The Green Dragon Hotel is a well-known property among both business and leisure travellers, located in the heart of Hereford, UK. This historic hotel is housed in a 17th-century former coaching inn, nestled behind the Hereford Museum and Art Gallery, making it a unique and attractive destination.

Given its popularity and central location, it’s no surprise that the hotel’s car park was vulnerable to unauthorised use and frequent parking-related issues. These challenges not only caused inconvenience to genuine motorists but also had a direct impact on the hotel’s business operations and guest experience.

This case study highlights the growing need for technological intervention in today’s fast-
paced world to tackle modern parking challenges. It also demonstrates how, after implementing our parking management services, the Green Dragon Hotel was able to effectively resolve these issues and regain control over its space.

Challenges Faced

The hotel encountered several persistent challenges that made it difficult to manage its
parking facilities effectively. Below are some of the key issues commonly faced by hotel car
parks:

• Congestion Due to Unauthorised Parking
  The hotel’s parking facility frequently experienced congestion caused by unauthorised and overnight parking. Vehicles without permission would often occupy valuable space, leading to inconvenience for genuine guests, visitors, and hotel staff. This persistent congestion resulted in delays and frustration for those trying to find an available parking space, ultimately diminishing the overall visitor experience.

• Lack of Enforcement
  In the absence of active monitoring or enforcement, individuals would take advantage of the available space and park without authorisation. This not only encouraged further misuse but also set a poor precedent for others. If left unaddressed, such behaviour could tarnish the hotel’s reputation, creating the impression that it lacks professionalism and fails to prioritise the needs of its guests and visitors. Moreover, the lack of regulation could contribute to a less secure environment around the premises.

• Guest Dissatisfaction
  Guests and visitors were dissatisfied with the hotel’s services due to the delays in accessing the premises, caused by long queues at the car park entry points. This led to frustration and negatively impacted their overall experience—ultimately harming the hotel’s reputation and affecting its business.

Impact

The following outlines how these challenges had a negative impact on the hotel:

• Operational Stress: Hotel staff struggled to manage the car park effectively due to
  the absence of a proper parking structure. This lack of organisation led to operational
  inefficiencies and diverted staff attention away from core guest services towards
  dealing with parking-related issues.

• Negative Guest Experience: The inefficiencies in parking management directly
  affected the quality of guest services. As a result, guests developed a negative
  impression of the hotel, which led to a decline in customer satisfaction, a damaged
  reputation, and ultimately, a loss in business and revenue.

Site Map

Solutions Implemented and How It Transformed the Scenario

To resolve the parking issues, we provided the Green Dragon Hotel with state-of-the-art Pay
and Display machines, integrated with advanced ANPR (Automatic Number Plate Recognition) cameras, and supported by a mobile payment solution. These systems worked together to create a seamless, secure, and efficient parking environment. Below is an overview of how each element contributed to the overall improvement:

• Pay and Display Machines: We installed our best-in-class Pay and Display machines featuring a user-friendly interface, ensuring that guests and visitors could pay easily without confusion. These machines have an IP65 rating, allowing them to withstand challenging weather conditions. To cater to a broad range of users, the machines accept multiple payment options, including debit and credit cards, as well as online payments.

• ANPR Cameras: Advanced ANPR cameras were integrated with the Pay and Display system to automatically capture vehicle number plates and record entry and exit times. If a vehicle exceeded the paid duration, a Parking Charge Notice (PCN) would be issued. This significantly reduced unauthorised parking and eliminated the
  need for additional on-site enforcement staff—ultimately lowering operational costs.

• Ringo Mobile App: To provide added convenience, we enabled parking payments
  through the RingGo mobile application. This allowed guests to pay for their parking in
  advance and even extend their parking time remotely, without needing to return to
  the machine—offering both flexibility and peace of mind.

• Portal Service and Whitelisting: For hotel staff and VIP guests, we provided
  access to a dedicated online portal. This enabled hotel management to whitelist
  authorised vehicles, ensuring a smooth experience for employees and special
  visitors while maintaining control over space allocation.

• Clear Signage and Instructions: To ensure motorists could easily understand the
  parking terms and navigate the car park without confusion, we installed clear, visible
  signage throughout the car park. This helped prevent misunderstandings and reinforced the professionalism of the hotel’s parking system.

Results

• Improved Guest Experience: The integration of digital payment options and
  transparent enforcement significantly enhanced the experience for hotel guests and
  visitors. Parking became easier, quicker, and far less stressful.

• Reduced Congestion: The combination of ANPR technology and automated Pay and Display machines eliminated long queues at the car park entrance, ensuring smoother traffic flow and availability of spaces for genuine users.

• Increased Revenue: The reliable and user-friendly Pay and Display machines, along
  with the RingGo app, generated a consistent stream of revenue for the hotel, transforming the parking facility into a valuable asset.

This case study is a prime example of why investing in a modern, well-implemented parking management solution is essential in today’s fast-paced world. As technology continues to evolve, standing still is no longer an option.

Now is not the time to deliberate—now is the time to act. By adopting smart parking technology, you not only resolve operational issues but also future-proof your business for long-term success.

If you’re ready to take control of your parking space and unlock its full potential, don’t hesitate to get in touch. Our dedicated team is ready to support you with a solution tailored to your needs.