Hotel Online Special Report GTE Intrigue High-Speed Interactive System Selected For Installation in Manhattan’s New Crowne Plaza Hotel June 28, 1999 – When construction of one of the world’s newest luxury hotels is completed this year, guests may enjoy GTE IntrigueSM, the state-of-the-art in-room high-speed interactive information and entertainment system. GTE Intrigue services include movies-on-demand, high-speed Internet access, local information and custom hotel services.
The GTE Intrigue system has been selected for the 500-room Crowne Plaza in Manhattan, which is scheduled to open in November, 1999. The system is part of an integrated bundle of telecommunications, multimedia and entertainment services being provided by INNtraport, Inc., a telecommunications provider to hotels around the world. “INNtraport’s total solution provides a hotel with higher profits and a portal to the next dimension of services to meet their guest’s profile,” said Craig J. Brunet, executive vice president of INNtraport. Coupled with INNtraport’s bundled service offering, GTE Intrigue provides significant revenue opportunities and cost savings for the hotels.
With GTE Intrigue, guests’ access to in-room entertainment and information can be specifically tailored to their unique needs. Using either a digital set-top box or personal computer, GTE Intrigue has the capability to meet the demand for in-room entertainment as well as satisfy the business traveler’s desire to turn the hotel room into an extension of their office.
“GTE Intrigue will deliver unparalleled access to information and entertainment opportunities for the Crowne Plaza’s guests,” said Al Whitmore, vice president of GTE Interactive. “Travelers will enjoy communications services far more advanced than any that are available in their homes.”
Bill Achenbaum, of Crowne Plaza Properties, said, “We are very excited to add Intrigue to our portfolio of services. And, we know that working with GTE and INNtraport will allow us to focus on the new revenue streams instead of worrying about installation issues.”
GTE Intrigue is an integrated, seamless solution that provides a broad choice of entertainment options and information services to hotel guests, the communications infrastructure to support those services, and integrated reporting and billing capabilities that interface directly with the hotels’ billing systems.
The technology includes nCUBE digital video servers and Stellar One Netris 3000 set-top boxes, connected over FORE Systems ATM networks and controlled by GTE-developed software. In addition to system installation and integration with the hotels’ systems, GTE will also provide ongoing maintenance support, customization and upgrade services.
GTE’s interactive services group, the system’s developer, is a single-source provider for all of its customers’ interactive video, entertainment and information-network requirements, including hardware, software, communications networking and system installation. It is a unit of GTE Government Systems Corporation, Needham, Mass.
Intrigue System Launched in February 1999
GTE has been aggressively marketing the GTE Intrigue system since February to existing hotel properties, chains, management companies and properties under construction. GTE Government Systems’ work in this field began with a 1997 United Kingdom-based trial to implement interactive services to homes over a hybrid fiber-coax network. GTE Intrigue was later created to continue development and to market the system.
Whitmore said GTE’s interactive group is now working with businesses and private network operators worldwide who are looking for a single integrator to provide either end-to-end solutions, or the necessary components to upgrade their back-end systems.
About GTE’s Interactive Service Offerings
GTE’s interactive services group is a systems and network integration team providing global end-to-end solutions for high-speed video network requirements. Together with its partners, GTE is helping customers develop and maintain competitive advantages by implementing high-end video network solutions for applications ranging from distance learning, training and video-based corporate communications to digital media, entertainment and interactive video services for commercial or residential markets.
To meet lodging customer requirements, GTE will design a network architecture, integrate the necessary components, adapt interactive application software, provide custom content, and provide global installation and maintenance. More information about GTE interactive service offerings can be found on the World Wide Web at http://www.gte.com/gteinteractive.
About GTE
With 1998 revenues of more than $25 billion, GTE Corp. (NYSE:GTE) is one of the world’s largest telecommunications companies and a leading provider of integrated telecommunications services. More information about GTE Corp. can be found on the Internet at http://www.gte.com.
About INNtraport
New Jersey-based INNtraport has positioned itself to become one of the leading media telecommunications companies which performs integration and ongoing telecommunications management services. INNtraport offers a total outsource platform for telephone, voice, video, and data services and provides a global channel to millions of customers. More information can be found on the Internet at http://www.inntraport.com.
Contact: Rob Doolittle, GTE, 703/818-5409 http://www.gte.com/gteinteractive Email: [email protected] Also See: Lodgenet Now Delivering Interactive Entertainment to over 700,000 Hotel Rooms / Jan 1999 Hilton and Unisys Provide Essential Guest Services Network (EGSN) to Hotel Rooms / Nov 1998