Lifting Safety into the Digital Age: How Premier Inn Upgraded Its Lift Alarm Network
The approaching analogue telephone network switch-off in the UK marks a defining moment for building technology.
For the hospitality sector, it brings an unseen but vital challenge: how to maintain safe, reliable lift alarm communication when the copper lines that have powered them for decades are retired.
Premier Inn, the UK’s largest hotel chain, has taken a proactive approach.
Working with VerticA Consulting and MEMCO, a brand of AVIRE, the company is completing the migration of more than 1,100 lift alarm connections to a modern digital managed service.
The programme demonstrates how intelligent planning and collaboration can deliver essential infrastructure upgrades with no impact on design, operations, or the guest experience.
Preparing for the Switch-Off
The nationwide withdrawal of copper telephone lines, due to finish in January 2027, means lift emergency systems must now operate on digital networks.
Unlike the old lines, fibre connections do not carry their own power, so traditional autodiallers can fail during a mains outage.
For hoteliers, this presents not only a compliance concern but also a guest safety and brand-trust issue.
Recognising this, VerticA Consulting began planning the migration for Premier Inn well ahead of time, evaluating alternatives that would maintain reliability and consistency across a diverse estate of properties in the UK, Republic of Ireland, the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands.
Engineering a Reliable, Guest-Focused Solution
The chosen platform, MEMCO’s SENTINEL Service, replaces fixed landlines with a 4G voice gateway and roaming SIM that automatically connects to the strongest mobile network available.
Each gateway includes a four-hour battery back-up, ensuring lift alarms remain functional even during power cuts, an important reassurance for guests and staff alike.
Beyond the technology, SENTINEL offers a managed monitoring service that continuously checks connection status and notifies engineers of any issues before they develop into faults.
The system also gives the hotel chain a digital overview of its entire lift communication network, simplifying maintenance and strengthening accountability.
Matt Davies, Business Development Manager for Digital Products and Services at MEMCO, describes the approach as “using digital transformation to increase safety and visibility while reducing the administrative load for the client.”
Managing a Nationwide Rollout
The programme covered 570 hotels and involved six lift maintenance contractors.
VerticA coordinated the planning, training and installation process to ensure a consistent standard across all properties, from inner-city high-rises to regional destinations.
Each installation followed a structured sequence: engineers fitted the new gateway, verified signal quality using a mobile app and placed the connection under a seven-day monitoring period before hand-over.
Some locations required bespoke solutions.
At Heathrow Terminal 4, radar interference affected signal strength, resolved through directional antennas.
At Canary Wharf Westferry, low coverage on upper floors meant relocating equipment to lower levels with extended cabling.
Each challenge was resolved collaboratively, with no disruption to guests or operations.
By mid-2025, the migration had reached completion, covering more than 1,100 lifts across the Premier Inn estate.
Insights Through Connectivity
As well as ensuring compliance with the 2027 deadline, the new system has given Premier Inn deeper insight into its building assets.
The monitoring platform highlights faults automatically and identifies recurring issues, allowing engineers to act before guests are affected.
It has also uncovered previously hidden inefficiencies, such as autodiallers repeatedly calling out unnecessarily, helping to reduce costs and environmental impact through fewer site visits.
Collaboration as the Cornerstone
Throughout the project, VerticA Consulting and MEMCO worked closely with Premier Inn’s facilities and contractor teams to refine communication channels and processes.
This partnership approach led to the creation of a new “ways of working” framework that clarified responsibilities, streamlined reporting and set a clear standard for future digital transitions.
Chris Holmes, Technical Director at VerticA Consulting, says: “This project is a testament to what true collaboration can achieve.
“By working seamlessly across suppliers, contractors, consultants and the client team, we were able to overcome complex challenges and deliver expectation, all without disrupting ongoing operations.
“The team from AVIRE took the challenge and delivered as promised.”
Results for Operations and Design
The completed migration has delivered measurable benefits: greater system reliability, around 25 per cent cost savings compared with alternative digital-line solutions, and improved visibility across every property.
For hotel designers and operators, the change has been practically invisible to guests, demonstrating that safety-critical upgrades can coexist seamlessly with hospitality design and brand experience.
Looking Ahead
The analogue switch-off is reshaping how hotels manage building communications.
Projects like Premier Inn’s highlight how early planning and collaboration between consultants, suppliers and operators can transform a regulatory challenge into a platform for innovation and efficiency.
As the industry continues its shift to fully digital infrastructure, integrating resilience, safety and guest comfort will remain central to smart hotel design.
About MEMCO by AVIRE
MEMCO, part of AVIRE, has been a trusted name in lift safety and communication technology since 1972, providing innovative solutions to the global lift industry.
About VerticA Consulting
VerticA Consulting is a specialist lift consultancy offering project management, design, modernisation and maintenance supervision services throughout the UK and internationally.
