Marriott International, Inc. (NYSE:MAR) announced today that it plans to install wireless high-speed internet access at 400 hotels in the United States, the United Kingdom and Germany. It is the largest deployment of wireless high-speed internet access in the hotel industry, and the new service will be available at select Marriott, Renaissance, Courtyard, Residence Inn, TownePlace Suites, Fairfield Inn and SpringHill Suites hotels. Marriott is working with STSN, Marriott’s preferred high-speed internet access provider, to offer the service. High-speed wireless service will be available in hotel lobbies, meeting rooms and public spaces and will complement the current in-room high-speed internet access.
The announcement comes after an extensive 7-month test, conducted by Marriott and STSN, involving the San Francisco Marriott, San Francisco Airport Marriott, Irvine Marriott, Salt Lake City Marriott Downtown, and Residence Inn Salt Lake City Cottonwood. “Many of our guests have expressed an interest in wireless internet access. Providing business travelers and meeting attendees the ability to work in a wireless environment with convenient online access during conferences and group meetings creates a distinct competitive advantage,” said Lou Paladeau, Marriott’s vice president of technology business development.

To access wireless high-speed internet access at a Marriott property, the guest simply turns on a wireless-enabled laptop and accesses the Internet. A purchase page then appears on the computer screen and customers can enter their billing information. Complete instructions on how to access Marriott’s high-speed wireless service are available at www.stsn.com. The service will also be supported by a 24-hour, toll-free customer assistance line. Pricing for the new wireless service is under review and has not been announced.

Editor’s Note: Interviews available with Lou Paladeau, Marriott’s VP, technology business development.

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