Camera calls a cab for hotel guests

Camera calls a cab for hotel guests

Waiting for a taxi has become a thing of the past at the James Cook Hotel Grand Chancellor in Wellington with the installation of the city's first camera system designed to hail a cab.

Working with Wellington Combined Taxis, the hotel has set up a real-time camera link to have cabs dispatched to the James Cook taxi rank as soon as it empties.

"This is a first for Wellington, and a real winner for the James Cook which has one of the city's busiest taxi ranks at its front door," says John Primmer, the hotel's general manager.

This is echoed by Wellington Combined Taxis general manager, Barrie White, who says the cab camera is "an exciting development for the taxi industry, which is always looking at ways of expanding customer service."

A camera installed in the forecourt relays all movement on the rank to Wellington Combined Taxis' operations centre which monitors it around the clock. As soon as a taxi leaves, another one is dispatched to fill its place.

"Previously, it could be a real headache for hotel staff trying to get cabs quickly at check out time, or when everyone was trying to get to the rugby or when it was pouring with rain. Now, we know a taxi will always be waiting or on its way," says John Primmer.

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