The partnership will see nine Hyatt International Hotels install inter-touch in all 2773 guest rooms and 58 meeting rooms, allowing travellers to connect to the Internet in the simplest, easiest, most economical and secure way possible. Guests do not need a modem, Internet Service Provider (ISP) account, new computer settings or special software. inter-touch WORK-LINK� provides a high speed (access speeds of 100Mbps) and high quality connection in each guestroom, while TEAMWORK� allows multiple users to connect in hotel conference facilities. Travellers can connect for a low per minute fee up to a cap of $20.00 for a 24-hour period, with the charges included on their hotel bill.

Already installed and live with the inter-touch system are Hyatt Regency Perth and Park Hyatt Sydney. Hyatt International properties in Melbourne, Adelaide, Canberra and Auckland will be next to be installed, with the other hotels scheduled before 30 July 2000.

inter-touch (formerly NetPort Hospitality Systems) is now one of the largest providers of Internet and broadband services in the world, with over 20,000 guestrooms under contract throughout the Asian, European, African, Middle Eastern and South Pacific Regions.  Founded in Sydney, Australia in 1998, inter-touch has grown to have over 75 staff worldwide and a distribution network spanning over 30 countries.

inter-touch�s growth is an indicator of the demand for quick and simple products that enable travellers and residential users to keep in touch with their world. 
Terence Nickolls, president and CEO of inter-touch, said the endorsement by a major hotel group like Hyatt International marked another important milestone for the fast growing company.

�inter-touch has fast become the standard for Internet and broadband access for the hospitality, airline, convention and property industries, because we make it easy for both the  industry and guest,� said Mr Nickolls. �The success of our initial installations at Hyatt International properties in Sydney and Perth has led to our selection as the supplier for all Pacific Hyatt Hotels.

�Guests at Hyatt International properties in the Pacific region can look forward to easy-to-use and high speed connections for a low per minute fee to a flat rate, allowing them to stay in touch with the office, news and information, family and friends. You don�t have to be a technical guru to use it,� said Mr Nickolls.
Hyatt properties in Sydney and Perth have reported excellent feedback from guests using this service. inter-touch�s leading edge technology allows the Hotels to offer a range of innovative services, which will enhance the guest�s experience, now and in the future.

inter-touch installs high quality network cabling throughout each property and a permanent digital link to the Internet, providing connections in guestrooms, meeting rooms and hotel administration offices. Installation is at no cost to the hotel, with Hyatt sharing the revenue from guest connections.

Re-cabling the hotel means there is no change to the hotel�s vital and expensive PABX system, and avoids the speed restrictions of using existing telephone lines. inter-touch provides a broadband technology infrastructure that may be used for future value added services other than inter-touch, including the property�s own IT systems and future offerings such as video and audio-on-demand.