Hotel Online  Special Report

 
History Meets High Tech; Holiday Inn at Six Flags
Brings High-speed Internet to 1800�s Building
Atlanta, GA [March 1, 2004] � It was once known as the �Deep Springs Stagestop,� a refuge for weary travelers looking for �good water� outside the city of St. Louis. Then it became the �St. Louis County Poor Farm,� and a two-story L-shaped barn handcrafted with limestone walls 36 inches thick marked the spot. Today, the walls remain and travelers still stop by, but it�s a vacationing crowd voluntarily checking into the Holiday Inn at Six Flags. And, while the original �barn� remains, the hotel is filled with modern amenities. Starting this week, guests can check emails or surf the web from anywhere on property using wireless high-speed access.

Last month, the property, formerly a Ramada Inn, raised its flag as a Holiday Inn. One of the challenges general manager Mike Klenke faced was meeting the chain�s new brand standards for modern technologies.

�With three foot stone walls and virtually no crawl space, adding wiring or even additional phone lines wasn�t an easy task,� said Klenke.  Both cost and construction issues provided challenges. His work list did include high-speed Internet access.

�While we�re primarily a tourist destination,� said Klenke, �trends in the industry point to a desire for high speed access for all users, business as well as pleasure.� Another factor was nearby neighbor, Ralston Purina.  The hotel was home to many humans frequenting dog shows in the area. And Klenke noted that the group was particularly tech savvy, often commenting on connection speeds.

To find the right solution and right vendor, Klenke enlisted the help of Robert Hernandez of Tel-Comp. After reviewing several proposals, StayOnline of Atlanta, GA was selected.

�It wasn�t all about price,� added Klenke. �There are quite a few providers, but not many with longevity. We looked for staying power, a turn-key operation, and service. If something goes wrong, it�s the hotel and our brand that suffers in the eye of the customer. We looked for a partner who would service our customers as if they were their own.�

�We look at each hotel as a partner with our company,� added Antonio DiMilia, president of StayOnline. �Our RF-trained engineers survey each property individually so that connections are seamless and unwavering. And StayOnline�s EZAir, a Plug �n Play device makes it simple for the hotel guest to connect their computer to the network. Ease of use enables use.� 

StayOnline is providing wireless access throughout the 98,000-square-foot facility including guest rooms, common areas and the hotel�s �Holidome.� The Holidome surrounds the pool area and allows parents to sit back away from the sun and/or water and still have an eagle-eyed view of their kids.

�We have 18th century character with next century amenities,� commented Klenke. 

About StayOnline, Inc.
Based in Atlanta, Georgia, StayOnline provides secure wireless high-speed Internet access solutions for the hospitality industry.  With more than 200 installed locations, StayOnline operates the largest, 100% WLAN in hotels in North America.  StayOnline meets the highest quality standards and is Intel® Centrino� certified.  StayOnline boasts an impressive customer base, including properties in over 30 national lodging brands, as well as several unique boutique and historic properties.  For additional information on StayOnline, visit www.stayonline.net


 
Contact:

StayOnline
Karin P. Koser
404.636.9311
[email protected]

Sharon Kraun
770.804.8865



 
Also See: As 2003 Comes to a Close, StayOnline Hits 23,000 Rooms in 203 Hotels / December 2003
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StayOnline Installs First High Speed Wireless Connection in Douglas County / November 2003
Cool Springs Marriott Goes Wireless with StayOnline / September 2003
Two More Davidson Hotels Go Wireless with StayOnline; Wireless HSIA Installed at Marriott Hunt Valley and at Park Vista Memphis / July 2003
StayOnline to Market AT&T Wireless WI-FI Service in Thousands of Hotel Rooms Across US / June 2003
StayOnline and Boingo Wireless Announce WI-FI Network Roaming Agreement; StayOnline�s network of fully wireless hotels featuring in-room Wi-Fi hot spots to be integrated into Boingo network / June 2003
StayOnline Connects Hotel Biltmore; Intel campus hotel partners with StayOnline for high speed wireless Internet / June 2003
New Castle Goes Wireless With StayOnline; Leading independent hotel operator to use StayOnline for high speed wireless Internet / June 2003
CNL Hospitality Selects StayOnline - StayOnline becomes approved vendor for installing high speed Internet access / June 2003
StayOnline�s Wireless Solution is Verified by Intel; Nation�s Largest 100% Wireless LAN Provider for Hospitality Industry Now Verified on Intel® Centrino� Mobile Technology / June 2003
Lane Hospitality Goes Wireless with StayOnline / May 2003
Coakley Williams Goes Wireless With StayOnline / May 2003
StayOnline Partners With PrintMe To Add Convenient Mobile Printing To Spectrum Of Guest Services / April 2003
The Warwick Hotel Seattle and the Warwick Regis San Francisco Add StayOnline�s Wireless High Speed Internet Service to Their Formidable List of Amenities / April 2003
StayOnline and iPass Announce Agreement - StayOnline to Integrate its Wireless Access Points into the iPass Global Virtual Network for Enterprises / Feb 2003
StayOnline Announces 100 % Wireless High Speed Internet Installation at 100th Hotel / Jan 2003
StayOnline Introduces Hospitality Industry�s First Online Quote Application / Jan 2003
Top North Shore Hotel Now Offers Full Property Wireless High Speed Internet Access / Dec 2002
Davidson Hotel Company Selects StayOnline to Install Wireless High Speed Internet Access / Oct 2002
Foundry Park Inn & Spa Massages History With High Tech; Adds Wireless High-Speed Internet Access through Partnership with StayOnline / Aug 2002
Innkeepers Hospitality, Inc. Connects with StayOnline�s Wireless High-Speed Internet! / July 2002
Noble House Hotels & Resorts Selects StayOnline for Wireless High-Speed Internet Access Program / Nov 2001


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