| |
| |
One moment, please... we are searching the news archive.
|
|
|
Hotel Industry News |
Saturday November 22nd, 2008 |
 |
Wingate Inn Brand Announces Technology Initiatives for 2003 |
|
PHOENIX – Wingate Inns International Inc. told franchisees attending its national conference here today that it will require wireless Internet service for all new hotels and evaluate its application in its existing 124 hotels in the United States and Canada. |
The wireless service, which will enable guests with wireless-equipped computers to access the Internet without a cable connection in the lobby, meeting rooms and other public space, would put Wingate Inn hotels in a league with a select few luxury and four-star brands.
Andrew Kraemer, senior director of technology services for Cendant’s Hotel Group, said the decision to go wireless was based, in part, on the brand’s success with free in-room, high-speed Internet access, which is used by up to 30 percent of all guests in any given month.
“Our free high-speed Internet access not only has driven incremental room nights to our franchisees over the years but forced our competitors to follow,” he said. “We expect that adding wireless Internet access as an amenity will provide a high-value service to guests while offering our franchisees a competitive advantage over other hotels.”
Wireless access will be provided through LodgeNet, a leading distributor of interactive, multimedia entertainment and information services to the lodging industry based in Sioux Falls, S.D.
In a concurrent technology initiative, Keith Pierce, Wingate Inn president, said the brand this summer will begin testing plasma television sets that feature narrowcasting, a technology that allows promotional messages to be superimposed over commercial television programming.
Fifty-inch-wide plasma television screens will be installed in the breakfast areas of selected hotels to allow their evaluation by advertisers, guests and franchisees. While displaying commercial programming, the screens will promote Wingate Inn messages as well as regional and national advertising.
“We’re working to keep the Wingate Inn brand ahead of the technology curve in terms of consumer demand,” said Pierce.
In a third technology initiative, franchisees learned that the Wingate Inn brand plans to introduce WinPM, a Windows-based property management system from Multi-Systems Inc. MSI is the brand’s current property management system software provider.
Wingate Inns International opened its first franchised hotel in July 1996. Its focused service, upper mid-market franchised hotels feature sophisticated, consumer-based technology and comfortable, oversized rooms that were created in response to business travelers’ needs. All Wingate Inn hotels are independently owned and operated under franchise agreements with Wingate Inns International. Reservations can be made by calling the Wingate Inn toll-free reservation center at (800) 228-1000 or through the company’s Web site at www.wingateinns.com. Wingate Inns International is a subsidiary of Cendant Corporation (NYSE: CD).
|
|
|
 |
|
 |
|
|
|
Wingate Inns International opened its first franchised hotel in July 1996. Its focused service, upper mid-market franchised hotels feature sophisticated, consumer-based technology and comfortable, oversized rooms that were created in response to business travelers? needs. The hotel chain was ranked the highest in the midscale, limited-service segment in the J.D. Power and Associates 2004 North America Hotel Guest Satisfaction Index StudySM. The chain also was recognized in the Zagat Survey 2003 and 2004 Top U.S. Hotels, Resorts and Spas guides. All Wingate Inn hotels are independently owned and operated under franchise agreements with Wingate Inns International. Reservations can be made by calling the Wingate Inn toll-free reservation center at (800) 228-1000 or through the company?s Web site at www.wingateinns.com . Wingate Inns International is a subsidiary of Cendant Corporation (NYSE: CD). |
|
|
|
Post Release
Get Content
Email News Brief
Saved Articles
Advertising
Handheld
XML/RSS
Post News