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Sheraton
Petaluma Delivers Converged Services over Single IP Infrastructure with
Cisco and AVVID Partners
SAN JOSE, Calif., June 25, 2002 - Cisco Systems, Inc. today announced that
the Sheraton Petaluma Hotel is delivering business-class converged hotel
services, such as Internet Protocol (IP) telephony, customized content
delivery via in-room Cisco IP telephones, and High Speed Internet Access (HSIA),
over a converged Cisco IP network. Developed with its Cisco AVVID
(Architecture for Voice, Video and Integrated Data) partners ISI, Percipia
Networks and Teledex, the Sheraton Petaluma is using the solution to
provide advanced and highly personalized services to attract high-end
business travelers and tourists.
The recently opened Sheraton Petaluma
Hotel, located 32 miles north of San Francisco, has deployed a Cisco
network infrastructure to support a state-of-the-art phone and high-speed
data system installed in all 183 guestrooms. In the future, Sheraton
Petaluma plans to deploy video and audio conferencing, as well as Wi-Fi
(IEEE 802.11b) wireless connectivity in conference rooms, lobby and other
public areas.
"The Sheraton Petaluma has become
the first full service hotel to enhance guest services, generate new
revenue and achieve significant cost savings today while having an ideal
platform to add new guest services and Internet business applications as
they evolve," said Clyde Pearce, Opening General Manager for Sheraton
Petaluma and Chief Operating Officer for LOK Group of Companies.
"Most importantly, this smart IP network helps us provide a tailored
guest experience that has our guests feeling worlds away, but never far
from everything they need should they choose to stay connected to the
office."
The Sheraton Petaluma needed the
simplicity and cost effectiveness of a single converged network that
supported a complete set of hotel guest and back office services upon its
opening on June 6, 2002. The Sheraton Petaluma also required a network
infrastructure they could easily upgrade to take advantage of new
technologies and IP-based services as they became available and were
demanded from their key constituencies - business travelers, groups and
tourists.
Cisco and Cisco AVVID Partner Hotel
Solution offers Ease of Use, Customization Capabilities and Investment
Protection
The Cisco and AVVID Partner Hotel solution
includes all the elements required for delivering converged services in a
hotel. In addition to a fully integrated solution with a complete hotel
feature set, it provides an open platform for adding future applications
and enhancements. Cisco and its AVVID partners ISI, Percipia Networks and
Teledex have worked together to bring together this solution to extend the
benefits of IP telephony and data services to the hospitality industry and
their hotel guests.
The following components were delivered
by Cisco:
- Cisco Building Broadband Service
Manager (BBSM) Version 5.1 -This service-creation platform enables
property owners such as the Sheraton Petaluma to create, market and
operate broadband access services. BBSM provides plug-and-play access,
customizable portals to restaurants, wineries, and retail shops and
support for multiple authentication and billing options.
- Cisco ICS 7750 - This integrated
platform combines the essential elements of an IP telephony system
such as call processing and voice applications, voice trunking and
data routing into a single platform that is easy to deploy and manage.
The modular design of the Cisco ICS 7750 also provides the Sheraton
Petaluma with the flexibility to choose the converged applications
guests need now while allowing them to add new functionality and
applications as those needs change.
- Cisco IP 7940 Phone - In addition to
standard phone service, the Cisco IP Phone, supported by Percipia
Networks software, provides frequent Sheraton Petaluma guests with
added conveniences such as phone-based concierge services, linked
directories to local attractions and, in the future, automatic speed
dial set up to the guest's home or office phone. For groups taking
advantage of meeting services, the Cisco IP phones provide
personalized group directories, meeting agenda and room locations as
well as broadcast alerts capabilities.
- Cisco CTE 1400 Series Content
Transformation Engine - The CTE 1400 is an appliance-based solution
that optimizes the delivery of Web content to a variety of wireless
and wired devices such as cell phones, PDAs and IP phones. Using the
CTE 1400 with Cisco IP 7940 phones in every room, Sheraton Petaluma
guests can quickly and easily access hotel information such as room
service and events as well as access third-party information such as
airline flight status, stock quotes and weather information.
"The Sheraton Petaluma's deployment is
the realized vision of the network infrastructure as a 'utility'
infrastructure supporting multiple critical applications and delivering
network efficiencies and reduced total cost of network ownership,"
said Steve Nye, general manager of Cisco's Building Broadband Solutions
Group.
Each Cisco AVVID Partner has leveraged
their focused expertise into a complete integrated solution that is ready
for deployment in hotels today.
- ISI Call Accounting - With its
hospitality focus, ISI brings a hotel call accounting system to the
hotel IP telephony solution that allows for interaction between Cisco
Call Manager on the Cisco ICS 7750 and the hotel's Property Management
System (PMS).
- Percipia Networks Hospitality
Communications Software and InnLine 2020 Voice Mail System for Cisco
Call Manager - Percipia Hospitality Communications Software links the
Sheraton Petaluma's Property Management System (PMS) with the Cisco
ICS 7750 and Cisco Call Manager for billing, phone activation, wake up
calls and other targeted guest services. With this integrated
solution, the Sheraton Petaluma's administrative staff gains powerful
management tools that can activate and deactivate phones for accurate
billing and protection against toll fraud, set calling restrictions
based on credit/deposit status, set accurate wake up calls and monitor
housekeeping's progress to maintain current information on the
readiness and availability of rooms.
- Teledex- A worldwide leader in
providing specialized telephones to the global hospitality industry,
Teledex deployed the Diamond +5 in each guest room at the Sheraton
Petaluma to support high quality analog voice communications over the
IP network. A Cisco AVVID partner, Teledex is also bringing to market
the IP120 and IP250D network terminals that provide full Cisco Call
Manager compatibility.
The Sheraton Petaluma is also utilizing the
Cisco 1751 Modular Access Router to enable the Cisco IP 7940 phones to
make and receive voice phone calls via the Public Switching Telephone
Network (PSTN). The Cisco Catalyst 3524-PWR XL switch in the wiring closet
provides in-line power for the Cisco IP 7940 Phone for reduced total cost
of ownership and ease of deployment. The modular Cisco Catalyst 4006
Series switch with Supervisor Engine III serves as the core and
distribution point for IP capable of supporting up to 242 ports for future
growth protection and is supported by the Cisco VG-248, the voice gateway
for analog voice.
About Sheraton Petaluma
The Sheraton Petaluma Hotel, perched on the
Petaluma Marina adjacent to 300 acres of protected wetlands, is positioned
to offer both business and leisure guests enhanced personalized services
through next-generation technology in a relaxing wine country ambiance.
Event and conference facilities available for 5-500 people. For rates and
reservations please call (707) 283-2888 or visit www.sheratonpetaluma.com. |