This network upgrade comes at a crucial time for Wilderness Resort. 

In a case study, Joe Eck, Chief Operating Officer for Wilderness Resort, emphasized that the timing of the installation was key to its success.

“Because of the nature of Wisconsin winters and our high occupancy rates over the summer, we needed a partner committed to making installations happen quickly and effectively across our 600 acres. Spectrum Enterprise stepped up to the plate to deliver,” he said.

Scaling Wi-Fi

Wilderness Resort has experienced continual growth and now encompasses four indoor and four outdoor waterparks, five restaurants, an award-winning golf course, and numerous nature paths.

However, the scale of the property and terrain meant guests sometimes had trouble accessing Wi-Fi in certain areas. Over the past ten years, Wilderness Resort has tripled its peak Wi-Fi activity from 4,000 to 12,000 daily users. Wilderness Resort said guests expect to use their devices from any resort location, whether at a pool, on a ride, in their room, or dining out.

Spectrum Enterprise installed 1,400 Wi-Fi access points to improve overall connectivity and increased the resort’s internet bandwidth with download speeds up to 10 Gbps. This enabled Wilderness Resort’s guests and staff, which can be as many as 10,000 people, to access Wi-Fi service from any location.  

Spectrum Enterprise also manages each Wi-Fi access point with 24/7/365 customer support as part of a managed Wi-Fi solution so resort employees can focus on other business priorities.

“We’re focused on meeting and exceeding expectations, and today’s guests expect to connect to their devices from any of our resort locations—whether in the guestroom, at one of the restaurants, or while enjoying the waterparks,” Eck said.

All of this is supported by an upgraded primary fiber circuit that supports 10 Gbps in the facility.

Spectrum Enterprise also installed two other fiber circuits to provide additional connectivity. One of the circuits keeps staff connected to a property management system, coordinating room cleaning and maintenance, while the other is for an onsite call center that handles guest reservations. Because this call center needs to be separate and secure from internet traffic, it uses a private Ethernet service circuit

New video options

But better Wi-Fi is just one part of the equation. 

Starting this year, customers can access more in-room entertainment options. All hotel guest rooms, condos, and cabins now use Spectrum Enterprise Fiber Connect Plus TV, which provides high-definition TV viewing with over 120 channels.

Eck noted that when guests return to their room or cabin after using the facility’s amenities, “they expect television service as good as what they have at home.”
Spectrum Enterprise’s Fiber Connect Plus TV also eased the resort’s installation process. Leveraging the existing fiber connectivity, the video platform does not require in-room equipment like set-top boxes. It also minimizes costly maintenance and provides guests with 120 channels. 

“There’s so much we save on the labor side, plus a lot more variety on the channel side. It gives us multiple forms of savings,” Eck said. 

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