not be underestimated.

"Since guests frequently have individual wishes - for example, their own network within the Grand Resort network - an infrastructure that is easy to configure and with flexible handling was required," Reto Schwengeler continues. "If guests brought their own IT equipment or needed their own separate network, IT was always a big challenge. With the old network environment, adjustments like these required a lot of effort and we were dependent on external support," says Schwengeler.

A new, modern solution was required for the Grand Resort Bad Ragaz. The Grand Resort received various recommendations from CANCOM Switzerland AG, which ultimately impressed the Grand Resort with the network solution from Huawei.

The Solution

The Grand Resort Bad Ragaz relies on Huawei's state-of-the-art network solution in order to be able to easily meet the technical requirements of its guests in the future. A total of 80 switches, 500 access points and firewalls were implemented on the Grand Resort's premises - after careful analysis of the building plans by CANCOM Switzerland. The Grand Resort Bad Ragaz also installed two high-performance Wi-Fi controllers and highly functional management servers to manage the entire network.

The modern software-defined approach of the Huawei network enables the Grand Resort Bad Ragaz - unlike the old solution - to respond independently and flexibly to the widest range of guest wishes. Thanks to the iMaster control system, it is no longer necessary to configure each individual device on the Grand Resort's premises manually. 95 percent of the infrastructure can be configured quickly and easily using the central controller. And in the event of outages and interruptions, network problems can be identified and resolved quickly thanks to the efficient troubleshooting system.

To ensure that guests on the premises of the Grand Resort Bad Ragaz enjoy a stable Internet connection, CANCOM Switzerland chose Wi-Fi 6 technology – one of the most modern Wi-Fi generation on the market. The introduction of Wi-Fi 6 technology enables fast Internet and smooth communication for the guests at the Grand Resort. Thanks to state-of-the-art Wi-Fi technology, the Grand Resort can also make guests' stay even more pleasant - for example with checkout terminals. To ensure that the connection is not only fast and stable, but also secure, CANCOM Switzerland also integrated firewalls from Palo Alto into the Huawei network.

The migration to a completely new network is a real challenge - especially for a company like the Grand Resort Bad Ragaz with the switch from a traditional to a software-defined network. The Grand Resort is a business that has to run around the clock seven days a week. "At the technical configuration level, we therefore had to find solutions time and again in order to be able to ensure the operation of the Grad Resort at all times," explains Simon Häni, Member of the Management Board and Head of System Integration at CANCOM Switzerland.

The Benefits

Thanks to the pioneering Huawei solution, the Grand Resort Bad Ragaz can focus on what matters: its visitors on site. Guests benefit from a modern and secure network that gives them secure and fast Wi-Fi access across all locations and around the clock.

Thanks to the clear iMaster management solution, the IT team at the Grand Resort Bad Ragaz can easily adapt the network to the individual needs and wishes of its guests.

Reto Schwengeler, Head of Infrastructure and Security at the Grand Resort, praises the open and stimulating exchange with CANCOM Switzerland. "The experts at CANCOM Switzerland not only understood our needs, but were also innovative and helped us to progress with the right questions. They questioned the existing situation and ensured that our problems were really solved. And thanks to the excellent cooperation, we were able to complete the project successfully within a very short time," says Schwengeler enthusiastically. And what do the guests say about the new network? "In the past, we received complaints about the network on almost a weekly basis. We don't get any now," says Schwengeler with a wink. The result speaks for itself and shows that the combination of Huawei and CANCOM Switzerland was the right decision.

Quick Facts:

Project data

• Grand Resort Bad Ragaz
• Project year 2022
• Huawei's new network infrastructure
• State-of-the-art Wi-Fi 6 technology
• Centralised management with a software-defined approach

Results

• Modern Wi-Fi network at all locations of the Grand Resort Bad Ragaz
• Network can be individually adapted to the needs of guests
• Administration of the network via graphical user interface
• Wireless network with Wi-Fi 6 technology
• Protected around the clock with Palo Alto firewalls

Original text of the above case：https://cancom.ch/projekte/modernste-netzwerk-loesung-von-huawei-fuer-das-grand-resort-bad-ragaz/