Press Release
September 13, 2000
DALLAS, TX -- Omni Hotels and VirtuaLINC Corporation yesterday announced an initiative to provide guests and meeting
planners state-of-the-art IP-based video services as well as high speed Internet.
High-speed Internet access, provided by VirtuaLINC Corporation and CAIS Internet (Nasdaq:CAIS), will be available
in both guest rooms and meeting rooms, and will give guests access to the information highway at speeds up to 50
times faster than a conventional modem allows. In addition, many public areas in the hotels will be wired to the
Internet. Omni Hotels will offer this service based on a flat daily rate.
Phil Colquhoun, president of VirtuaLINC said, ``We are very pleased to be selected as a partner by this premier
luxury hotel chain. VirtuaLINC is the total solutions provider that Omni Hotels needed. By providing high speed
Internet, videoconferencing and data services over one network, we are not only able to provide superior new technologies
for Omni customers, but to reduce Omni's data communications costs significantly.''
VirtuaLINC has teamed with CAIS Internet to provide high-speed Internet access to guest rooms. VirtuaLINC will
provide meeting room Internet, videoconferencing and a secure encrypted data network for reservations, financial
reporting and other data transactions. The properties are scheduled for installation over the next 90 to 120 days.
Omni Hotels will be offering the guests and meeting planners the opportunity to use these high-tech the meeting
rooms and ballrooms nationwide as an extension of their corporate facilities. These rooms can be used for:
VirtuaLINC's high bandwidth services can be used in a variety of ways to suit the meeting needs:
The new technology also will provide back-office support for Omni Hotels. The properties will be able to use
these services to enhance communications with other hotels worldwide and Omni Hotels' corporate offices. The secure,
private network will support data services for reservations and corporate data transactions.
``More than 94 percent of our preferred customers actively use the Internet, and they demand fast and reliable
access to the World Wide Web when traveling,'' said Jim Caldwell, president of Omni Hotels. ``With our new high-speed
Internet access, guests will be able to browse the Web from the comfort of their room or check e-mail during a
business meeting quickly and easily. Meeting planners and attendees also can count on having the most state-of-the-art
technology available to allow them to efficiently conduct business.''
About VirtuaLINC Corporation
VirtuaLINC Corporation (www.v2pn.com) is a Dallas-based broadband communications
services company specializing in IP-based video services, high speed Internet and data services for hotels and
corporations. The company has developed the world's first publicly accessible, IP video communications network,
the V2PN(TM) (Virtual Video Private Network).
About Omni Hotels
Omni Hotels, based near Dallas in Irving, Texas, offers luxury accommodations at more than 40 hotels and resorts
located throughout the United States, Canada and Mexico. Each property in the Omni Hotels portfolio provides guests
with exceptional four-diamond hospitality, personalized service and exquisite decor, creating a distinctive experience
at each location. Omni Hotels offers unsurpassed meeting facilities and a wide range of guest services and amenities.
Guests can locate hotels, book accommodations or find out more about Omni Hotels by calling 1-800-THE-OMNI or accessing
the company's Web site at www.omnihotels.com.
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Contact:
VirtuaLINC, Dallas
Bill Lewis, 972/450-9254
bill.lewis@vlinc.com
or
Fleishman-Hillard, Inc.
Lisa Samra/Kyle Rose, 214/665-1300
samral@fleishman.com