Proving that business travelers increasingly demand high-speed Internet access while traveling,
Wayport
has announced that the company has surpassed the 4 million mark for customer connections to its network and recently installed high-speed Internet access in more than 33,500 hotel guestrooms, including such brands as Loews Hotels, Sheraton and Doubletree.
Wayport has experienced exponential growth in all of its core business segments, with the most significant growth occurring during recent months. For example, during July-Dec. ‘03, total customer connections - with “connection” defined as a customer’s session of unlimited use of Wayport’s service in one location - grew by more than 113 percent compared to the same time the year before (July-Dec. ‘02). Wi-Fi connections during that same time grew even faster, increasing by 290 percent, due in part to the proliferation of notebook computers featuring Intel® Centrino(tm) mobile technology. Wayport’s 4Q ‘03 revenues grew more than 87 percent compared to 4Q ‘02.

  Wayport attributes the continued increase in customer connections and venue installations to its aggressive efforts in creating the industry’s most comprehensive high-speed Internet access solution. Hotels benefit from Wayport’s service as a key differentiator that drives guest and meeting room business through a dedicated nationwide sales team, offers the industry’s highest quality of service, maintains a sharp focus on customer care, communicates to customers through comprehensive marketing programs, and leverages strategic roaming and co-marketing partnerships - with industry leaders such as Verizon Wireless, AT&T Wireless, SBC, Sprint PCS, Dell, IBM, Intel, Microsoft, Palm and many more - to drive awareness and usage.

“Wayport’s high-quality offering, experience and seamless turnkey solution were the deciding factors in choosing a high-speed Internet access provider for our properties,” said Thomas J. Corcoran Jr., President and CEO of FelCor Lodging Trust, the nation’s second-largest hotel real estate investment trust (REIT). “Wayport offers unparalleled experience in the industry as well as ongoing sales and marketing support, which helps drive incremental business travel and meeting revenue to our properties.”

Wayport’s Hotel Services team recently installed high-speed Internet access into more than 33,500 hotel guestrooms in premier hotel properties and has another 20,000 hotel guestrooms sold, which will be installed shortly.

“Hotels realize the importance of selecting a complete high-quality high-speed Internet solution to meet the needs of their guests, and they appreciate the value Wayport provides in terms of driving occupancy and achieving guest satisfaction,” said Steve Fulford, vice president of business development for Wayport. “Hotels continue to choose Wayport as their leading provider; for example, in December alone, which is typically a slow month for the industry, Wayport signed contracts for 45 premier hotels, equaling more than 9,500 rooms.”

New Wayport hotel partner locations include:

Loews Hotel properties: House of Blues (Chicago); Portofino Bay Hotel

Hard Rock Hotel and Royal Pacific Resort (all Orlando)

Sheraton Hotel properties: Sheraton Premiere at Tysons Corner
(Vienna, Va.), Sheraton Society Hill (Philadelphia), Sheraton Gateway

Suites (Chicago O’Hare), Sheraton Burlington Hotel and Conference

Center (Burlington, Vt.), Sheraton Gateway Hotel (Atlanta Airport), and Sheraton Suites Lexington (Lexington, Ky.)

Doubletree Hotel properties: Doubletree Guest Suites (Raleigh/Durham),  Doubletree Denver Southeast, Doubletree Guest Suites (Charlotte, N.C.) and Doubletree Guest Suites (Walt Disney World® Resort)

Atlanta Marriott Gwinnett Place

Francisco Grande Hotel and Golf Resort (Casa Grande, Ariz.)

The Roosevelt Hotel (New York City)

Crowne Plaza Universal Hotel (Orlando)

Atheneum Suite Hotel (Detroit)

Westin Galleria (Dallas)

Hilton Marco Island Beach Resort (Marco Island, Fla.)

Edgewater Beach Hotel & Club (Naples, Fla.)

The Registry Resort & Club (Naples, Fla.)

Boca Raton Resort & Club (Boca Raton, Fla.)

Hyatt Regency Pier 66 Resort & Marina (Ft. Lauderdale)

Radisson Bahia Mar Resort & Yachting Center (Ft. Lauderdale)

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