Retail & Leisure
The Petwood Hotel
A journey into a modern standardised network
The Petwood Hotel combines award-winning cuisine, classic afternoon tea, and a prime location in the picturesque Woodhall Spa. Ideal for weddings and special events, it offers a truly memorable setting for any occasion.
Steeped in British history, The Petwood was once home to 617 Squadron, famously known as The Dambusters. Set amidst acres of beautifully landscaped gardens and woodland, it stands as one of Lincolnshire’s most iconic and unforgettable places to stay.
“Air IT Group has been the key to getting us back up and running when there have been outages and failures!”
Key Outcomes
Modern, hybrid
IT infrastructure
Advanced Backup &
Disaster Recovery
24/7/365 Monitoring &
Support
Cloud-based productivity &
collaboration
Emma Brealey
Director, The Petwood Hotel
"One of the biggest challenges we face as a business is ensuring that systems within the hotel are always available anytime during business operation. Air IT Group has been the key to getting us back up and running when there have been outages and failures, meaning the disruption to business has been minimal."
The Challenge
Like many heritage hotels, The Petwood relied on outdated systems. Paper records, spreadsheets, and a cloud booking system coexisted with multiple versions of Microsoft Office (2013/2016/2019), creating a lack of standardisation. Backups were performed manually to tape, requiring staff to remember daily changes, and the IT infrastructure was unstable, leading to frequent crashes and frustration.
While the hotel had a firewall, it lacked advanced protections such as anti-ransomware, data loss prevention, and DNS-level filtering. A new staff Wi-Fi system was also needed to support tablet-based ordering.
Operations were heavily paper-based, creating waste and making accurate data management difficult. The Petwood urgently needed a technology overhaul to modernise its systems, improve efficiency, and support smooth, reliable hotel operations.
Key Requirements
Modernise IT infrastructure
Enterprise-grade data protection
24/7/365 monitoring & support
Enhanced productivity & remote working
The Outcome
Desperate to modernise the hotel’s infrastructure, Managing Director Emma Brealey brought us at Air IT Group on board.
Having met through a business introduction, The Petwood Management Team were impressed by our approachable and personable style. Working closely together, we planned, managed, and deployed a new hybrid IT solution. A new on-premise server was installed, while email and critical data were migrated to the cloud.
Backups are now handled through our enterprise ‘Disaster Recovery as a Service’ (DraaS) solution, enabling frequent daily backups and fast recovery for both on-premise and cloud systems. We also implemented a new firewall and staff Wi-Fi network, delivering enterprise-grade protection and coverage.
Alongside upgrading the hotel’s IT infrastructure, The Petwood needed a new IT partner. Working collaboratively with management, we created practical plans and achievable IT goals, taking budget constraints and existing systems into account. The result is a smooth, secure, and efficient IT environment.
In short, we transformed an outdated system into a robust, flexible foundation capable of supporting the hotel’s ongoing growth and operational needs. Challenges were addressed efficiently, with minimal downtime, and the new infrastructure is fully scalable for future developments.
We delivered a modern, standardised network utilising cloud-based applications for core services. All users now have access to the latest software, with client information protected to the highest standard. Daily backups occur automatically, giving the team total peace of mind.
With 24/7 monitoring, we ensure the hotel’s systems remain uninterrupted year-round. Whenever technical issues arise, we resolve them promptly within agreed SLAs, minimising disruption to operations.
The implementation of Microsoft Office 365 has streamlined processes, enabled remote working, and strengthened the hotel’s disaster recovery strategy by hosting critical services in the cloud.
We continue to support The Petwood in liaising with third-party suppliers, particularly around guest and customer systems, ensuring smooth integration and operational efficiency.
