Inter-touch
, a leading global provider of High-Speed Internet access for business travellers, today announced that it has successfully completed the installation of its service in thirteen key Thistle Hotels in London.

The partnership sees inter-touch providing high-speed wired Internet access in more than 5,000 guest rooms, Wi-Fi wireless access in common areas (such as lobbies) and both Wi-Fi wireless and wired access in 140 meeting rooms in 13 of Thistle`s London hotels.

The completion of the installations now makes Thistle Hotels
the largest Broadband Internet enabled hotelier in London.

The inter-touch powered High-Speed Internet solution is known as Thistle Connect. Using Thistle Connect, guests and meeting attendees can send and receive emails, access corporate networks and surf the Internet, all at speeds considerably faster than a standard modem connection.

Meeting delegates can use Thistle Connect to interact in real time with facilitators and remote delegates, as the service supports applications such as web casting and online conferencing. Thistle Connect is also compatible with the major Virtual Private Networks (VPN), allowing remote users fast and secure access to their corporate VPN network across the Internet.

“High-speed Internet access is becoming a must have, but it is a complex and difficult proposition for hotels to install, manage the technology and provide the ongoing customer service themselves”, said Bryan Steele, Director of IT for Thistle hotels. “Selecting inter-touch as a partner was a natural fit. They understand how to provide a seamless Internet service and offer excellent customer support.

Philippe Dewulf, Managing Director of inter-touch`s European & Middle Eastern operations, said, “We are proud to be working with Thistle Hotels. We are confident that the Thistle Connect solution powered by inter-touch will drive incremental business travel and meeting room revenue to their properties as well as provide an increased level of satisfaction for their guests.”

Related stories on ITN:

(10/09/2001) Thistle Hotels Doubles Online Revenue After Site Redesign

(02/07/2001) Multimap for Thistle Hotels

(06/08/2000) Thistle Hotels Signs with Pegasus Solutions

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