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to Deliver Full Range Of HDTV Content, Including Current Release Video-On-Demand Movies |
HDTV, �WOW�ing guests and enhancing in-room entertainment revenue April 5, 2006 - Located in the bustling hub of New York City�s Times Square, the Iroquois Hotel has added another lavish facet to their already luxurious offerings. Right around the corner from Bryant Park, the epicenter of New York�s famous fashion week, the European-style Iroquois has been home to celebrities and sophisticated travelers alike � pampering each patron with world-class provisions. The ground floor houses the American-French cuisine of Triomphe, one of the most critically lauded restaurants in the city. And now, as part of a recent multimillion-dollar renovation, the property has added high-end hotel entertainment to its list of superlatives that have upgraded the entire hotel to the 4-Star level and added luxury to every room � making it one of the best lodging destinations in the Big Apple. �The Iroquois New York takes its reputation as a �showcase� property seriously,� says General Manager Paul Celnik. �When we completed our full renovation, we thought hard about how in-room entertainment could give us a distinct advantage in our market. We knew what LodgeNet was doing with their SIGNETURE TV® solution, and we knew about their HDTV innovations with LG Electronics. What clinched the decision was the opportunity to bring our guests on-demand, high-definition Hollywood movies just weeks after their theatrical premieres. The fact that we offer that HDTV experience in every room sets us apart from other properties on the street.� Iroquois solution maximizes guest space, enhances revenue The HDTV solution LodgeNet installed at The Iroquois is enabled by Pro:IdiomTM, a first-of-its-kind, digital rights management technology developed by LG Electronics to protect the integrity of premium digital content at every point in the distribution chain. LodgeNet � the first in-room entertainment provider to adopt the Pro:Idiom standard � has negotiated unprecedented licensing agreements for high-definition, theatrical VOD entertainment in the traditional hotel window (pre-DVD). For example, Celnik notes that guests staying at The Iroquois in April 2006 can enjoy true high-definition versions of recently released titles including Match Point, Last Holiday, Bubble, Derailed, Yours, Mine & Ours, Aeon Flux and more. Other high-definition options for Iroquois guests include premium satellite channels, as well as high-definition broadcast programming as available from local stations. Another benefit is in the �boxless� nature of the integrated LodgeNet solution. After completely restoring the hotel�s historic public spaces, The Iroquois� executives also wanted the guest rooms to be exceptional. That vision included more usable space, which meant removing the large armoires that had housed the conventional 24-inch television sets. �We upgraded all our guest rooms and suites to wall-mounted flat panel HDTVs, and immediately they had a more spacious feel � and without the extra hardware that comes with other HDTV solutions,� Celnik says. �So our rooms are cleaner looking with more free space. Guests love the flat panels, the high-definition movies and the convenience.� Celnik also claims that The Iroquois� in-room entertainment revenues have risen since the upgrade � a lift LodgeNet says is in keeping with other hotels that have migrated from the company�s tape based platform to its digital server based system. Established relationship, partner expertise help The Iroquois sidestep HDTV conversion challenges The existing relationship between The Iroquois and LodgeNet helped ease and expedite the hotel�s HDTV conversion. �We did a lot of research on high-definition systems before we made our decision,� says Celnik. �We stayed with the provider that has served us the past several years, and it was the right choice.� LodgeNet also provided valuable insight in selecting the HDTV displays. �Bringing HDTV into hotel rooms is very different than buying a flat panel TV for a home,� explains Celnik. �Hotel televisions require special features like volume limiters and tuners that show the hotel�s channel when a guest switches on the TV. LodgeNet realizes that the display, the content and the interactive TV platform are all part of the picture with HDTV, and they were a tremendous help pulling all the pieces together.� All of this has driven the success of The Iroquois� ultimate objective:
boosting guest satisfaction. �Our guests expect the best when they
stay here,� concludes Celnik. �Nearly all of them remark how impressed
they are with our flat panels and the high-definition entertainment. LodgeNet
has clearly contributed to helping The Iroquois stand apart.�
About The Iroquois New York
About LodgeNet
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LodgeNet
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