Enhancing guest experiences through remote asset management

Set on a spectacular two-mile surfing beach on the North Cornwall coast, Watergate Bay Hotel has built its reputation on challenging conventions. Since Will Ashworth took over from his parents in 2000, they’ve pioneered a year-round approach to coastal hospitality, transforming what was once a seasonal operation into a destination that encourages guests to embrace the beach every day of the year.  

This culture of innovation extends from launching new guest experiences to continuously improving the behind-the-scenes systems that make exceptional hospitality possible across their 80-room property.

The challenge

Delivering exceptional guest experiences at Watergate Bay Hotel requires countless behind-the-scenes systems working seamlessly. With 80 rooms, three restaurants, surf school, swimming pool and treatments rooms, and multiple other facilities spread across the coastal site, the operational team needed better visibility and control over essential building systems to deliver superior guest experiences efficiently and prevent potential issues before they could affect guests.

The solution

Working in partnership with skentel, the property team has been able to identify and implement a range of bespoke remote monitoring and control solutions across a range of assets, to suit their needs. The solutions implemented so far include:

• Energy Management Systems – Real-time tracking and monitoring of energy usage across the entire site, with automated controls to prevent potential outages
• Health & Safety Monitoring – 24/7 automated surveillance of critical systems, with continuous monitoring of fridge and freezer temperatures and instant alert capabilities when abnormal conditions are detected
• Automated Operations – Remote monitoring systems that automates routine tasks like meter readings
• Environmental Protection Systems – Continuous monitoring of wastewater infrastructure with predictive maintenance alerts, ensuring uninterrupted operations, environmental compliance, and protection of the pristine coastal environment that guests come to enjoy

The long-term partnership between the operational team and skentel continues to identify innovative ways to enhance guest experiences:

• Future Smart Planning Technology – Working on advanced monitoring capabilities track usage patterns and trends, enabling data-driven decisions about staffing and providing guests with real-time facility information

Results

This comprehensive approach is helping shift operations from reactive maintenance to proactive asset management:

• Automated meter readings save approximately 10 hours per week, allowing staff to focus on preventive maintenance and guest-facing activities
• 24/7 monitoring provides continuous data flow rather than intermittent readings, ensuring no issues are missed and enabling proactive resolution before problems impact guests
• Building the data foundation needed to identify opportunities to reduce energy consumption while maintaining optimal guest comfort, and establish a baseline against which future reductions can be measured