InterContinental Hotels Group has signed agreements with Cisco and Nortel to upgrade and streamline in-house technology across IHG’s portfolio of properties throughout the Middle East and Africa.

The agreement will affect InterContinental, Crowne Plaza and Holiday Inn Hotels & Resorts, as well as Express by Holiday Inn hotels and in the near future, Staybridge Suites. The project is aimed at ensuring that state-of-the-art telephone equipment and web-based communications are available to hotel guests.

By consolidating the way in which its hotels are supplied technological support, IHG is able to provide guests access to cutting-edge technology, while reducing the cost of support required and ultimately preventing higher costs to customers.

Cisco Systems, a worldwide leader in networking that transforms how people connect, communicate and collaborate, believes the key to success for IHG in the Middle East and Africa, lies in creating a comfortable and productive environment for guests, while running an efficient, profitable operation. Cisco’s Hospitality Solutions will ensure business travellers stay connected whether in a guest room, the lobby or a conference room, check-in and checkout will be fast, accurate and personalised and staff members will be able to keep in touch while roaming the premises.

Nortel, a leader in unified communications, will be installing the latest telecoms systems such as Voice over IP with IP Phones, data network equipment and network active components. Nortel technology will support system reliability, improved internet access throughout the hotels and better functionality of telephones and multi-media facilities.

“Cisco’s Hospitality Solutions will ensure all the hotels networking facilities are manageable and customisable by staff members, management and even guests as the need arise,” said Markus Wissmann, Hospitality Business Development Manager, Cisco. “Cisco will help IHG deliver an optimal experience that will improve guest loyalty, attract new customers and create service and convenience that will set them apart.”

“Nortel helps the Hospitality Industry deliver with enhanced communication solutions that support innovative services, improve guest loyalty and bolster profitability,” added Hassan Hamadani, Marketing Manager for Nortel in the Middle East. “Customers are increasingly technology savvy, especially in the world of business travel, and to meet these demands IHG will now offer a world-class IT service as standard, leaving time for the group to focus on delivering the first-rate hospitality and knowledge it is renowned for.”

IHG currently operates 74 properties across the Middle East and Africa region and has plans to double this number by the end of 2010 across five tiers of hotel brands.
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