Canadian Hotel Offers High-Speed, Wireless Internet Access to Business Travelers
Within Five Minutes, Guests at Saskatoon Travelodge Hotel Can Work Anytime, Anywhere Using 3Com Canada and Shaw Communications Solution
SASKATOON, SK—May 15, 2001—The wireless revolution continues in Canada, as the Saskatoon Travelodge Hotel becomes one of the country's first hotels to offer high-speed, wireless Internet access to its guests and convention participants.
When checking in, business travellers simply install a credit-card-sized 3Com® 11Mbps Wireless LAN PC card, along with a CD-ROM containing quick install software, into their computer notebook. In less than five minutes, guests can access the Internet at up to 100 times the speed of traditionally slow telephone connections. The inherent mobility of the technology allows users to maximize the convenience and efficiency of conducting business anywhere in the 268-room Saskatoon Travelodge facility, including hotel rooms, conference rooms, restaurant or even poolside. In fact, corporate conferences have already been booked because of the availability of the wireless high-speed access.
"As one of the only hotels in Canada with high-speed wireless access, the Saskatoon Travelodge Hotel provides corporate road warriors and executives with a simple and affordable way to do business - when they want, where they want," said Giorgio Piotto, Managing Director of the Saskatoon Travelodge Hotel. "We originally wanted to boost our customer service offering with faster, secure Internet access. The age and structure of the hotel made it cost prohibitive to install cables and construction would have been an unacceptable disruption. The high-speed wireless network from Shaw and 3Com offered the breakthrough solution we needed."
The ability to stay connected at the fastest speeds, anytime, anywhere is made possible by Shaw Communications and 3Com Canada. Shaw Communications, a premier supplier of broadband access, delivers high-speed Internet access into the hotel. 3Com, a leading provider of network solutions, then distributes the high-speed connection to all corners of the hotel with its award-winning wireless LAN solution.
"Business travelers are demanding the same high-speed Internet in a hotel as they would in the office and at home," said Bob Anderson, Regional Manager, Shaw. "In just 10 days, we implemented a network solution that was flexible and scalable. Now, guests and staff at the hotel can download bandwidth-hungry presentations and videos and surf the Internet in a fraction of the time of dial-up connections."
"For most traveling business people, the hotel is their office," said Nick Tidd, president and country manager, 3Com Canada. "This radically simple solution allows them to keep their ultra-fast connection without being caught up in wires, allowing complete freedom of movement."
Guests of the hotel can also trust their network connection is secure when accessing their corporate networks. The 3Com AirConnect® solution supports multiple layers of security. Using a 128-bit key to encrypt the wireless portion of the data transmission, in conjunction with the OfficeConnect® Firewall DMZ to add an extra level of security, users are offered a "bulletproof" solution from hackers.
The Saskatoon Travelodge Hotel produces a wireless high-speed Internet connection to hotel guests through 16 3Com AirConnect 11 Mbps Wireless LAN Access Points and 3Com 11 Mbps Wireless LAN PC Cards. The wireless software to enables the service is supported by Windows™ 95, 98, NT and 2000. A 3Com SuperStack® 3 Switch 3300, that has autosensing to adjust the speed of the attached devices, connects all 16 access points. The 3Com OfficeConnect Firewall DMZ was also installed to add a business-critical layer of security.
Travelodge Saskatoon Hotel
Is independently owned and operated under a license agreement with Travelodge Canada Corp. The hotel is in its 29th year of operation and continues to be a leader in the hospitality industry in Saskatoon and area. Saskatoon Travelodge Hotel not only maintains one of the highest occupancies in the city but also continues to be a generous corporate citizen. For more information visit www.travelodgesaskatoon.com.
Shaw Communications Inc.
Shaw Communications Inc. is a diversified Canadian communications company whose core business is providing satellite, broadband cable television and Internet services to approximately 2.8 million customers. Shaw also has significant interests in interactive television, e-commerce and telecommunications companies. Shaw is traded on the Toronto and New York stock exchanges (Symbol: TSE - SJR.B, NYSE - SJR). For more information visit www.shaw.ca.
About 3Com Corporation
3Com simplifies how people connect to information and services through easy-to-use connectivity products and solutions for people and businesses. The company also provides access infrastructures and IP services platforms for network service providers. For further information, visit ca.3com.com.
