Grand Hotel Europe goes Wi-Fi

In-room and public space Wi-Fi at the Grand Hotel Europe, St. Petersburg.

ST. PETERSBURG, Russia, April 17, 2006 - The Grand Hotel Europe has launched Wireless Internet Access, known as wireless fidelity or Wi-Fi, which is now available throughout the hotel including all guest rooms, conference and public areas. This project has been developed in collaboration with Peterstar, the largest St. Petersburg based Internet Service Provider, and Cisco Systems, Inc. the worldwide leader in networking for the Internet. The high-speed internet access is based on some of the latest technology of Cisco Systems and benefits from a high speed direct connection to the Peterstar Internet Backbone. The system is certified under the Wi-Fi zone standards.
Being voted this fall among 20 best European business hotels, the Grand Hotel Europe has taken further steps improving Internet accessibility. "Our world becomes more dependent on technology and the convenience and mobility of that technology. We feel that local community as well as business travelers increasingly needs more access to the Internet" states Thomas Noll, the hotel’s General Manager.

The Cisco-based Wi-Fi solution helps provide a foundation for supporting next generation hotels that deliver and support a continuously expanding suite of innovative guest services and staff resources.

High-speed internet access and Wi-Fi hot spots throughout the guest rooms and suites, the lobby, restaurants and other public areas of the hotel-enabling guests to work at their convenience in a relaxed environment. The Wi-Fi network in the Grand Hotel Europe, St. Petersburg, Russia consists of 47 Cisco Aironet 1200 series access points capable of operating at both 802.11b and g standards, which helps provide wireless with security features to support mobility services for guests. Together with Barsum billing system the whole solution will offer the largest and the most modern service for Wi-Fi guest access in the region.

The solution supports easy installation, centralized management, and the scope to add new technologies, which underpin the cost-effectiveness of the solution. The deployed network provides a flexible basis for offering innovative services to hotel guests and hotel staff.

"Due to historic nature of the building it was a challenge to deploy the latest and high quality technology without affecting the design of hotel interiors. However, it became an integral part of the ongoing large scale renovation of the hotel. The internet link is based on a high-speed 10 Mbps optical connection. The system is owned and managed by the Grand Hotel Europe, unlike most other hotels who rely on outsourced solutions" says Marco Correia, Orient Express Hotels Regional IT Manager.

In order to cater to the guests’ needs, the hotel provides several pricing options, like one hour access for a passer-by client, or 24 hour or 72 hour access for clients staying at the hotel.

Public areas of the Grand Hotel Europe are equipped with all the necessary conveniences-special power outlets for notebook connections which cover every square meter of our Mezzanine Café and help allow for long working hours away from office.

Orient-Express Hotels, Trains and Cruises (www.orient-express.com) is a hotel and leisure company providing luxury travel experiences for discerning travelers in areas of outstanding cultural, historic or recreational interest. Founded in 1976 when the company acquired the renowned Hotel Cipriani in Venice, Orient-Express owns or has investments in 50 businesses, with 38 highly individual hotels, three restaurants, six tourist trains and two river cruise operations located in 22 countries worldwide.

The company believes that discerning travelers will choose a famous individual property in preference to a chain brand. Thus, none of its businesses is called Orient-Express except the fabled Venice Simplon-Orient-Express luxury train, which operates across Europe and links London, Paris and Venice. Orient-Express chooses to own or part-own its businesses, believing equity returns are greater than management fee income alone, and continues to seek out unique properties with expansion potential and introduce new experiences restoring romance, glamour and style to international travel.

Downloadable high resolution photographs of Orient-Express hotels, trains and cruises are available at www.orient-expressimages.com.

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Marc Musgrove

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Cisco Systems, Inc.

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