Locatel, European leader in interactive multimedia systems for the hospitality and healthcare sectors, has acquired Docomo Intertouch Europe, along with its suite of solutions for premium quality internet access, in-room entertainment technologies and managed web platforms for hotels. Locatel's purchase of Docomo Intertouch Europe, which is based in London, includes the company's solutions, as well as its commercial and development organisation.

According to a survey conducted with over 1000 respondents in October 2012 for Locatel by international researchers OpinionWay, reliable high speed WiFi is a priority or important criteria for 86 % of business travellers when choosing a hotel. With the integration of Docomo into the Locatel portfolio, hotels and their guest clients benefit from premium quality broadband WiFi, which in turn facilitates a much wider range of web-based services which can also be accessed by smartphones and other mobile devices. This means, for example, that hotels can offer meetings' organisers their own dedicated portal for the organisation and smooth running of events, complete with project management services, technical support, billing and reporting options. Other valuable new services for hotel guests include teleconferencing facilities, business centre solutions and the ability to print documents via laptops and mobile devices – made possible by the Docomo 'Freedom Suite' of solutions. As all Locatel systems are completely cloud based, hotels have no need for a server on their premises.

"Our acquisition of Docomo Intertouch Europe means that we can offer hotels a global solution to their information technology and communication needs, which allow them concentrate on their core expertise of running a hotel!" commented Pierre Lestage, Locatel's CEO. "This marks a significant milestone in Locatel's development strategy as we continue to expand our international footprint, as well as the ways in which we can help hotels to drive revenues and improve their cost efficiency. Furthermore it reinforces that we are putting mobile technologies at the heart of our strategy, helping hotels to more efficiency manage their properties and anticipate the growing trend for clients who wish to use their own mobile devices to benefit from high quality business and leisure services."

Celebrating its 50th year of innovation in 2012, Locatel develops and provides a range of technological solutions for hotels including internet infrastructure and multimedia on demand content, as well as on screen interactive solutions to promote and sell hotel services to their clients and enrich In-room Guest Experience. Supporting multiple networks from standard coaxial to optical fibre (GPON), Locatel is currently worldwide leader in terms of number of hotel rooms equipped with interactive full IPTV systems. Through its recently announced commercial partnership with Hoist Technology, Locatel also provides hotel systems for managing front office, back office, guest transactions reservations and streamlined internal communications – together the largest range of hotel management technology solutions in Europe.

About LOCATEL

LOCATEL, leading integrator of interactive multimedia solutions for the hotel and healthcare industries, has over 400,000 rooms under contract. The company was founded in 1962 and is directly present in France, UK, Italy, Nordics, Germany, Morocco, Singapore, UAE and indirectly in 59 countries with 39 partners. The group is currently the world leader in number of hotel rooms equipped with IPTV interactive systems - over 150,000 rooms of which 40,000 are in HD. Locatel has annual sales of approximately 60 million Euros and has about 330 employees

BALDENWEG GREGORY