Star Island Meets High Tech

Editor's Note: Second in a five-part series.

For decades, visitors who came to Star Island for the day or as overnight guests attending conference events understood that when they stepped onto the M/V Thomas Laighton, they had to leave their high-tech gizmos and gadgets behind.

Not anymore.

Thanks to advances in Wi-Fi, greater reach for cell phone reception and the efforts of Star Island Corp. CEO Victoria Hardy and her staff, Star Island guests can still make a call, text, check their e-mail and communicate with others on the mainland if they so choose.

On the cruise from Star Island to Portsmouth, Hardy recalled how Star Island made a successful transition from what was once a total rustic experience to one that could incorporate some modern day comforts. "We kind of went from the 1950s to the 21st century in the last five years."

"In effect, Star Island has leapt over a period when it was very remote," said Hardy, who plans to retire as CEO in October and move to Seattle, Wash.

She said 20 years ago the only way people could contact the outside world was via a marine radio. Now thanks to wireless Internet, the Oceanic Hotel offers guests a business center where they can use hotel computers if they don't want to bring their laptops.

Hardy said they can also print out documents and they can still make cell phone calls. "There is good cell phone reception all over the island," she said.

The process to allow guests and staff to have access to more 21st century communication began when Hardy began her tenure as CEO in 2008. She said she talked to a number of Star Island guests who said they wanted to be able to use their cell phones and laptops, especially those who are small business owners.

Throughout that process, Hardy said there was and continues to be a great emphasis on not adding any new service or amenity that would take away from Star Island's rustic and traditional ambiance. As far as she is concerned, the Star Island Corp. has succeeded in doing just that.

Hardy joked that Portsmouth Rep. Jackie Cali-Pitts has said Star Island is the "Club Med for the Amish."

For example, the Oceanic Hotel still does not have a liquor license, which means that day visitors and overnight guests cannot purchase liquor on the island. But Hardy said people are welcome to bring their own liquor, beer, or wine if they so choose. During some conferences, attendees will hold a social hour where they drink liquor they bring to the island, she said.

She said there is also no drinking allowed in the common hotel areas, the lobby or the dining room as well as no smoking except for at the pier. Many of the rooms are outfitted with electrical outlets, but some are not, she said. There are also no televisions or telephones in the hotel rooms, she said.

Showers have improved for hotel guests who used to only be able to shower twice per week and can now shower on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, Hardy said.

The 21st century amenities are not just limited to cell phones and laptops. Hardy said the hotel has a state of the art fire sprinkler system that draws upon 14,000 gallons of rain water stored underneath the hotel. This combined with the availability of the U.S. Coast Guard and Portsmouth Fire Boat and the fire drills that Oceanic Hotel guests are required to do make Star Island very safe, she said.

There is also a First Aid Station staffed with medical volunteers 24/7 and massage therapy offered six days a week by licensed massage therapists from the mainland, Hardy said.

Her goal was to add amenities that made sense for Star Island so they could continue to attract enough conference attendees and day visitors without sacrificing the things that make Star Island unique.

Her approach to "slide these 21st century amenities in so people can continue to live their lives" has made a big difference for Star Island, she believes.

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Part One: