Wingate Inns Begins Phase One Testing of Wireless High Speed Internet Access for Hotel Guests (11/01)

Wingate Inns International, Inc. is taking its groundbreaking high speed Internet access initiative one step further by beta testing wireless capabilities at the Wingate Inn^® hotel in Garden City, New York. The 60-day test will allow business and leisure travelers with wireless Ethernet card-equipped laptop computers to access the Internet from any public area as well as several guestrooms.

Wingate's wireless initiative will use 802.11b (Wi-Fi) technology coupled with the brand's LodgeNet Entertainment Corporation high speed Internet service to test this amenity. A connection will be established between a LodgeNet^® port and a Symbol^® Technologies 802.11b Spectrum24 high speed wireless LAN, allowing business and leisure travelers to gain high speed Internet access without plugging their computers into a port.

"As with our initial rollout of high speed Internet access, which is presently being used by over 20% o our guests, we're working to keep the Wingate Inn brand ahead of the technology curve in terms of consumer demand," explains Keith J. Pierce, president and CEO of Wingate Inns International. "Wireless technology, both in terms of computers and other devices, is quickly gaining consumer acceptance, meaning it's a perfect time to test the wireless access. If we receive positive consumer response and strong usage, we'll make wireless high speed Internet access an option for every hotel in the Wingate Inn system."

Upon completion of phase one, Wingate Inns will launch a second round of testing that provides Garden City hotel staff with Symbol's PPT 2846 PocketPC wireless hand-held computers for enhancing customer service. Namely, they'll be able to provide wireless check-in/out, wireless room inspections, engineering and maintenance tasking, as well as list guestrooms needing housekeeping. "The hand-held computers, which also utilize 802.11b technology, will be loaded with MSI (Multi-Systems Inc.) software that's linked to our property management system," explains Pierce. "It's just another way in which we're attempting to provide the most enhanced and top-notch customer service."

"Symbol's point of activity wireless and mobile computing solutions are ideal for the hotel industry where there is continual activity 24 hours, seven days a week," says Doug Lloyd, director of worldwide hospitality markets for Symbol Technologies. "Wingate Inn guests will surely benefit from this wireless initiative as Symbol's high speed wireless networking and mobile computing technology have increased productivity and customer service in various vertical markets such as retail, education and healthcare."

About Wingate Inns
Wingate Inns International is an all-new construction hotel chain that opened its first franchised hotel in July 1996. Its focused service, upper mid-market franchised hotels feature sophisticated, consumer-based enabling technology and comfortable, oversized rooms that were created in response to business travelers' needs. All Wingate Inn hotels are independently owned and operated under Franchise agreements.