Leading Luxury Hotels and Resorts Chooses Mitel

Released on: June 17, 2008, 10:53 am

Press Release Author: Mitel

Industry: Telecommunications

Press Release Summary: Marcus Hotels and Resorts Deploy Mitel Hospitality Solutions

Press Release Body: OTTAWA, Ontario - June 17, 2008 - As an innovative force in the
hospitality industry, Marcus Hotels and Resorts needed a communications system that
decreased costs but also enhanced the guest experience. After reviewing systems from
Nortel, NEC, and Avaya, Marcus Hotels and Resorts, which operates 20 luxury hotels
and resorts under the Inter-Continental, Starwood and Hilton flags, chose the
trusted provider of unified communications for the real world, Mitelź.

"We racked and stacked the feature sets and costs of the different systems, and
after a thorough analysis of the overall performance, functionality, and TCO the
Mitel system is the right choice for our hotels and resorts," said Brian Borucki,
director of infrastructure and technology with Marcus Hotels and Resorts. "Mitel's
system is easy to integrate into a hospitality environment, and its functionality is
hard to beat. Mitel understands what is important to a hospitality customer and
tailors solutions accordingly."

The Mitel Hospitality Solution selected by Marcus Hotels and Resorts has improved
all aspects of the business including customer service, operating costs, and has
enhanced reporting capabilities. Comprised of the Mitel SX-200 IP Communications
Platform (ICP) and Mitel IP phones with Mitel Cordless Handsets, the Mitel system
integrates easily with Marcus's property management system. This allows housekeeping
staff to key a code into a room's phone when it is clean so front-desk staff can
quickly determine whether a room is ready for guests.

Moreover, other systems require restrictive operating environment controls for
air-conditioning and power than the Mitel SX-200 ICP needs, enhancing the Mitel
offering.

Using embedded voice mail and automatic call distribution (ACD), calls can be
conveniently routed to their destinations. It also supports alternative greetings to
provide callers with important information, and it allows guests to set their own
wake-up calls. These kinds of features ease the burden on reception staff without
compromising customer service.

The ACD enables Marcus to generate a host of valuable call-performance reports that
immediately answer some important customer service questions: How often are callers
put on hold? How often are they abandoned? How long do they wait on hold? Is the
hotel answering calls quickly enough?

"Our maintenance costs have plummeted, and we're better able to optimize our
staffing levels to meet our desired call-handling responses," said Borucki. "The
bottom line is that SX-200 ICP is the easiest to use and most hospitality focused
telephone system on the market today. Its features, its simple integration into
property management systems, and its functionality make it ideal for hotels and
resorts."

Mid-America Telephone Systems, Inc. (MTS), a Mitel Hospitality specialistPARTNER,
helped implement the solution.

"Our partnership with Mitel allows us to offer superior products with outstanding
service," said Mark L. Sanders IV., vice president of sales for MTS. "We are
uniquely positioned to leverage unified communications, providing our clients better
solutions and outstanding support. Mitel is our solution due to its flexibility,
migration, and focus on hospitality. It's an honor to work with Marcus Hotels and
Resorts and we look forward to continuing our partnership."

"Working together with MTS, we were able to implement seamless communications at
reception, in guest rooms, and throughout the facility to enhance the guest
experience," said David Johnson, Mitel's vice president of hospitality sales.
"Marcus now has a unified communications solution that allows them to integrate into
their existing hospitality environment and provide simple to use communications to
both staff and guests."

Marcus is one of the many properties that have made the move to Mitel unified
communications solutions. Rosewood Hotels & Resorts chose to implement a pure IP
Mitel hospitality solution for multiple properties in the U.S. and Mexico. While
long-time customer, Westgate Resorts decided to upgrade its business operations,
with a Mitel unified communications solution tailored for the hospitality industry.

Mitel's complete line of innovative applications, feature-rich IP phones and
scalable platforms lower operating costs, drive revenues, enhance the guest
experience and make it easy for hotel staff to provide outstanding customer service.
Mitel's tailored applications allow hotels to personalize services and features
based on guest profiles and preferences. Mitel's migration strategy enables
hoteliers to implement IP solutions at their own pace.

About Marcus Hotels and Resorts
Marcus Hotels and Resorts owns or manages a distinctive portfolio of 20 hotels,
resorts and other properties in 10 states, with three additional properties under
development. The company owns eight hotels and resorts, is a third-party manager
for 12 hotels, resorts and other properties and is providing technical and
pre-opening services for the Carmel City Center Hotel in Carmel, Ind., the
Venturella Resort and Spa in Orlando, Fla. and the 7th Wave Resort in West Warwick,
RI

About The Marcus Corporation
Headquartered in Milwaukee, Wis., The Marcus Corporation is a leader in the lodging
and entertainment industries. In addition to its Marcus Hotels and Resorts
division, the company's movie theatre division, Marcus Theatresź, owns or manages
678 screens at 56 locations in Wisconsin, Illinois, Minnesota, Ohio, North Dakota,
Iowa, and Nebraska and one family entertainment center in Wisconsin. For more
information, visit the company's Web site at www.marcuscorp.com.

About MTS
MTS has the elite status and accreditation of being a Mitel hospitality
specialistPARTNER. Since 1990, MTS has been a leader in hospitality communications
providing custom voice & data solutions. Through our strategic partnerships, MTS is
implementing unified communication solutions and applications to hotels throughout
the U.S. MTS's (www.mts.cc) headquarters are in Chesterfield, MO. with offices and
partners nationwide. Providing a Single Source Responsibility, MTS is the choice for
hospitality voice and data communications.

About Mitel
Mitel delivers flexibility and simplicity in smart unified communications solutions
and applications for organizations of all sizes. Combined with a full range of
managed services that include voice and data network design and traffic
provisioning, custom application development, and attractive financing options,
Mitel is reinventing how successful organizations gain competitive advantage by
easily collaborating and communicating over distance and time with customers,
colleagues and partners. Mitel's (www.mitel.com) US headquarters are in Phoenix, AZ.
Global headquarters are in Ottawa, Canada, with offices, partners, and resellers
worldwide.

- 30 -

Mitel and logo are registered trademarks of Mitel Networks Corporation.
All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

Note to editors: Mitel will be attending HITEC 2008, booth #831. If you would like
to schedule an interview with one of our industry specialists, contact Danielle
McNeil at 613-592-2122 x4643 or danielle_mcneil@mitel.com.

For Mitel media and analyst contact information visit:
http://www.mitel.com/DocController?documentId=9831.


Web Site: http://www.mitel.com

Contact Details: Danielle McNeil
Mitel
350 Legget Dr.
Ottawa, ON
K2K 2W7
danielle_mcneil@mitel.com
613-592-2122

  • Printer Friendly Format
  • Back to previous page...
  • Back to home page...
  • Submit your press releases...
  •