"We are honored to have been selected as the Holiday Inn Boardman�s HSIA vendor," says Vince Lucci, president of Youngstown, Ohio-based Broadband Hospitality. "They are one of Six Continents Hotels� most prestigious properties. Their many awards demonstrate that. They are our crown jewel customer and share our commitment to provide superior guest service." 

Brent Reynolds, general manager of the hotel, says he selected Broadband Hospitality because of its growing regional presence, its professionalism and cost-competitiveness.

"I am big on relationships," Reynolds says. "Broadband Hospitality has always been very responsive. We did some competitive shopping but on price, value and professionalism, we learned that nobody can touch Broadband Hospitality. They have a great product at a great cost, especially when a hotel plans to offer HSIA as a free-to-guest amenity."
 

Guests Request High-Speed Service Reynolds says he had been considering HSIA for more than five years. He decided now was the time to offer HSIA.  "Five or six years ago, fewer than one percent of our guests said they would use it," Reynolds says. "Today, we get requests on a daily basis. Because of that demand and because the technology is now where it needs to be, we decided to make it a complimentary part of our amenity package."

Brent Reynolds, GM Holiday Inn Boardman Hotel and Conference Center .

The hotel, owned by the Tampa, Fla.-based DeBartolo Property Group, also installed HSIA for competitive reasons. 

"We�re the only full-service hotel in the county (Mahoning) we are in but in the past 15 years we have had five other hotels built close to us," Reynolds says. "We want to stay ahead of our competitors and be the trend setter. HSIA is something an award winning hotel should have."

The Holiday Inn Boardman is currently in the running for its tenth Torchbearer Award. The award is based on customer comment card responses and is presented by Six Continents Hotels.

Reynolds says another reason he selected Broadband Hospitality is because of the company�s technical support services.  Hoteliers and hotel guests can call Broadband Hospitality�s toll-free number for assistance seven days a week from 8 a.m. to 3 a.m. The company's call center hours will be extended to 24 hours a day, every day, by March 15, 2003, to meet requirements for franchise companies and HSIA providers. Broadband provides each hotel room with an information stand that includes connection instructions and the toll-free support number.

"Because the Holiday Inn Boardman is a midscale hotel, we don�t have technical concierges," Reynolds says. "That is why we need the type of support system that Broadband Hospitality offers."

Lucci says he is excited about adding the Holiday Inn Boardman's rooms to the group of more than 8,600 guestrooms in which Broadband has installed HSIA.

"The Holiday Inn Boardman always has been the leading hotel in the Warren/Youngstown market," Lucci says. "Undeniably, they are also one of the leading hotels in the entire country. We are excited to be working with such an industry leader."

About the Holiday Inn Boardman:

The Holiday Inn Boardman is the premier, full-service hotel and conference center in the greater Youngstown, Ohio, area. The hotel and conference center features 158 rooms and suites, 10 meeting rooms, restaurant, indoor pool, spa and fitness center. The Holiday Inn Boardman is independently owned and operated by the Tampa, Fla.-based DeBartolo Property Group.

About Broadband Hospitality:

Founded in 1993, Broadband Hospitality�s mission is to help hotels leverage the full power of the Internet by providing complete, high-quality, high-performance Internet solutions.

In addition to providing HSIA solutions for guestrooms, business centers, kiosks and conference rooms, Broadband Hospitality offers print services (printing guest documents via the in-room Internet connection), e-commerce platforms for hotel chains, video on demand, videoconferencing and voice over IP. Broadband is currently testing all available wireless technologies to determine how best to provide wireless HSIA in hotel lobbies and conference centers. Areas where guests can use such service are called "hot spots."

Broadband Hospitality offers a wide range of voice solutions, including local service. The company also is an authorized Mitel dealer that installs and services hotel phone systems. Because of its strategic partnerships with companies such as AT&T, Qwest Mitel and Tut Systems, Broadband Hospitality can offer its customers the best possible telecommunications and network solutions at the best possible price.

Broadband Hospitality is the preferred HSIA vendor of the Ohio Hotel & Lodging Assn. The company meets the brand standards for HSIA for Hilton Garden Inn hotels and most standards set by leading franchisors. For more information about Broadband Hospitality, go to www.broadbandhospitality.com or call Vince Lucci, president, at (330) 629-8848.