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Westin Tampa Bay’s On-Property Airport Flight Information
Adds Confidence to Holiday Travel


Vacationing families in the busiest travel season appreciate real-time
airport flight info in the comfort of the hotel

December 18, 2009 – Travelers appreciate it anytime when hotels provide real-time airline flight information to help them plan when to go to the airport to board their flights, but the service is winning special praise from families with children who are vacationing this holiday season.

That is the experience Westin Tampa Bay is having with the Flyte Systems solutions it implemented in its lobby and guest rooms when it opened this year. “We cater to business travelers most of the year,” said Ron Alicandro, general manager of the Four Diamond, 255-room property on the waterfront just two miles from the Tampa International Airport. “Airport travel information proves its value again and again to those guests, but the families traveling to this Florida destination over the holidays are especially appreciative of the service.”

Ideal for Unpredictable Holiday Airline Schedules
Holiday travel is different from the rest of the year. The primary concern of the business traveler is making connections and arriving on time.  But with families on holiday, the stakes are higher—one has the welfare and comfort of one’s children to consider. The Flyte Systems solutions play an important role in meeting that need.
 
Winter weather makes holiday flight schedules unpredictable and children are not as accustomed to waiting in airports as their parents might be, so being able to check on changing flight departure times in the comfort of the hotel is a helpful service. “About a third of our guests arrive from the airport and we wanted to provide an amenity that families and business travelers would value, particularly during the busy holiday season when we have a large number of leisure family travelers,” said Alicandro. “Guests can verify their flights schedules on a large FlyteBoard digital signage monitor strategically located in our lobby, or on their guest room television with the FlyteChannel service from Flyte Systems. They tell us our flight service helps them plan their trips with confidence and avoid long waits at the airport.”
 
With rooms beginning on the seventh floor and each one offering water views, The Westin Tampa Bay is the newest and brightest full-service property in Tampa.  According to Alicandro, the Flyte Systems service is a particular “wow” for family members who are not as accustomed to travel as their business counterparts. “Many guests have not seen anything like the FlyteBoard before and as we want to offer the very best to our guests, Flyte Systems is an important part of achieving this goal. It helps relieve the stress of family holiday travel and, we hope, keep our vacationing guests coming back in future years.”
 
Real-Time Flight Information
What sets Flyte Systems apart from PC-based applications is the ability to post accurate, real-time airline flight arrival and departure information, not FAA-regulated scheduled departure times that do not list delays caused by air traffic control, aircraft maintenance, crew availability and weather.
  • Flyte Systems offers a suite of products that serve the traveling public:  FlyteBoard, FlytePass, FlyteChannel and FlyteTouch.
  • FlyteBoard is a wall, floor or ceiling mounted high-definition, flat panel screen for lobbies, restaurants, bars and other public areas, displaying flight information for one or more airports.
  • FlytePass combines FlyteTouch with free, secure boarding pass printing and can be provided stand alone or neatly packaged in an optional all wood kiosk or integrated metal kiosk, to match your décor.
  • FlyteChannel permits guests to view live airport flight information conveniently and comfortably from their in-room television.FlyteTouch enables individual guests to search flight information using an interactive touch screen that displays real-time flight arrivals and departures for one or more airports.
Many hotel properties also use Flyte Systems’ applications to increase revenue with innovative marketing approaches for distressed travelers.  For tips on how to generate revenue by providing guests with Flyte Systems airline information, please log on to the Flyte Systems website at www.flytesystems.com.

About Flyte Systems
The Flyte Systems Division of Industrial Television Services (ITS), based in Chicago, Illinois, is the leading provider of subscription-based environmentally responsible airport flight information displays for the hospitality, convention center and digital signage industries and related businesses.  It delivers accurate, instant, airport-centric updates of flight information – not FAA-regulated scheduled departure times that may omit last minute changes.  Properties are able to differentiate their products and boost customer loyalty and repeat business with ’glance-and-go’ content critical to a traveler’s day.   Flyte Systems’ product suite builds upon ITS’ 48-year history as the leading provider of live flight information to airports, airlines, government agencies, port authorities and other travel-based businesses.  Flyte Systems was formed in 2007 to offer new Web-based travel technology and product lines.  In addition to using Energy Star-compliant digital displays, Flyte products help significantly reduce energy consumption by eliminating unnecessary trips to the airport.  Customers include Marriott, Hyatt, Westin, Embassy Suites, Holiday Inn, Days Inn, Hilton, Doubletree, Hotel Sofitel, Adam’s Mark, Renaissance and Crowne Plaza hotels, independent properties, convention centers and transportation centers.

About Westin Tampa Bay
Located in the heart of Tampa Bay on Rocky Point Island, The Westin Tampa Bay's waterfront location offers both incredible bay views and easy access to the area's attractions. Revive your spirit in its soaring 16-story sanctuary with its cascading waterfall and lushly landscaped courtyard, and enjoy the tranquility and grace of Westin Tampa Bay’s boardwalk and private beach area.

