Bangkok--Mar 9--GRAND HYATT ERAWAN
(BANGKOK, THAILAND - 7 March, 2000 ) - In a milestone event for the travel industry in Thailand, I-Quest Corporation announced today the launch of Grand Hyatt Erawan Bangkok as the first hotel in Thailand to offer high speed Internet technology in its guestrooms and meeting rooms. Worldroom Connect, I-Quest's state-of-the-art broadband Internet service, allows guests to access the Internet at speeds of up to 175 times faster than a dial-up modem.
"Installing Worldroom Connect at Grand Hyatt Erawan, and equipping travelers in Bangkok with 21st century Internet technology is an exciting event," said Elizabeth Hernandez, President of Worldroom Connect. "With technology leading the way in Asia's economic recovery, this confirms Thailand's position at the forefront of the Internet revolution."
Until now, business travelers had to rely on dial-up connections to access the Internet when staying at hotels, solutions that are not only slow but also require reconfiguration of the laptop's settings. By contrast, Worldroom Connect offers ultra-fast Internet access at up to 10 Mbps, and innovative technology that enables guests to enjoy plug-and-play convenience with no need for reconfiguration and instant connectivity without having to dial up.
"We have removed all the hassle of trying to hook up to the Internet while traveling. Users simply plug their laptop into a deskport, open their Internet Explorer or Netscape browser, and start working immediately. With our hyper-fast connection, guests no longer face long delays downloading their e-mail, large file attachments and graphics," Ms. Hernandez added.
"Worldroom Connect will change the way business is done by making it easier for business travelers to be productive when on the road. This will help further establish Thailand as the place to do business in Asia," said Pierre A. Bonard, General Manager of Grand Hyatt Erawan. "We have seen a remarkable increase in the number of guests who carry laptops, and we believe this trend will only intensify. The ability of hotels to provide fast and reliable Internet access is becoming an important factor in hotel choice for travelers."
"We have received many guest comments on how much they enjoy the convenience of working in their rooms. Providing high speed Internet access in our guestrooms not only enables our guests to work more efficiently, but makes their hotel room more like their home away from home," he added.
"We are very pleased to launch Worldroom Connect at Grand Hyatt Erawan because it is clearly one of the leading luxury hotels in the region. We are also negotiating with a large number of leading hotels throughout Bangkok to provide them with Worldroom Connect. We are expecting more and more hotels will install our service in the next few months." said Juthatip Hongsophon, Thailand Country Manager for I-Quest Corporation.
With the opening of its Bangkok office, I-Quest expands its regional operations to six key countries throughout Asia, including Thailand, Hong Kong, Korea, Philippines, Singapore and Taiwan. With this latest expansion, I-Quest is planning an Initial Public Offering on Hong Kong's new GEM board in April.
Guests using Worldroom Connect can also take advantage of features designed for business travelers with Worldroom.com, Asia's leading portal for doing business in the region.
"We have created a specialized Web site that provides all the information business travelers need for a successful trip ", said Ms. Hernandez. "Worldroom.com offers not only an interactive concierge for the hotel's facilities, but also a rich source of local information, including news, financial information, city guides, interactive maps, flight booking and even executive job search. With Worldroom Smartmail, guests can enjoy instant access to their e-mail from any Internet-connected computer without having to change any computer settings."
"We are pleased that Grand Hyatt Erawan Bangkok joins our sister properties in Hong Kong, Philippines, Singapore and Taiwan as the first hotels in their countries to offer high speed Internet access with Worldroom Connect. Combined with the launch of the Technology Concierge concept at all Hyatt hotels last year, this firmly establishes our commitment to providing the latest technology for today's cyber traveler," Mr. Bonard added.
or further information, please contact:
Juthatip Hongsophon Pongprach Surojnametakul
I-Quest Corporation - Bangkok Shandwick International ( Thailand) Ltd.
Tel : (662) 612 1240 Tel : (662) 257 0300 Ext. 310
Fax: (662) 612 1241 Fax: (662) 257 0310
E-mail : [email protected] E-mail : [email protected]
Editor's Notes:
About I-Quest Corporation
Founded in Hong Kong in 1996, I-Quest Corporation is Asia's leading regional provider of Internet technology and services for the hotel and travel industry. I-Quest has a staff of over 100 people in Hong Kong, Singapore, Manila, Taipei, Bangkok and Seoul, and will open additional offices in Tokyo, Shanghai, Jakarta and Kuala Lumpur in early 2000. I-Quest expects to have over 100 hotels and 50,000 guestrooms installed with Worldroom Connect by the end of 2000.
About Hyatt International Corporation
There are over 190 Hyatt hotels and resorts throughout the world. Hyatt International Corporation, operates 59 hotels and 20 resorts in 35 countries, with an additional 26 hotels under development. Hyatt Hotels Corporation, a separate company, operates 111 hotels and resorts in the United States, Canada and the Caribbean. Reservations or information on any Hyatt hotel can be obtained by calling 1-800-233-1234 in the United States and Canada, your local Hyatt hotel or worldwide sales office, or your travel planner. Hyatt is accessible on the Internet at www.hyatt.com. For the latest news on Hyatt, please visit our Press Room www.hyatt.com/athyatt/press/. End.