Five Star Hotel no longer happy to rely on spreadsheets

Chewton Glen replaces its asset register with specialist application for improved visibility and tighter controls

Chewton Glen, one of the world’s finest Five Star Hotel and Spa Resorts, has gone live with Real Asset Management’s (RAM) Series4000 to improve the hotel’s management of over 5000 assets.

The finance team at Chewton Glen, which according to Harper’s Hideaway Report “…is without doubt, the best country house hotel in the UK,” selected RAM’s integrated asset tracking system to enhance the way it manages the hotel’s vast array of resources and ultimately reduce its reliance on a myriad of spreadsheets.

“The hotel’s standing is obviously dependent on two key performances, that of its staff and its assets. Deficiencies in one area will adversely affect the other,” said Mike Rice, Financial Controller at Chewton Glen.  “So not only do we have a 5-star reputation to uphold, we have an array of 5-star customer facing assets to maintain. It is extremely important that assets are effectively monitored, well maintained and properly accounted for within a system that is accurate and easy to use. 

“The hotel had until recently been using spreadsheets to manage its assets but the worksheets had become unwieldy, inflexible and lacked credibility providing no real practical method for tracking and ensuring I knew where assets were being deployed,” added Rice.

“Following the implementation of RAM’s Asset4000 and Track4000 modules, the hotel has been able to vastly improve the way it manages its resources.  For example, I am now able to instantly access a complete history of movement for any one of our assets between different locations, cost centres or managers.  More importantly, I am also able to manage the hotel’s depreciation and financial reporting in line with our auditor’s requirements without complex workarounds,” added Rice.

“RAM’s solution, which is now fully operational, has transformed our fixed asset accounting processes. The finance department has been able to significantly reduce the heavy burden of administration associated with the old spreadsheet register. It is an extremely easy to use and incredibly flexible solution which has provided us with much improved reporting capabilities and increased productivity which, I predict, will be amplified as we approach our year end auditing,” concluded Rice.

About Chewton Glen
Established in 1966, Chewton Glen, arguably one of the best hotels in the world has a string of accolades and awards and has been voted number 2 in the ‘Top 100’ Hotels Worldwide 2005 (Conde Nast Traveler, USA- reader’s choice awards) as well as Best Spa Hotel in Europe by Gala Magazine.

Chewton Glen holds an AA 5 Red Star Rating and 3 Rosettes for the Marryat Restaurant which it has held continuously since 1993. In addition it has also held since 1993 RAC’s highest 5 star rating with gold ribbon.

Celebrating its fortieth anniversary this year, Chewton Glen has a turnover of more than £10 million with 220 employees.

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