( BW)(CA-CISCO-SYSTEMS)(CSCO) Cisco Systems Helps Domina Grand Media
Hotel Provide State-of-the-Art Hospitality Services
Business Editors/High-Tech Writers
LJUBLJANA, Slovenia--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 29, 2004--
Cisco Systems "Connected Hotels" Solution Supports the Platform
for New Sources of Competitive Advantage in the Hospitality Industry
Cisco Systems(R) (Nasdaq:CSCO) announced today that its Cisco(R)
Connected Hotels framework, based on IP technology, was being used to
help provide guest services such as wireless Internet access and
voice-over-IP-enabled phone calls at the new 218-room Domina Grand
Media Hotel in Ljubljana which opened on June 8, 2004.
An end-to-end converged Cisco IP network throughout the building
helps the Domina Grand Media realize significant savings on its
telecommunications infrastructure costs. In addition, thanks to Grand
Media's innovative business model, the hotel is able to offer guests
free Internet access and free telephone call, connection services to
fixed-line numbers in 43 countries. Guests can also browse information
on about local services from the comfort of their owns room and
connect with vendors directly online, via a videophone link, to make a
booking or purchases. The hotel's developer, Grand Media Holding AG (a
division of Alpha Baumanagement GmbH of Austria), believes that the
provision of these services, along with a number of others enabled by
IP, will attract high-value customers who are interested in receiving
better value for the same room rates.
"We are able to have a higher-than-average room rate and occupancy
thanks to our technology," said Gerhard Kaspar of Grand Media Holding.
"We intend to use our experience here not just to equip other hotels,
but also to target other business and residential premises. We have
selected Cisco as a core supplier because it is one of the most
advanced companies in the sector and is one which we can rely on to be
with us into the foreseeable future."
The Cisco Connected Hotels solution, is a framework based on the
Intelligent Information Network vision which in its first phase will
focus on the convergence of voice, data and video based on Cisco AVVID
(Architecture for Voice, Video and Integrated Data). This
infrastructure has been integrated with a suite of voice-over-IP
applications from Cisco and third-party developers to offer high-speed
Ethernet connections to the Internet as well as other services through
Cisco IP phone terminals. These solutions complement each other to
allow guests greater control to manage their stay through a number of
self-service functions powered by interactive voice response (IVR)
services and menus.
"The Domina Grand Media joins a growing list of hotels that are
discovering the advantages of converged IP networks for the
cost-effective provision of advanced guest services," commented
Jasmina Stritar, Regional Sales Manager, Cisco Systems. "This
technology is giving hospitality businesses worldwide an opportunity
to reappraise their service offerings, cost structures and business
models, reinvigorating the entire industry and leading to lasting
changes that outstrip anything the sector has seen for some time."
The Domina Grand Media is equipped with a wide range of Cisco
hardware platforms, from Cisco PIX(R) 525 firewalls and Cisco 3000
Series VPN Concentrators, Cisco Aironet(R) 1200 Series wireless access
points, Cisco 7940G and 7960G, 7920 IP phones and Cisco 7935 IP
conference stations, to Cisco Catalyst(R) 6500 Series switches. In
addition, the hotel uses Cisco CallManager call processing and Cisco
Unity(R) unified communications software. Each room has a fiber optic
Gigabit connection, which allows High Definition TV (over IP) today
and is ready for future applications.
About Cisco Systems
Cisco Systems, Inc. (Nasdaq:CSCO), the worldwide leader in
networking for the Internet, this year celebrates 20 years of
commitment to technology innovation, industry leadership and corporate
social responsibility. Information on Cisco can be found at
www.cisco.com. For ongoing news, please go to
newsroom.cisco.com. Cisco equipment in Europe is supplied by
Cisco Systems International BV, a wholly owned subsidiary of Cisco
Systems, Inc.
Cisco, Cisco Systems, and the Cisco Systems logo are registered
trademarks of Cisco Systems, Inc. and/or its affiliates in the U.S.
and certain other countries. All other trademarks mentioned in this
document are the property of their respective owners.
--30--JR/sf*
CONTACT: Cisco Systems, Inc.
Alison Stokes, +44 20 8824 0926 (Press)
astokes@cisco.com
Sharon Robinson, +44 20 8824 9992 (Analyst)
sharobin@cisco.com
or
Grand Media Holding (for Domina Grand Media)
Gerhard Kaspar, +43 664 253 5325
gerhard.kaspar@alpha-bau.at
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