Press Release: LodgeNet Entertainment Corporation
July 13, 2001
SIOUX FALLS, SD and DALLAS, TX -- Travelers staying at La Quinta® Inns hotels will find more to enjoy on the
guest room television than ever before, thanks to a contract extension announced yesterday by LodgeNet Entertainment
Corporation (Nasdaq: LNET) and La Quinta Inns, Inc. The agreement will bring new interactive digital television
services to more than 300 La Quinta hotels and will upgrade LodgeNet interactive TV services already familiar to
La Quinta guests.
Under the agreement, nearly 40,000 La Quinta guest rooms throughout the United States will be upgraded to LodgeNet's
interactive digital system technology and will receive new services such as on-demand digital music and music videos,
specialized pay-per-day television content and archived programming including the HBO hit series The Sopranos and
Sex and the City. LodgeNet will also install La Quinta properties with Internet-enabled services including Web
browsing and a direct link to the La Quinta Inns Website. In addition, LodgeNet will enhance each hotel's on-demand
movie service with interactive control capabilities (pause, skip forward, skip back) and will upgrade their Super
NES® video game systems to the Nintendo® 64 platform.
``During our more than five-year relationship with La Quinta Inns, they have maximized the opportunities our services
have offered by consistently and proactively marketing those services to their guests,'' said John M. O'Haugherty,
Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer for LodgeNet. ``As economic considerations cause more travelers
to consider the mid-priced lodging segment, we look forward to helping La Quinta hotels exceed the expectations
of business and leisure guests alike.''
``As we evaluated LodgeNet's newest interactive technology, content and services, it was clear they brought tremendous
marketing value to the table,'' said Steve Parker, Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer for La
Quinta Inns, Inc. ``Given that potential, and in light of LodgeNet's service and support record with our properties,
we are very pleased to extend our relationship with the company that has proven its capabilities in the past and
is setting the standards for guest room television in the future.''
About LodgeNet
LodgeNet Entertainment Corporation ( http://www.lodgenet.com ) is a broadband,
interactive services provider which specializes in the delivery of interactive television and Internet access services
to the lodging industry throughout the United States and Canada as well as select international markets. These
services include on-demand digital movies, music and music videos, Nintendo® video games, high-speed Internet
access and other interactive television services designed to serve the needs of the lodging industry and the traveling
public. As one of the largest companies in the industry, LodgeNet provides service to more than 820,000 rooms (including
more than 760,000 interactive guest pay rooms) in more than 5,100 hotel properties. More than 250 million travelers
have access to LodgeNet systems on an annual basis. LodgeNet is listed on Nasdaq and trades under the symbol LNET.
About La Quinta Inns
Dallas-based La Quinta Inns, Inc. is owned by the La Quinta Companies (NYSE: LQI). La Quinta, a mid-scale limited-service
lodging company, owns, operates and franchises 229 Inns and 72 Inn & Suites in 29 states and has approximately
8,000 employees. For more information about La Quinta, please visit its website at http://www.laquinta.com
or for reservations at any La Quinta property please call 800-531-5900.
SOURCE: LodgeNet Entertainment Corporation