Cisco showcases advanced solutions for the burgeoning regional hospitality sector

Cisco's Connected Hotel portfolio provides hotel operators greater control in managing operations to deliver highly differentiated guest services

Dubai, 15 November 2005 – Cisco Systems has announced that it is hosting a three day hospitality technology forum showcasing Cisco Connected Hospitality Solutions for the burgeoning sector in the region from 15-17 November 2005. Key decision makers from the sector spanning Russia , Eastern Europe and the Middle East are attending the three -day event, which will set the implementation benchmark for technology solutions in hospitality management.

Commenting on the event, Samer Al Kharrat, General Manager – Gulf and Pakistan , Cisco Systems, said, "The Hospitality and leisure sector in the Middle East has now acquired strategic status, with the exponential increase of visitors to the region. Hospitality service providers all around the globe are struggling to keep apace with differentiation and retention techniques while trying to curb expenditure. Cisco's solution for the hotel industry creates an affordable, highly responsive, full-service hotel environment based on an integrated voice and data network with hospitality-based services emulated on Cisco's Intelligent Information Network vision to enrich the overall guest experience."

During the event, the full portfolio of Cisco Connected Hotels will be on display at Cisco's offices in Dubai Internet City for Regional IT Managers, General Managers and CXOs from the sector. The event will also feature interactive sessions highlighting Cisco's vision for the future of IT in hospitality to hoteliers, developers and partners.

"Converging data, voice and video communications on a common IP network infrastructure not only dramatically helps overall costs of communication, infrastructure building and management but also expands the property's overall capabilities and ultimately delivers personalized guest services. The three day event will be the ideal opportunity for the regional decision makers in the hospitality industry to learn about how Cisco Connected Hotel solutions will serve as a strategic asset in delivering overall guest experience and improved staff efficiencies."