IRVING, Texas, Feb. 3, 2003 -- Omni Hotels will be the first luxury hotel brand in the U.S. to offer free high-speed wireless Internet access in guest rooms and select public spaces at owned and managed hotels in North America.

"Omni Hotels is committed to its loyal business and group travelers who are often frustrated by the lack of tools and technologies they need to be productive on the road," said Paul Dietzler, senior vice president finance and technology for Omni Hotels. "The company is aggressively meeting that need by becoming the first luxury hotel brand in the U.S. to offer free wireless Internet connectivity throughout its owned and managed properties, establishing a brand standard that sets Omni Hotels apart from other hotels in this market." 

Free wireless high-speed Internet service will be available at Omni Hotels where a hard-wired solution is not available by the end of 2003. The service is currently operational at the Omni Los Angeles Hotel at California Plaza, the Omni Mandalay Hotel at Las Colinas, in the Dallas metroplex, the Omni Chicago Hotel and the Omni Berkshire in New York City. 

"Guests of Omni Hotels will now be able enjoy the ease of wireless throughout our properties," said Tom Chevins, senior vice president of sales and marketing for Omni Hotels. "Those who turn hotel rooms into on-the-road offices will have increased productivity without increased cost." 

The new service allows guests to log-on through their WiFi-compliant network interface card (NIC), a feature in most newer laptops. Wireless adaptors will be available for a small fee at the front desk of each hotel, allowing guests to access the system through their traditional Ethernet NIC if their computers are not already equipped. 

Core Communications, based outside of Washington, D.C., in Dulles, Virginia, will deliver the engineering, deployment and management of the network. Omni Hotels has partnered with Core since 2001 to install and operate Internet services within the meeting rooms as a brand standard in each of its owned and managed hotels in North America. Core's guestroom product is a natural extension of the original partnership, resulting in a fully integrated Internet solution for meetings, guestroom and public space throughout the Omni Hotels brand. 

"In this market, it's all about the customer. Core worked closely with Omni Hotels to fashion a product that helps attract and retain business travelers and group meeting planners. Right now, they demand consistent, reliable technology solutions throughout the brand," said David Giannini, Core Communications' founder and chief executive. "Recent advancements in wireless Internet, coupled with wide-scale adoption of WiFi standards and VPN capability by corporate America, allow us to deliver cost-effective Internet solutions to Omni Hotel's guests. As a result, the overall travel experience is enhanced, giving the properties a competitive advantage in the business travel segment." 

Omni Hotels, based near Dallas in Irving, Texas, offers luxury accommodations at more than 40 hotels and resorts located throughout the United States, Canada and Mexico.