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Contact:

Flyte Systems
Debbie Kalish, Account Executive
3515 Martens Street
Franklin Park, IL 60131
Phone: (877) 463-5983
Email: Debbie.Kalish(at)flytesystems(dot)com
www.flytesystems.com

Westin Tampa Bay
Ron Alicandro, General Manager
Tampa, Florida
Phone: (813) 281-0000
 www.westin.com/tampabay

Media Contact:
Julie Keyser-Squires, APR
Softscribe Inc.
180 River Springs Drive NW
Atlanta, GA 30328
Phone: (404)256-5512
Email: Julie(at)softscribeinc(dot)com
http://www.softscribeinc.com
http://www.marketingsnacks.com

 

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Also See: Flyte Systems Implements Airport Information Displays at Oracle and Lockheed Martin Facilities; Corporate headquarters, training centers benefit from real-time airport travel information and boarding pass printing / November 2009

Hilton Garden Inn Minneapolis Installs Flyte Systems Solutions to Serve Airline Travelers, Guests print boarding passes at chic lobby kiosk / October 2009

Flyte Systems Adds Cleveland Airport Hotel Property to Growing Customer Base; Holiday Inn Express Brookpark Installs Flight Information and Boarding Pass Printing as Key Differentiators / August 2009

Flyte Systems Unveils Enhancements to FlyteTouch Airport Information Product Line at HITEC 2009; Enhanced FlyteTouch gives travelers real-time airport flight status, boarding passes, local weather, traffic and safety information for total traveler service / June 2009

Flyte Systems Installs Live Airline Information at LAX Airport Parking Complex; Full-service parking company WallyPark adds FlyteBoard real-time airline info display for travelers / May 2009

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Flyte Systems Partners with Digital Signage Provider EscapeWire Solutions to Provide Live Airline Flight Information; Partnership to encompass free-to-guest television and digital signage services / January 2009

InterContinental Chicago Launches Guest-centric Flight Information Service; Guests queuing up to use boarding pass kiosks from Flyte Systems / January 2009

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Flyte Systems Partners with Digital Signage Provider DisplayIQ, Installs Live Airline Information at 2 Hotels; Enhance guest service: operators add airline information to digital signage systems / October 2008

Leading Management Company Selects FlyteBoard to Serve Air Travelers at 'A' Location Hotels in Virginia and DC; New guest amenity provides competitive advantage in hot market / September 2008

Holiday Inn Select Rosemont Installs FlyteBoard and FlytePass To Serve Business Travelers; Flyte Systems airline information products fill the ‘travel confidence’ gap / August 2008

New Management Company Makes Its Mark by Executing on Upscale Service, Unique Amenities and Maximized ROI; Rolls Out Flyte Airline Information Systems Across Portfolio to Serve Business Guests, Differentiate Properties / August 2008

Flyte Systems Triples Size in First Year of Operations Providing Airline Information to Aid Busy Travelers; At HITEC '08 Flyte will cement leadership, build partnerships to deliver real-time airline information / June 2008

Flyte Systems Partners with Digital Signage Provider Four Winds Interactive to Provide Live Airline Flight Information; Partnership powers potential new service offerings, adds vital travel information / May 2008

'The Belamar' Luxury Boutique Installs Flyte Systems in State-of-the-Art Business Center; Live airline flight information and boarding pass printing provide travel convenience for business guests / May 2008

Kokua Hospitality Signs Agreement with Flyte Systems to Install Airline Information Products in Five Hotels; Live airline flight information to provide travel convenience for guests / April 2008

Four-Diamond, IACC Certified Eaglewood Resort & Spa Installs Flyte Systems Products to Elevate Service; Shortened ROI proves value of airline flight information to guests and property / April 2008

Hyatt Rosemont Installs FlyteBoard Flight Information Display to Serve Traveling Guests; Hyatt gains ‘wallet share;’ guests stay on property longer when flights are delayed / March 2008

Annual Digital Signage Expo ‘Ripe for Content Providers in 2009’; Flyte Systems President Brian Reynolds sees three top trends emerging / March 2008

Flyte Systems Inks Agreement with Digital Signage Provider Digital Minds, Installs TouchQuest FlyteBoard at Donald E. Stephens Convention Center; Airline flight information enhances customer service at Donald E. Stephens Convention and Conference Center, adds revenue opportunities / February 2008

Doubletree and Hilton Hotels at Seattle Airport Install FlyteBoard Airline Information Screens to Serve Business Travelers; FlyteBoards aid road-warrior guests with real-time airline information at two giant properties / February 2008

Supercharged Embassy Suites Turns Guest Perks Into Record-Breaking Year; Installation of FlyteBoard technology focuses on flier needs / January 2008

Marriott Dallas/Fort Worth Airport Hotel Provides Guests with Airline Flight Information from Flyte Systems; FlyteBoard screens in lobby aid airport-bound guests with flight times / January 2008

Tech Savvy Road Warriors Expect Travel Innovations from Hotels; The Crowne Plaza Dulles Airport responds with real-time flight information in lobby / December 2007

The Chicago O'Hare Crowne Plaza Attracts Business with Unique Technology Perks; Focus on the business traveler includes real-time flight information / November 2007

Flyte Systems Installs Airline Flight Information Display at Javits Center for IH/M&R Show; Meet me at the FlyteBoard- IH/MRS attendees confirm airline flights on FlyteBoard in Javits Center lobby, make confident travel plans / November 2007

Sofitel Chicago O'Hare's European Style Embraces Guest Airline Services; The focus on amenities like FlyteBoard delivers a value-add for business travelers / October 2007

Westin Boston Waterfront Hotel Provides Guests with Airline Flight Information To Speed Their Travels; Real-time airline departure-arrival screens set The Westin Boston Waterfront apart / October 2007

Flyte Systems Installs Airline Flight Information Displays at Berger Hotels; Updated airline departure-arrival screens keep guests and revenue on property / September 2007
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