April 2010
HCN Secures Landmark Deal With Spectacular Hilton Chicago!
After years of R&D and extensive pilot projects HCN, The Hotel Communication Network launches its Chicago commercial rollout in the spectacular Hilton Chicago. The company will install its "HCN Navigator tm into all 1550 rooms. The Navigator is a complete computing and communication center with full integration into the various hotel information systems and with a complete set of hotel and city information directories. The system has a large 22" touchscreen, as well as keyboard and integrated telephone.
The Navigator will give the guest direct online access to all of the services they would normally have to call up and order from a staff member. Ordering room service, housekeeping, valet, or just getting information about the property will now be available directly from the system, along with a host of other services, including a complete in-room business center enabling guests to access their email, work on documents, with the ability to print documents and boarding passes in the lobby.
The system is a breakthrough for the hotelier, enabling direct promotion and two way communications with the guest in the room, improving service levels to the guest, while at the same time being able to reduce costs and do away with the requirement to put printed materials in the room. As a defining guest amenity, properties with the HCN Navigator tm will drive competitive advantage, especially in the critical area of meeting and convention travelers.
With the ability to target information and promotions directly to each attendee room, the system is a major breakthrough for the meeting manager and a major competitive advantage for the hoteliers that can offer this as an enhancement to a meeting.
According to Kevin Bidner, President and CEO of HCN, "Bringing our solution to the Hilton Chicago is a landmark for HCN in the development of our "City-Wide Communication Infrastructure" business model. Our intention is to reach a critical mass of screens in Chicago, bringing a communication network to the convention industry that is so important both here in Chicago, and to the travel industry in general."
A prime element of the company's business model is the development of income streams, such as Convention information services, that will drop the cost of acquisition to the hotelier, thereby lowering the barriers to entry of this new technology.
About Hotel Communication Network
Hotel Communication Network HCN is an Ottawa, Ontario, Canada based corporation with the goal of delivering mission critical guest self-service capabilities to the hotel, under the hotel's brand and control. HCN serves hoteliers who have embraced in-room technology as a cost-effective and guest-friendly way to automate and enhance guest services while reinforcing the hotel's brand message.
HCN provides a new high-value guest amenity that provides information, services and entertainment to every guest in every room as well as high-value meeting and conference services that offer competitive benefit to hotels in serving their customers.
Hotel Communication Network's headquarters is located at 336 Daly Avenue,
Ottawa, ON K1N 6G7 Canada. For more information about Hotel Communication Network, please contact Mr. Steve Brinn, Vice President, Hotel Marketing, by telephone at (312) 416-7622, ext. 6233, or by e-mail at sbrinn@hcn-inc.com. Please also visit the corporate website at www.hcn-inc.com.