StayOnline Completes Installation in Six Hilton Grand Vacation Club Properties

Vacation Ownership Resorts adding high value amenities and infrastructure

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. October 14, 2008

ATLANTA, GA, December 5, 2005. After firmly establishing its footprint as the leader in hotel and resort wireless solutions, StayOnline has taken the lead in providing wireless infrastructure to vacation ownership properties as well. The Atlanta-based company has completed installation of their high-speed Internet access (HSIA) solution in six Hilton Grand Vacation Club (HGVClub) properties contracted with earlier this year.

In February, StayOnline was selected as an HSIA vendor for select HGVClub properties. The service is now installed in HGVClub: Flamingo - Las Vegas, Las Vegas Strip, Las Vegas Hilton, Miami South Beach, Sea World International Center and Tuscany Resort, with remaining installations expected at locations in Orlando and Hawaii. The rollout has progressed to this point with four properties in Hawaii to be completed before year end.

"We turned to StayOnline because they have led the way in our market segment," said HGVClub Chief Information Officer, Brian Garavuso. "Early on we decided to select a provider that builds with the future in mind. The integration of StayOnline technology allows us to enhance the benefits currently offered to members with a solution designed for flexibility and expansion. They are clearly the best choice for these properties."

StayOnline's significant experience in providing a speedy, secure wireless solution at resorts sprinkled throughout the US provides a leg up on the competition.

"We have successfully engineered and installed our solution in geographically spread-out and diverse properties such as Sandestin and the Doral Forrestal Convention Center and Spa," said StayOnline President, Antonio DiMilia. "These types of installations are complex, which is why we utilize an experienced team including seasoned engineers. Our customers know that the depth of our experience is what sets us apart. Best of all, our solution is built to expand for today's realities and tomorrow's needs, such as curbside check-in, point of sale, use of handheld devices and much more."

According to DiMilia, the resort sector has been slower to deploy property-wide Internet services, based on the assumption of lower usage by non-business travelers. That is quickly changing, with most major resort, time-share, and condominium facilities deploying -or planning deployment of a wireless network within the next 12 months.

"Resorts pose a unique set of requirements and challenges that surpass those of a typical wireless deployment: namely, they are larger, sometimes entire islands, with more diverse communications needs," said DiMilia. "They may or may not cater to conferences. Resorts and vacation properties are expected to offer more, and better, services. And use, which typically - in more traditional properties - is limited to email and some file sharing, may expand to more content rich uses such as gaming and video streaming and other file sharing applications."

"We recognized that our owners and guests needed the same seamless connection that they get when staying in a hotel or resort for business or pleasure," said Garavuso. "We pride ourselves in offering the most complete vacation experience possible to our members and StayOnline is helping us do that."

HGVClub is the vacation ownership division of Hilton Hotels Corporation. At completion, StayOnline's total footprint will comprise nearly 2,800 units.