CHICAGO� April 21, 2004 � The Whitehall
Hotel, Chicago�s premier luxury hotel, has selected Broadband Hospitality,
one of the hospitality industry�s fastest growing high-speed Internet access
(HSIA) providers, to install and service its high-speed Internet system.
The 221-room property is owned by Hinsdale, Ill.-based WH Investment and
managed by SB Yen Management Group, also based in Hinsdale.
In addition to installing a wired high-speed Internet system in The Whitehall Hotel�s 221 guestrooms and second floor meeting rooms, Broadband Hospitality will install a wireless system in the hotel�s lobby and restaurant area on the first floor. �Wireless is becoming part of every deal that we do,� says Ed Santor, national sales manager for Broadband Hospitality. �A lot of people are of the opinion that wired is better but there�s definitely a place for both technologies and we will be a player in both arenas.� Santor says Broadband Hospitality will use hardware from Paradyne Corp. in The Whitehall Hotel. �Paradyne has been a leader in the high-speed Internet industry for many years,� he says. Guests request high-speed service �Our guests had requested high-speed service,� Yen says. �Business and leisure travelers alike have a need for it. We might have lost future business without it. A high-speed Internet system will be a tremendous addition to our refined guest services.� Lucci says high-speed Internet service has become an expected amenity throughout the lodging industry. �It is extremely important to have it,� he says. �Most of the chains are mandating it. We are continuing to get calls from hotels without it. They are at a competitive disadvantage. Within two years, 85 percent of all hotels will have it.� Broadband Hospitality now has more than 150 hotels with more than 16,000 rooms installed or under contract. In addition to The Whitehall Hotel, Broadband Hospitality also has installed a high-speed Internet system in Chicago�s Hotel 71. In the April issue of Mobile PC magazine, Hotel 71 was named one of the 40 most wired hotels for the high-tech traveler. �We believe Broadband Hospitality is an ideal fit for hotels of any size�whether a luxury hotel in a large market such as Chicago, or a limited-service property in a suburban location,� Lucci says. �We provide the same level of prompt, high-quality service to all of our customers throughout the United States.� Broadband Hospitality separates itself from its competitors by providing around-the-clock tech support 24 hours a day every day of the year. About The Whitehall Hotel: The Whitehall Hotel, with unsurpassed service for more than 75 years, is Chicago�s only member of the Small Luxury Hotels of the World. The organization has 310 members worldwide. The Whitehall Hotel offers 221 luxurious guestrooms, including eight sumptuous suites. The hotel is located in the heart of Chicago�s Gold Coast, nestled amid the Magnificent Mile�s shops, restaurants, theaters, entertainment and the business district. Fortune magazine named The Whitehall Hotel �one of the eight great small luxury hotels in the U.S.� For more information about The Whitehall Hotel, go to www.thewhitehallhotel.com or call (312) 944-6300. About Broadband Hospitality:
In addition to providing high-speed Internet access solutions for restaurants, 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 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, Paradyne Corp., Qwest Mitel and Tut Systems, Broadband Hospitality can offer its customers the best possible telecommunications and network solutions at the best possible price. Broadband is the preferred HSIA vendor of the Ohio Hotel & Lodging Assn. At its convention in April 2003, the OH&LA presented Broadband Hospitality with its Stars of the Industry Allied Member of the Year award. Broadband Hospitality is also a member of the Pennsylvania Tourism and Lodging Assn. Broadband Hospitality 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. |
Founded
in 1993, Broadband Hospitality�s mission is to help hotels and restaurants
leverage the full power of the Internet by providing complete, high-quality,
high-performance Internet solutions. In addition to traditional wired solutions,
Broadband also installs wireless "hot spots." These hot spots typically
include areas such as lobbies, breakfast areas and meeting rooms. Broadband
has partnered with some of the leading wireless hardware companies to implement
Wi-Fi technology and can offer the best solution for each property.