Press Release
July 13, 2000
GERMANTOWN, TN -- Equity Inns, Inc. (NYSE: ENN), a hotel real estate investment trust (REIT), yesterday announced
that its full portfolio of upscale extended stay, all-suite and midscale limited-service hotels has begun converting
to high speed Internet access technology. When the systems are completely installed in the fourth quarter 2000,
guests staying at Equity Inns' 96 hotels nationwide will be able to tap into the Internet at speeds up to 300 times
faster than conventional modem connections.
"Our strategy is to maintain our hotels in prime operating condition," said Howard Silver, president
and chief operating officer. "The addition of high-speed Internet connectivity will place us in the forefront
of this advancing technology, which we believe will give us a competitive edge in attracting and maintaining a
loyal guest base."
Seventy-six of the company's properties managed by Interstate Hotels will convert to STSN, while the 19 hotels
managed by Prime Hospitality will use CAIS Internet. "High speed Internet service also will be available in
meeting rooms for our small business meeting clientele."
Silver noted that the company expects to see some benefits of revenue-sharing, but that it is not the primary purpose
in adding the new service. "We view high-speed Internet connectivity as a valuable guest amenity and the revenue-sharing
potential as an added bonus."
High speed connections eliminate lengthy downloads and allow guests to use the Internet as a fast and efficient
resource for work and entertainment in the hotel. Guest users will simply plug their laptop computers into a special
box located on the guest room desk and launch their browser. Both STSN and CAIS Internet services will offer 24-hour
technical support and a customized web site for each hotel property, featuring information about the hotel's amenities,
business services and local area attractions. Installation of the technology is non-disruptive to guests and will
not require rooms to be taken out of service.
Equity Inns, Inc. is a self-advised REIT that focuses on the upscale extended stay, all-suite and midscale limited-service
segments of the hotel industry. The company owns 96 hotels with 12,300 rooms located in 35 states. For more information
about Equity Inns, visit the company's web site: www.equityinns.com.
Certain matters within this press release are discussed using forward-looking language as specified in the 1995
Private Securities Litigation Reform Law, and, as such, may involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and
other factors that may cause the actual results or performance to differ from those projected in the forward-looking
statement. From time to time, these risks are discussed in the company's filings with the Securities and Exchange
Commission.
CONTACT: Equity Inns, Inc.
Howard Silver, 901/754-7774 President
or
Daly Gray (Media)
Jerry Daly or Carol McCune 703/435-6293
or
Financial Relations Board (Analyst Info)
Mark Muehlfelt, 312/640-6767