StarHub, together with its wholly owned subsidiary, CyberWay, will be providing the fast Internet access facilities to The Pan Pacific Singapore. Riding on StarHub�s predominantly fibre-optic cable infrastructure and Internet Protocol-based network, hotel guests will be able to enjoy Internet access speed of 100 times of current conventional data ports available at most business hotels. 

Within the privacy of their hotel rooms, guests will be able to plug and play from their laptops and conveniently access the World Wide Web, their private corporate networks, email systems, and scheduling programs.

StarHub�s high-speed connectivity will help to eliminate lengthy downloads and in turn enable the Internet to be used as a real-time resource for guests� business use and entertainment. They will also enjoy complimentary features such as customized web pages that offer information on the hotel amenities, business services, restaurants, special online conference services, as well as information on local attractions, transportation and shopping venues and activities in Singapore. 

In addition, StarHub will also be delivering other telephony services, including a hotel mobile virtual private network (VPN). The mobile VPN will deliver StarHub�s true fixed and mobile convergent services on an integrated Intelligent Network platform � a first ever in Singapore and the Asia-Pacific region.  This means that hotel guests can remain contactable on their single hotel telephone number at all times and anywhere in Singapore, may it be through the telephone unit in the guestroom or on a mobile handset provided by the hotel. All hotel guests will be able to use their mobile handsets when on the move to dial into any of the hotel services such as the concierge desk or retrieve their voice mails, in the same manner as they would should they dial their guestroom telephone units.  Mobile handsets will be made available for guestrooms in The Pan Pacific Singapore when they check in. 

This partnership between StarHub and The Pan Pacific Singapore is set to revolutionize the hospitality industry. As hotels increasingly recognize the importance of communications to modern travellers and seek to meet their needs, what is considered a service innovation for The Pan Pacific Singapore today, will soon become a norm for all hotels. 
 
Mr Peter Kaliaropoulos, Senior Vice President, Commercial Operation, StarHub said, �Communications are fast becoming an integral part of our lives, be it for leisure or for work. Business travellers are like road warriors, ever mindful of  the latest information and news breaking developments. Hotels have to increasingly gear up and equip their rooms to provide them with that ability and convenience to communicate and receive real-time information while on the move. We are pleased to work with The Pan Pacific Singapore to bring innovative leading-edge info-communication technologies to the hospitality industry and to their guests. We will bring end-to-end communication solutions, ranging from the Internet, wireline, mobile to other wireless communications to enhance the hotel guests� experience at The Pan Pacific.�

Mr Steve Halliday, Vice President of The Pan Pacific Hotels & Resorts, and General Manager of The Pan Pacific Singapore said,  �As the hospitality industry evolves, we need to continue developing innovative technologies for our business and leisure travellers.  Part of our strategic upgrade of facilities is to provide fast Internet connectivity, a must-have amenity for hotel guests and meeting planners.  Internet services via the ADSL technology will set us apart from our competition, giving us a competitive edge and positioning of The Pan Pacific Singapore as �The Business Hotel of Asia�.  'eRooms� is our latest high tech weapon � it is what business and leisure travellers want - a simple �plug & play� laptop online connection from guest rooms, meeting rooms and boardrooms to the World Wide Web. The Pan Pacific Singapore is very pleased with the partnership with StarHub and are currently in discussion with Sterling Infotech to be our high-tech Internet equipment vendor.�

With this partnership, StarHub  will enable The Pan Pacific Singapore  to provide the following to its guests :

• Meeting rooms and guestrooms equipped with broadband technology. 
• A virtual office which provides online access to personal email accounts and corporate intranet access.
• A unique Pan Pacific Singapore intranet information database that will feature information on hotel shops, hotel restaurants, room services options and items available for in-room purchase, as well as information on local attractions and places of interest.
• A virtual travel room where guests can obtain information about the international network of Pan Pacific Hotels & Resorts, do online reservations for future hotel stays, checking on information of individual Pan Pacific privilege programmes (CardOne), and frequent guest rewards programme (Pacific Club International).
• A virtual newsroom where guests can tap for breaking news stories, check for weather forecasts worldwide, etc.
• A virtual family entertainment resource where families can access games, movie previews, music video clips on the Internet via either their hotel rooms or at the business centre.

The Pan Pacific Singapore is the FlagShip hotel in Asia within The Pan Pacific Hotels and Resorts, with 75% of its guests coming from the corporate market.  The hotel houses seven food and beverage outlets, and 26 function rooms.  In 1999, the hotel introduced a new concept to banquet service and event management, offering cuisine from three major outlets, Tuscany Ristorante, Hai Tien Lo Cantonese Restaurant and Keyaki Japanese Restaurant, along with a revamped banquet menus to event organizers.  In January next year, the hotel will be bringing in the prestigious North Indian Restaurant, Rang Mahal, an award wining restaurant famous for its aromatic curries, tandori and selection of North Indian cuisine.  This year, the hotel also completed a S$20 million refurbishment plan, which included upgrading of all guestrooms, corridor areas as well as the re-opening of the newly renovated Pacific Ballroom.

Pan Pacific Hotel & Resorts currently encompasses 21 hotels (18 managed properties, 2 marketing affiliates, and 1 hotel under development) in 12 countries in Asia, the Pacific and North America.

More about StarHub Pte Ltd

StarHub is Singapore's new operator for both fixed and mobile telecommunications services and it aims to become the region�s best world-class communications company, being the preferred provider of innovative info-communications solutions. 

StarHub is laying a new generation, integrated broadband info-communications network that is principally fibre-based. This new network infrastructure in Singapore will have the capability to provide true fixed and mobile converged services on an integrated platform, placing Singapore as the first city-nation to enable its citizens to access the latest communications technology applications and advances on an equal basis. StarHub is currently rolling out both its fixed and mobile phone networks. 

Since January 1999, CyberWay, one of Singapore's leading internet service providers, has become a wholly owned subsidiary of StarHub. StarHub is now well positioned to offer a complete info-communications solution to both its corporate customers and consumers for all their fixed, mobile and internet needs. 

Come 1 April 2000, StarHub�s services will be launched commercially. Trial of StarHub�s services is expected to begin early next year.