Wireless and Wired Online Connectivity
Enhances
Guest Experience at Luxury Hotel
Austin, TX - November 7, 2001 - Wayport, Inc., the leading provider
of high-speed Internet service in airports and hotels, today announced
an agreement to provide wireless and wired Internet access to the Nashville
Marriott at Vanderbilt University. The new luxury hotel, managed by Washington-based
MeriStar Hotels & Resorts (NYSE: MMH) and located in the heart of Nashville�s
West End, is set to open Nov. 16.
Under the revenue sharing agreement, Wayport will install, maintain
and support Wi-Fi (802.11b) wireless Internet access in the hotel�s lobby
and common areas, as well as wired service in the hotel�s 307 guestrooms
and suites. Additionally, Wayport will provide both wireless and
wired Internet access throughout the property�s more than 9,000 square
feet of meeting space. The Nashville Marriott will pay installation costs
and a fixed monthly fee for the service.
| �We know that many of today�s guests
are basing their hotel selection on whether or not the property offers
high-speed Internet access as part of its amenity package, because they
need to stay productive and connected to family while on the road,� said
Russell Archuleta, hotel general manager. �By offering Wayport�s service,
we are driving occupancy to the property and maintaining our commitment
to providing an outstanding guest experience.�
For a nominal fee, guests can use Wayport�s wired or wireless Internet
connection to browse the Web, send and receive e-mail or access corporate
networks 50 times faster than a standard modem connection. Through a simple
connection process, guests and meeting attendees bypass the hassles of
dial-up such as busy signals, local access numbers and long wait times.
�Including Wayport service into a new-build illustrates that now, more
than ever, hotel properties are recognizing the importance of providing
high-speed Internet access to their guests and meeting attendees, and are
willing to share in the costs associated with the provisioning and support
of the service,� said Wayport CEO, Dave Vucina. �Internet access not only
enables guests to remain productive on the road, but it gives hotels a
competitive edge and additional revenue streams in light of the current
tough market.�
The Nashville Marriott joins 92 other MeriStar-managed properties in
offering guests Wayport high-speed Internet access, including properties
operated under well-known flags such as Hilton, Sheraton, Westin, Radisson
and Doubletree.
Currently, Wayport provides wired and wireless access at more than 420
hotels, including world-class hotel chains such as Four Seasons Hotels
& Resorts, Wyndham Hotels & Resorts and Sonesta Hotels & Resorts.
Wayport also offers Wi-Fi wireless Internet access throughout all terminals
and gates at four airports including Seattle-Tacoma, Dallas/Fort Worth
International, San Jose International and Austin-Bergstrom International.
In addition, Wayport |
Wayport Providing Microsoft
Windows XP
Customers free Wireless Internet
Access in
Wayport Enabled Hotels and Airports
Will Boost Wi-F(802.11b) Wireless
Awareness
Austin, TX - October 22, 2001 - Wayport Inc. and Microsoft
Corp. have teamed to offer customers of Windows XP free high-speed Wi-Fi
(802.11b) wireless Internet access to promote the use of wireless and to
support the Oct. 25, 2001, launch of Microsoft Windows XP. The special
promotion is good at more than 420 Wayport-enabled hotels and airports
across the United States.
Users of Windows XP will benefit from free wireless Internet
service in participating hotel lobbies and throughout all gates and terminals
at Wayport�s all-wireless airports from Oct. 25, 2001, through Jan. 31,
2002.
�Windows XP delivers breakthrough support for secure,
high-speed Wi-Fi wireless networking that is so effortless, users have
to experience it for themselves to believe it,� said John Frederiksen,
general manager of marketing for Windows at Microsoft. �This promotion
makes available Wayport�s broad set of wireless hotspots, enabling a wide
variety of on-the-go users to experience firsthand at no cost how Windows
XP fully unlocks the potential of their PCs while they are away from the
office.�
As part of this promotion, Microsoft will station XPerience
Centers within Wayport�s Internet Business Centers (formerly Laptop Lane)
featuring Microsoft promotional materials and trial CDs of Office XP. Windows
XP includes many enhancements that increase productivity and provide both
business and home users with an easy-to-use, exciting PC experience. Windows
XP will also help provide a seamless wireless connectivity experience for
Wayport customers by quickly and effortlessly locating a wireless public
network for them.
�This promotion is an excellent opportunity for customers
of Windows XP to try wireless service and stay productive where they need
it most�in hotels and airports,� said Dan Lowden, Wayport vice president
of marketing. �This promotion will also help drive occupancy to our property
partner locations, as many Windows XP customers will want to try the wireless
service at our nationwide network of hotels.�
One of Wayport�s property partners, MeriStar Hotels &
Resorts, is taking special initiative to communicate the offer to their
customers by distributing key card inserts outlining the details.
�Our hotel properties have always catered to the needs
of the business traveler,� said Hoyt Bacon, chief marketing officer for
MeriStar Hotels & Resorts. �By participating in this promotion with
Microsoft and Wayport, we are further enhancing our guest services and
enabling new users of Windows XP to take advantage of Wayport�s wireless
service in our properties.�
*Free access is available in hotel common areas such as
lobbies and restaurants, but does not include guest rooms and/or meeting
rooms, or Wayport Internet Business Centers (formerly Laptop Lane). |
|
recently acquired nine Laptop Lane locations - renamed Wayport Internet
Business Centers - in six major airports. Wayport Internet Business Centers
features conveniences such as, wired high-speed Internet connections, long
distance capabilities, faxing, printing and private offices.
About Wayport, Inc.
Wayport, Inc. delivers high-speed Wi-Fi wireless and wired Internet
access to travelers where they need it most�in airports, hotels and conference
centers. Founded in 1996, Wayport has served the hospitality industry longer
than any other broadband provider and has become the traveler�s choice
for Internet access by offering the highest standards in network performance,
convenience and service. Travelers accessing Wayport networks via wireless
and wired Ethernet connections can easily log on to the Internet, e-mail
and company networks up to 50 times faster than traditional dial-up. Wayport
is a pioneering member of the Wireless Ethernet Compatibility Alliance
(WECA); a champion of the Wi-Fi standard; and an Allied Member of the American
Hotel and Lodging Association and the International Hotel
& Restaurant Association.
Wayport is a registered trademark and the Wayport logo is a trademark
of Wayport, Inc. All other product names may be trademarks of their respective
companies. Wayport operates a Cisco Powered NetworkTM.
This release contains forward looking statements that are subject to
risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, the impact of competitive
products, services and pricing, product/services, demand and market acceptance,
new product development, business strategies of the Company or its competitors,
reliance on key strategic alliances, availability of raw materials, changes
in technology, the regulatory environment, fluctuations in
operating results and other risks detailed from time to time in the
Company�s prospectus or in filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. |
