ORLANDO - June 26, 2001 - Wayport, Inc., the traveler's choice for wireless and wired high-speed Internet access in hotels and airports, introduces Wayport Meeting Services designed to help meeting planners incorporate broadband network technologies to increase productivity and interactivity in the meeting space.
Wayport's enhanced meeting services - announced today at the Hospitality Industry Technology Exposition & Tradeshow on the heels of the company's launch of its all-wireless hotel solution - add new opportunities for hoteliers to boost meeting revenues by providing services that are in demand by the event planning industry. For meetings and conferences of any size, Wayport-enabled hotels can support a variety of high-tech interactive applications such as remote training, online product demonstrations, secured access into corporate networks, and Web-enabled presentations.
Wayport Meeting Services is available at the more than 400 Wayport-enabled hotels throughout the U.S. and will simplify the process of setting up Web-enabled meetings for the professional meeting planner, the company event coordinator, and the hotel sales and catering staff.
"Planning a tech-savvy meeting can be a logistical nightmare for meeting planners who know what they want, but need assistance with the detailed technical aspects to pull it off. And, supporting such meetings can be a challenge for hotels, which may not have on-site staff with the needed technical training," said Dave Vucina, chief executive officer of Wayport. "Now planners and hoteliers can leverage the full power of the Internet with a knowledgeable Wayport technology professional to guide them and the technology to deliver an impressively connected meeting."
Wayport's permanent, always-on, broadband connection streamlines meeting setup by eliminating the expensive and time-intensive process associated with installing temporary leased lines, network equipment and cabling. Also, because Wayport-enabled meeting rooms are equipped with Wi-FiÔ (802.11b) wireless access and wired Ethernet connections, meeting planners can select the most appropriate option for their attendees.
In addition to providing complete broadband Internet access at T1 speeds, Wayport offers a basic Meeting Services package that includes a pre-meeting consultation with a Wayport representative and around-the-clock, toll-free technical support with remote network diagnostic capability via Wayport's in-house call center as well as password-protected meeting room ports to prevent access by unauthorized users.
For large-scale meetings or special configuration requirements, Wayport Meeting Services also can provide on-site technical assistance through Wayport's nationwide team of field specialists, access to a dedicated meeting support hotline, as well as statically assigned, fully routable IP support to enable the use of special applications such as VPN servers and various forms of online conferencing* or Webcasting* on the Wayport network.
In addition to assisting meeting planners, Wayport's Meeting Services benefits hoteliers by providing programs and resources that support existing meeting business as well as drive additional meeting revenue. For example, Wayport offers training for hotel sales and audio/visual staff on the benefits of Meeting Services in addition to creating an on-site Property Resource Center, which allows hoteliers to manage and monitor the service including the ability to access real-time usage reports that track the number of connections in any meeting room.
About Wayport, Inc.
Wayport, Inc. delivers high-speed wireless and wired Internet access to travelers where they need it most…in airports, hotels and conference centers. Founded in 1996, Wayport has served the hospitality industry longer than any other broadband provider and has become the traveler's choice for Internet access by offering the highest standards in network performance, convenience and service. With more than 400 Wayport-enabled locations, travelers accessing Wayport networks via wireless and wired Ethernet connections can easily log on to the Internet, email and company networks up to 50 times faster than traditional dial-up. Wayport is a pioneering member of the Wireless Ethernet Compatibility Alliance (WECA); a champion of the Wi-Fi™ standard; and an Allied Member of the American Hotel and Motel Association and the International Hotel & Restaurant Association. For a listing of Wayport-served locations or to learn more about the Austin, Texas-based company, visit www.wayport.net or call 1-877-WAYPORT (U.S.) or 512-WAYPORT (international).
