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AT&T Helps InterContinental Hotels Group Develop Industry-First Application Service Provider Model

Posted on: Wednesday, 2 November 2005, 09:00 CST

ATLANTA, Nov. 2 /PRNewswire/ -- AT&T announced today that it has deployed an Internet Protocol Virtual Private Network (IP VPN) for InterContinental Hotels Group and its managed Candlewood Suites Hotel portfolio -- the first of its kind in the hospitality industry.

The new networking architecture centralizes the property management software application at AT&T's Atlanta-area Internet Data Center (IDC) and eliminates the need for individual servers at each location. The 76 Candlewood Hotels now can access this core hotel operating system over a secure, privately managed network that lowers equipment and maintenance costs. It also makes it easy to update the software and remotely manage the computing systems.

"IHG has always envisioned a networking platform that allows us to offer hotels access to their property management system from a centralized location," said Gustaaf Schrils, vice president of Hotel Technology Services for the Americas Region of IHG. "However, until now, networking technology made this model cost-prohibitive, difficult to implement and a serious network security risk."

"Using AT&T's advanced networking solutions and technical expertise, we have developed a highly efficient network platform that will likely become a model for the hospitality industry."

The AT&T solution leverages the VPN and Multi-Protocol Label Switching (MPLS) technology to provide a multi-faceted and highly reliable -- but low cost -- network. MPLS prioritizes data traffic between the hotel and the property management application residing at AT&T's IDC, ensuring application performance and uninterrupted communications.

AT&T operates 26 IDCs around the world and has enjoyed a strategic technology relationship with IHG for nearly 50 years.

About AT&T

For more than 125 years, AT&T (NYSE "T") has been known for unparalleled quality and reliability in communications. Backed by the research and development capabilities of AT&T Labs, the company is a global leader in local, long distance, Internet and transaction-based voice and data services.

About InterContinental Hotels Group

InterContinental Hotels Group PLC of the United Kingdom (LON: IHG, NYSE: IHG (ADRs)) is the world's largest hotel group by number of rooms. InterContinental Hotels Group owns, manages, leases or franchises, through various subsidiaries, more than 3,500 hotels and over 537,000 guest rooms in nearly 100 countries and territories around the world. The Group owns a portfolio of well recognized and respected hotel brands including InterContinental(R) Hotels & Resorts, Crowne Plaza(R) Hotels & Resorts, Holiday Inn(R) Hotels and Resorts, Holiday Inn Express(R), Staybridge Suites(R), Candlewood Suites(R) and Hotel Indigo(TM), and also manages the world's largest hotel loyalty program, Priority Club(R) Rewards, with over 26 million members worldwide. In addition to this, InterContinental Hotels Group has a 47.5% interest in Britvic, one of the two leading manufacturers of soft drinks, by value and volume, in Great Britain.

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/19991018/ATT )

Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/19991018/ATT

AT&T

CONTACT: Aaron Bedy of AT&T, +1-404-810-7157, bedy@att.com

Web site: http://www.att.com/

Source: PRNewswire

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