How Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resort Saved Time and Resources by Partnering with Technology Experts

The following is an excerpt from a recent article entitled, 'Is your hotel venue ready to support the growing digital demand?' featured in the Orlando Business Journal.

Their Challenge

Edmond DiAntonio, director of event management at Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resort, has firsthand knowledge of the challenges hotel venues can face when it comes to meeting the expectations of digitally oriented guests. Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resorts partnered with digital signage services company Xpodigital to revamp the venue’s internet and digital signage, providing the tech boost it needed to remain competitive as a large conference destination.

Their Solution

For the last 20 years, Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resorts has been the home to the annual Gartner Supply Chain Symposium. The event brings more than 10,000 people to the property, each carrying the average of three internet-based devices. Managing an infrastructure to support such a demand is quite an undertaking for a venue without an in-house tech team, and DiAntonio says it just made sense to partner with Xpodigital.

The Opportunity

“We didn't want to manage our conference internet and digital signage in-house because of the high cost of infrastructure, staffing and benefits,” said DiAntonio. “With Xpodigital as our partner, we can completely hand-off responsibility for digital signage and Internet and not worry about it.”

When it comes to onsite digital signage, Xpodigital worked with Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resorts to help mitigate the cost of the hardware and maximize revenues for the property. Xpodigital made the initial investment in the digital signage, and the property shares the earnings with the company. With this service model, no digital revenue is left on the table.

The Result

“Xpodigital manages the digital displays in a way that maximizes our rental revenue,” said DiAntonio. “They invest in the digital sign technology, and we share in the revenue. That's a big deal for us.”

In addition to helping Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resorts realize their goals for boosting infrastructure and digital signage in an affordable way, Xpodigital also provides ongoing support.

“Xpodigital takes the burden out of coordinating internet and digital signage,” said DiAntonio. “They are always available, and we have 24/7 access to IT for answers or to address problems.”

DiAntonio added that he has been extremely pleased with the partnership with Xpodigital and would gladly recommend their services to any other hotel venue wanting to increase their conference and events earning potential.

Read the full article on the Orlando Business Journal's website.