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Popular Tampa Resort Selects iBAHN to Deliver Portfolio of IPTV and Internet Services

Tue, 27 Mar 2012 11:00:28 EST

iBAHN, the global leader in IP-based entertainment and information services for the hospitality and meeting industries, today announced that it has been selected by Saddlebrook Resort Tampa, a luxury resort and conference center, to provide in-room IP television services and broadband Internet access for guest rooms, condominiums, and the resort's expansive conference center.
 
Saddlebrook Resort, which boasts 540 guest rooms and suites, a 95,000-square-foot conference center, two Arnold Palmer signature golf courses and much more, sought a future-oriented entertainment and information technology partner that could upgrade the resort's in-room and conference offerings to enhance the resort's competitive edge in the luxury and business travel landscape.  iBAHN provides broadband wired and wireless high-speed Internet access, conference connectivity services, and its proprietary ETVi television platform and iMEDIA Internet platform for guest room entertainment and information.
 
The iBAHN ETVi platform delivers an IP-based, high definition TV viewing experience to the guest room, including the most HD channels in the marketplace. The easy-to-navigate television system, featuring a sleek on-screen design, is a natural complement to luxury hotel brands. ETVi includes iBAHN's iMEDIA Internet platform, which gives guests access to the limitless content of the Internet on their in-room TVs, including just-missed television, Facebook™, Hulu™, YouTube™ and more.  ETVi and iMEDIA allow hotels to deliver guest information via in-room television screens, saving costs through a more eco-friendly and modern communication method.  Links to amenities pages and special offers drive repeat and add-on business, creating in-house marketing opportunities.
 
'Today's meeting planners and resort guests have come to expect that resorts will provide a wide range of entertainment choices and reliable wireless high-speed Internet access,' said Patrick Ciaccio, general manager of Saddlebrook Resort. 'iBAHN's industry-leading entertainment and Internet offerings will make our luxury accommodations and top-of-the-line conference center even more attractive to discerning leisure and business travelers now and into the future.'
 
iBAHN's broadband offerings cover every demand of today's tech-savvy guests, who expect plenty of bandwidth, quick and easy access, and reliable security.  Additionally, iBAHN's conference services provide a fully managed private network that includes iBAHN hardware, end-to-end WiFi and wired access, an virtually unlimited pool of IP addresses, and VPN certification. With iBAHN services, Saddlebrook will increase meeting attendees' productivity, deliver reliable connectivity, and ensure maximum security.
 
A 2011 JD Power study reported that roughly 13% of hotel guests experience problems with Internet connectivity. Further, iPass industry research, presented in the 2010 Mobile Workforce Report, indicated that 36% of guests who have had a poor Internet experience will not return to the same property.
 
'Considered together, these data suggest that hoteliers could be losing nearly 5% of potential repeat business on a nightly basis,' said Roger Crellin, iBAHN president of Americas.  'Leisure travelers expect luxury resorts to provide the very best Internet and television entertainment services, and business travelers rely on trustworthy Internet access to ensure their meetings and conferences are productive. Our comprehensive engagement with Saddlebrook Resort will assist the resort in exceeding guest expectations and driving repeat business.'
 
For more information, please visit www.iBAHN.com or call 1-866-415-2843.