Accor Awards In-Room Energy Management Program to Smart Systems International.

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

LAS VEGAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 20, 2003

Smart Systems' Recovery Time(TM) Technology Couples Cost Savings

and Guest Comfort for Accor's North American Properties

Smart Systems International, a leading innovator of intelligent energy-saving management systems for the hotel industry, has announced that Accor has selected its wireless thermostats, PTAC controllers and sensors to control energy consumption and costs in 23 of its hotel properties across the United States.

This first installation phase will be followed by a multi-year roll-out to the majority of Accor's North American properties. After one-year of thorough testing, Accor, which owns and operates 3,835 hotels (441,418 rooms) in 90 countries, selected Smart Systems' in-room energy control equipment due to demonstrated and substantial energy cost savings, product reliability, and the ability to provide the highest-level of environmental comfort for its hotel guests.

As part of its strategic "Hotel Environment Charter," Accor was looking for an energy solution that would cost-effectively manage the heating and cooling of each of its rooms, especially those located in areas with more extreme climates. Accor performed extensive evaluations of Smart Systems' devices in Motel 6 properties in the Chicago, Ft. Lauderdale and Phoenix areas in order to determine how the control systems reduce energy consumption in diverse climates without compromising guest comfort.

"Our tests documented energy savings of 27 to 33 percent during the course of the year-long evaluation," noted Michael Parker, senior commodity specialist with Accor. "Just as important, we have received calls from property managers who were impressed at the simplicity of the installation and minimal disruption to their operation. Because Smart Systems offers a truly wireless installation, the downtime per room was kept to an absolute minimum."

"Working with Accor is a great testament to our ability to provide an intelligent and cost-saving choice for energy management," stated Bill Dukes, Smart Systems International president and CEO. "We're very pleased that we could address Accor's energy and humidity concerns across a variety of locations. Cost savings in heating and cooling continues to be a key issue for our hotel customers. With our advanced technology, hotels and motels can now realize substantial energy cost reductions while providing the highest level of guest comfort. Additionally, hotel management will find that their HVAC equipment will require less maintenance and last substantially longer as a result of reduced HVAC run time."

Smart Systems' ENERGY STAR(R) labeled wireless thermostats, controllers and infrared occupancy sensors provide maximum savings and comfort. Utilizing the company's patented Recovery Time(R) technology, the computerized systems allow room temperatures to drift to energy-saving levels when the room is unoccupied and then quickly recover to the guests' desired temperature upon their return to the room. Smart Systems' microprocessors record data to demonstrate actual cost savings based on occupancy, weather conditions and equipment performance.

"Because our systems can accurately sense whether the room is occupied without cumbersome door sensors or other imprecise methods of detection, our installations are significantly more simple than other energy management systems. This improved detection, coupled with our unique Recovery Time algorithm, enables us to guarantee and document greater savings and more consistent operation while keeping guests satisfied," Dukes explained.

As an added benefit, in high-humidity areas the units can be programmed to adjust for various moisture levels. While controlling the HVAC system for optimized operation and energy savings, the smart thermostat records detailed occupancy and HVAC usage data. This provides hotel management with room occupancy patterns and percentages correlated with HVAC system efficiency and run time hours saved, as well as HVAC unit health statistics.

Available for immediate installation, the wireless digital thermostats and PTAC controllers are UL listed and comply with FCC standards. For more information on Smart Systems' complete line of ENERGY STAR(R) labeled energy management systems, visit them at www.2GetSmart.com or call 800/2GetSmart (800/243-8762).

Smart Savings

Usage studies report that "sold" hotel rooms are unoccupied an average of 12 or more hours per day with the HVAC system left on most of that time. Energy savings comes from automating the process of relaxing the HVAC unit when a space becomes unoccupied. Studies show that 42% of the energy used to heat and cool space is commonly wasted. Smart Systems' energy management systems provide room-by-room, guest-by-guest savings using exclusive Recovery Time(TM) technology.

About Smart Systems International

Founded in 1992, Smart Systems International is a privately-held company with headquarters in Las Vegas. Smart Systems holds several patents and is a technology innovator of in-room energy management systems for hotels, motels, large resorts, office buildings, military bases and school districts throughout the United States.

About Accor

With 150,000 associates in 140 countries, Accor is the European leader and one of the world's largest groups in travel, tourism and corporate services, with two major international activities: Hotels: 3,835 hotels (441,418 rooms) in 90 countries, casinos, travel agencies, and restaurants; Services to corporate clients and public institutions. Each day, 13 million people in 32 countries use a broad range of services (food vouchers, people care and services, incentive, loyalty programs, events) engineered and managed by Accor.