Value Place hotels is a new alternative to more expensive lodging. A combination of corporate and franchise-owned properties and strict controls for following the value place business approach help to manage costs. Management first bought a low-cost IP video solution, but it proved insufficient with low-end cameras and a discount software product with proprietary hardware. Management decided to re-do the entire system and chose a more powerful and flexible Milestone-Axis solution.

"We proposed the Milestone software with Hewlett-Packard PCs, Linksys switches, and the Axis cameras in robust enclosures - all of which only marginally increased the cost of the solution but raised the quality significantly. This Milestone-Axis solution is head-and-shoulders better than the first system and very cost efficient," says Steve Johnson, account manager at ISG Technology.

Value place hotels now have a reliable solution to protect each of their premises. They monitor activities and resolve incidences that occur - both locally and centrally - without the costly need for security guards. Corporate can keep track of what is happening at the many hotel locations and also use the recordings as a training tool to monitor and improve procedures.

Value place hotels have a very successful business model, and the brand is growing fast. The plan is to open hundreds of the popular hotels nationwide. This requires an open and flexible security system that can scale as the business grows for the best return on their investment.

"ISG Technology is helping the company with their total IT needs and infrastructure. With the Milestone software and Axis cameras, we have the right IP video surveillance system for them that can change with the company's needs," says Johnson.

XProtect Basis+ has just been released in version 6.0 with advanced features previously only available in high-end products, including remote access via the Smart Client and multi-language support. XProtect Basis+ 6.0 is an open and independent platform that interfaces with the widest choice of network video and computer hardware, supporting over 290 cameras and devices from more than 32 different manufacturers. This flexibility means that customers have the freedom to choose exactly the right equipment for every need.