Concord Hospitality Earns Marriott High Speed Internet Certification

Becomes Only Owner Operator to Gain Designation

RALEIGH, N.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Concord Hospitality Enterprises, one of the top-ranked hotel developer/owner/operators in North America, today announced that it has been certified by Marriott International to provide high speed internet service to all Marriott-branded hotels in North America. With this certification, Concord becomes one of only 17 certified service providers authorized to install and maintain the complex internet needs of individual Marriott hotels.

“We made a strategic decision to pursue this new line of business by investing in a new testing lab and a custom-built, web-based reporting system so that ultimately we would be one of the few companies with demonstrated capabilities to meet Marriott’s high standards.”

“Reliable high speed internet access is no longer an option for hotels, it’s a necessity,” said Brian Cornell, senior vice president information technology for Concord. “At Concord, we’ve invested heavily in making sure that our hotels provide a consistently superior technology offering, and by certifying vendors, Marriott is assuring that level of service across its brands. Prior to Marriott deciding to embark on a certification process, we had been self-installing high speed internet for all of our owned and managed hotels since 2000, so we were well aware of the challenges and the opportunities.”

The rigorous certification process involved nearly nine months of testing on key pieces of equipment and laboratory examinations to ensure the vendor’s ability to assure online safety, reporting compliance, configuration capabilities, equipment standards and much more.

“There were some 200 vendors providing services to Marriott hotels at the start of this process,” Cornell said. “We made a strategic decision to pursue this new line of business by investing in a new testing lab and a custom-built, web-based reporting system so that ultimately we would be one of the few companies with demonstrated capabilities to meet Marriott’s high standards.

“Some hotels will be understandably reluctant to switch vendors,” Cornell added. “However, this program will ensure that hotels consistently receive enterprise class equipment and the right levels of maintenance and service support. We are the only certified vendor that also owns and operates hotels, so I’m confident that our unique understanding of hotel operations will enable us to earn the confidence and business of our fellow hoteliers.”

Concord’s team of engineers and technicians is supported by a U.S.-based, 24-hour customer support center that will handle routine connection issues commonly experienced by travelers.

About Concord Hospitality

Concord Hospitality Enterprises Company, an award-winning hotel management and development company based in Raleigh, N.C., manages 90 upscale select-service and full-service hotels offering more than 12,000 guest rooms in 24 states and two Canadian provinces. The company operates hotels and resorts under such well-known industry elite brands as Marriott, Hilton, Hyatt, Starwood, and Choice Hotels, as well as select independent boutique hotels. Formed in 1985, Concord is routinely listed among the nation’s top management companies and recently won some of the industry’s top honors from Marriott International and Hyatt. Concord properties are some of the most awarded hotels in the country, having won nearly 100 top honors in the past two years. For more information, visit www.concordhotels.com.