News Release

Cairo's Inter-Continental Heliopolis Hotel Adopts Cisco's 'Business Ready Hotel' Solution

New Business Solution Provides Wide Range of Services to Guests and Hotel Managers
cisco_building_corporate_002-jpg-1889882-1-0
Apr 21, 2004

CAIRO, Egypt, April 21, 2004 - Cisco Systems today announced that Inter-Continental Heliopolis Hotel in Cairo will offer guests new services empowered by Cisco Systems industry-tailored solutions when the hotel opens in the early summer of 2004. The hotel's ambitious strategy for customer satisfaction was unveiled at a press conference attended by Citystars' Chairman, Abdulrahman Sharbatly and Cisco's President for Europe, Middle East and Africa, Rob Lloyd.

Using Cisco's 'Business Ready Hotel' solution, hotels can create a flexible environment to tailor room services to a guest's personal preference, whilst also streamlining the operational business process. Each of the hotel's 1200 staff and 790 rooms will be equipped with the latest IP Telephony and hospitality solutions. These will be combined with a fully encompassing Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN), empowered by 250 access points, which will enable guests and staff full Internet connectivity. Over 3,500 IP Telephony handsets will be deployed within the hotel and the hotel's employees will be equipped with Cisco's 7920 wireless IP Telephones to help achieve maximum levels of productivity.

"We are proud to offer the highest service levels attainable and to forge new ground in the Middle East's hospitality industry," said Sharbatly Chairman of Citystars. "Our mission is to develop and maintain a leadership position based on quality and customer satisfaction. Cisco's solutions are at the core of our strategy for achieving this mission."

Cisco's solutions will be combined with Nevotek's state of the art, end to end IP hospitality suite, offering industry tailored services. For example, guests will be able to get a wide selection of information and interactive services through their IP Telephone terminals. Guests can also send email through the Cisco IP phones without using a personal computer. The hotel staff anywhere in the hotel will be able to answer a guest's request and respond quickly and efficiently.

"Hotels like the Intercontinental are leading the world's hospitality industry," said Rob Lloyd, President of Cisco Systems Europe Middle East and Africa. "Cisco is currently working with many of the world's hotel chains on how a Cisco IP infrastructure can reshape their business."

The Inter-Continental Heliopolis Hotel in Citystars Heliopolis Cairo offers superior accommodation and catering services to today's demanding travelers. The hotel forms an integral part of the Citystars development and contributes to the overall portfolio by acting as the host to the incoming flux of tourist groups, corporate travelers and conference delegates transiting through Cairo.

For more information on Cisco's hospitality solutions, please visit www.cisco.com/me. For more information of the Inter-Continental Heliopolis Hotel, please visit www.citystars.com.eg.

# # #

About the Inter-Continental Heliopolis Hotel

The Inter-Continental Heliopolis Hotel in Citystars Heliopolis Cairo offers superior accommodation and catering services to today's demanding travelers. The hotel forms an integral part of the Citystars development and contributes to the overall portfolio by acting as the host to the incoming flux of tourist groups, corporate travelers and conference delegates transiting through Cairo.