OMNI HOTELS SELECTS HIGH-PERFORMANCE WI-FI FROM BELAIR NETWORKS
Dallas, TX (May 26, 2009) — BelAir Networks, the market leader in service provider WLAN, has been selected for Wi-Fi deployments in Omni Hotels commencing in 2009. The Omni Fort Worth, the city’s newest and largest hotel – which celebrated its grand opening January 12, 2009 – was the brand’s first BelAir Networks deployment site, followed by the Omni New Haven Hotel at Yale. AFL Network Services, an industry leader in hospitality technology integration and wireless engineering, provided network design, installation and technical support for the projects.
Omni Hotels was the first luxury hotel brand in the US to offer Wi-Fi system-wide with access in guest rooms and public spaces in 2003. Because Omni Hotels owns and manages the majority of their properties, technology support is centralized and standardized across the brand enabling rapid deployment and installation of new technology applications across the company. With a primary customer focus on upscale business and leisure travelers, Omni Hotels has experienced increased Internet use both in terms of the number of users as well as their bandwidth demands. This trend is driven by the growing number of Wi-Fi applications and mobile-enabled devices that guests use when they travel. The American Hotel & Lodging Association (AH&LA), in its study “2008 Current and Future Technology Use in the Hospitality Industry” , identified Wi-Fi services as the “IT system that guests care about most.” The importance of Wi-Fi to hotel guests is driving the hospitality industry’s evolution to higher performance 802.11n based networks.
“With nearly 50 percent of our guests using Wi-Fi and their bandwidth demands continuing to accelerate, we sought a high-performance network partner which could ensure we continue to serve our customers’ needs on a ‘go-forward basis’,” said Richard Tudgay, vice president of information technology for Omni Hotels. “BelAir Networks comprehensive portfolio of indoor and outdoor Wi-Fi networking products enables us to deliver high-capacity, ubiquitous coverage that is cost-effective and easy for us to manage centrally.”
Driven by the powerful, feature-rich BelAirOS operating system software and managed by BelView, BelAir Networks offers the industry’s most comprehensive product portfolio of indoor access points (AP) and outdoor wireless nodes supporting both Wi-Fi and WiMAX as well as public safety, defense and intelligent transportation system (ITS) frequency bands. At the Omni Fort Worth, AFL Network Services deployed 77 BelAir20 APs. These best-in-class, ultra-compact and easily powered dual-radio, dual-band 802.11n Wi-Fi indoor APs employ hosted software-based control enabling centralized management and lowering network CapEx by about 30%. Configurable as a wired AP, a mesh point or a bridge from outside, the BelAir20 AP supports both wireless and wired backhaul.
“AFL Network Services’ job is really to complement Omni Hotel’s in-house IT team by providing design, installation and technical support on both the wireless network and the structured cabling, so we have a huge stake in the success of their network,” said Kent Brown, vice president of AFL Network Services’ Enterprise Division. “We’ve worked with BelAir Networks on many hospitality and campus deployments, and the feedback from customers and end users is always extremely positive.”
BelAir Networks’ top ranked market share for the last six quarters is a result of the company’s successful deployments with major cable and telecom service providers, world-class hotels and resorts and high-profile locations, including Lincoln Center in New York, the London Eye in the UK and Dolphin Stadium in Miami. The company’s technology has been recognized with several awards including both an InfoWorld 100 Award and a PC Magazine Award for the broadband wireless deployment at Dolphin Stadium supporting the world’s largest POS system.
“Omni Hotels has been real innovator in providing Wi-Fi services, so we’re very proud to support the evolution of their Wi-Fi networks,” said Bernard Herscovich, president and CEO, BelAir Networks. “Our experience with hospitality, telecom and cable operators has enabled us to craft a product portfolio that delivers high-performance, cost-effective Wi-Fi coverage that’s easy to manage.”
You can see and learn more about the BelAir20 AP and other industry-leading Wi-Fi products at BelAir Networks booth #391 at HITEC 2009, being held June 22 – 25, 2009 at the Anaheim Convention Center, in Anaheim, CA.
About AFL Network Services
AFL Network Services is headquartered in Spartanburg, South Carolina. With 35 field offices in the U.S. and over 1300 employees, AFL provides telecommunications installation, maintenance and system integration services in the enterprise, wireline and wireless markets. For additional information on products and services offered by AFL Network Services and its affiliates visit www.AFLNetworkServices.com
About BelAir Networks
BelAir Networks is the technology and market leader delivering the industry’s highest performance mobile broadband networking solutions for video, voice and data applications. Supporting the latest industry standards in the Wi-Fi, WiMAX, 4.9 GHz, 5.9 GHz and 4.4 GHz spectrum bands, BelAir Networks solutions are built on a patented modular architecture enabling multiple frequencies on a single network. BelAir Networks indoor and outdoor broadband wireless solutions deploy quickly, blending into the physical environment and integrating easily with existing infrastructure. Founded in 2001, BelAir Networks is a privately held company backed by investment from leading venture capital firms including Comcast Interactive Capital, T-Mobile Venture Fund and Trilogy Equity Partners. For more information about BelAir Networks products and customers, visit www.belairnetworks.com.
ABOUT OMNI HOTELS
Omni Hotels creates compelling, memorable guest experiences at 43 luxury hotels and resorts in leading business gateways and leisure destinations across North America. From exceptional golf and spa retreats to dynamic business settings, each location features four-diamond services, including award-winning signature restaurants, Wi-Fi connectivity and unique fitness options. Omni’s mission for total customer service is further supported by its “Power of One” program that empowers associates to make on-the-spot decisions to meet or exceed guest expectations. Guests can locate hotels and book accommodations online or by calling 1-800-THE-OMNI.