Service adds Internet to Doubletree hotels.

Everest Broadband Networks, a company specializing in high-speed Internet access and advanced network services for commercial and hotel properties, recently announced that its FastRoom hospitality product has been installed in a seven-property portfolio of Doubletree Hotels across the country. Totaling 2,100 rooms, the properties are located in New York City, Chicago, Boston, and Santa Monica, Calif, and include Doubletree guest suites and Doubletree club brands.

Everest's FastRoom provides hotel guests with instantaneous, "always-on" Internet access at speeds up to 100 times faster than traditional dial-up modems. Doubletree guests simply plug their laptop computer's Ethernet card into the room's data port. FastRoom is also available in Doubletree meeting rooms, enabling more effective, interactive training sessions and presentations.

"High-speed Internet access is no longer a luxury, but a requirement for today's time-starved business and leisure travelers," said Dayna L. Kully, vice president of the Everest Hospitality Group. "For both groups, staying in touch with their offices, friends, and families -- or just shopping and 'surfing the net' -- is so much easier and more convenient with high-speed Internet access. By installing FastRoom, we believe Doubletree will attract increasing numbers of guests and business meetings looking for the latest in high-tech amenities."

A key factor in Doubletree's selection of FastRoom was the creative marketing support, staff training, and trouble-shooting guidance that Everest provides. Everest furnishes its clients with extensive marketing tools, in-room collateral, and training. Every hotel employee whose job involves regular guest contact participates in a training session customized for his or her specific staff position. This training enables staff to understand, explain, and sell this technology to guests, as well as to handle basic troubleshooting problems. Doubletree guests also have toll-free, around- the-clock access to Everest's dedicated FastRoom customer care staff.

"Doubletree is one of the nation's top-rated full-service hotel brands," said Kully. "Consumer surveys rate Doubletree properties very high in friendliness and service. Now, with FastRoom, guests will also have state of-the-art technology at their fingertips."

Everest's Hospitality Group, with an average of more than 12 years of hospitality and communications technology experience each, brings a unique understanding of the particular needs of the hotel environment. In addition" Everest offers its services exclusively through a distribution channel ofwell-established providers of hotel technology and telecommunications services. Recently Everest signed a strategic alliance with Mitel Communications Systems to allow its Elite & Platinum Value Added Resellers to distribute FastRoomTM in North America. Everest's newest distributor, Delphi Solutions Inc., will be selling and installing FastRoomTM in hotels throughout Canada.