FIAS stands for Fidelio Interface Application Specification and is a well-established interface protocol used in the hospitality industry that enables a hotel management system to communicate with other systems within the hotel. It facilitates the standardized exchange of data such as occupancy, check-in, and check-out. Through this data connection, a connected energy management solution can detect which rooms are occupied and adjust the temperature accordingly.
What is FIAS?
FIAS is a specification that was originally developed to connect systems to the Fidelio property management software and has become a widely adopted standard in the hospitality industry. Through this interface, systems within a hotel exchange information without the need to program a custom solution for each connection. As a result, FIAS is one of the classic integration interfaces in the hospitality industry.
How does the FIAS interface work?
FIAS transmits defined messages between the property management system and connected systems. For example, if the PMS reports a check-in, a connected energy management solution can process this and set the room in question to a comfortable temperature. Upon check-out, the room’s temperature is lowered back to an energy-efficient level. In addition to the Fidelio Interface Application Specification, modern platforms often offer additional interfaces such as file-based data transfers or a REST API, allowing you to select the appropriate connection depending on your existing system.
Why is FIAS relevant to the hotel industry?
In hotels, a large portion of the potential for savings depends on occupancy-based control of radiators and fan coils. Only occupied rooms should be maintained at a comfortable temperature. In order for the heating control system to know which rooms are occupied, it must communicate with the PMS. FIAS is one of the ways this connection is established.
For hotel operators, the availability of a suitable interface is therefore a key criterion when selecting an energy management solution. It’s important to note that the Fidelio Interface Application Specification is an older standard that is firmly established in the hospitality industry, while newer integrations increasingly rely on web-based interfaces such as a REST API.
Which approach is the right one depends on the property management system in use. It is important that the energy management solution includes a suitable interface in the first place, because without a connection to the reservation system, occupancy-based control remains a manual process.
Related terms
QSources and further information
- Betterspace: Schnittstellen für mehr Effizienz und Vernetzung
- Betterspace: better.energy at a glance
- Betterspace: Smartes Heizen im Hotel senkt den Energieverbrauch
- Oracle Hospitality: Oracle® Hospitality PMS Interface HGBU-IFC8-FIAS Interface Specification