Hunter Valley hotel gets VoIP crown

Hotel chain Crowne Plaza has in the past several months completed the implementation of a converged voice and data network at its new Hunter Valley facility.

The installation was conducted by UXC subsidiary and comms integrator Integ, and comprised at least 500 Internet Protocol-based (IP) telephony handsets and associated Alcatel equipment such as network switches, PABX equipment and wireless access, according to a statement issued today by Integ.

The network enables wireless point of sale transactions, as well as digital video on demand, IP telephony and Wi-Fi services.

The facility's general manager, Neil Houghton, said the network would give the hotel's 70 percent target market of business travellers a true mobile office. He flagged the potential for future similar rollouts at other facilities.

"Crowne Plaza is a model site for not only hotels in the InterContinental Hotels Group chain but also for other four to five star hotels throughout Australia who want to implement a converged network to improve customer service and drive growth plans," he said in Integ's statement.