TWO MAJOR HOTEL GROUPS - Marriott International and Starwood - are installing TelePresence suites in a number of key properties around the world.
The Cisco-designed technology, which uses large, high-definition video screens positioned around a table and real-time audio to give the illusion of being in the same room as other participants, are to be installed in Marriott hotels in 25 cities, including London, Frankfurt, New York and Hong Kong. The first should be on line by the end of October. Starwood plans installation initially in 10 hotels, including Sheratons in New York, Sydney and Toronto, with cities such as Brussels, Paris, Hong Kong and Singapore also earmarked by the end of the year.
Arne Sorenson, Marriott's president and COO, is confident the suites would help drive hotel business. "The need to hold small global meetings that cross continents and oceans will only grow," he says. "The addition of TelePresence meeting suites in our hotels will give Marriott a leg up on its competition."