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InfoTravel TV-Based City Guide Goes Live In Nine Chicago Hotels
Bell Atlantic Expands Interactive Multimedia Service to Chicago
May 13, 1997
| Media contacts: | Stephanie Hobbs |
CHICAGO -- Visitors to Chicago can now check out the city's
restaurants, local attractions, stores and services using a new
multimedia city guide that appears on the TV screen in their hotel
room. The interactive guide, known as InfoTravel, is offered by Bell
Atlantic Electronic Publishing Inc. (EPI) in nine Chicago hotels with
more than 100 participating advertisers.
The advertiser-supported guide for business and leisure travelers is
free to the user and the hotel. Hotel guests use their TV remote to
check out a variety of local attractions. When they click on a
telephone icon InfoTravel connects them to the establishment they
select to make reservations or to get more information. Maps and
coupons also can be printed and picked up at the front desk.
Premiered in Washington, D.C., in 1995, InfoTravel is available in 13
Washington-area hotels with more than 6,000 rooms.
"Chicago is an ideal city for expansion of InfoTravel because of the
success of the Chicago tourism industry," said Christine Lundregan,
president, Bell Atlantic Electronic Publishing Inc. "With the
continued growth in the number of leisure and business travelers,
InfoTravel provides them with a free, preview of the exciting sights
and quality services in one of America's great cities."
The Chicago Convention and Tourism Bureau, an InfoTravel advertiser,
reports increased visitor activity as a result of expansion of the
McCormick Place Convention Center. Some 42 million visitors are
expected in Chicago this year.
"We already have seen an increase in the number of bookings resulting
from the new space at McCormick Place," said Stacey Reineking, public
relations manager, Chicago Convention and Tourism Bureau. "InfoTravel
will keep Chicago visitors abreast of the latest events, attractions
and businesses in the downtown area. If they have a good time while
they are here -- then everyone will benefit."
Over 100 advertisers are participating in Chicago, and they include
such establishments as Chicago Chop House, Empress Casino, Adler
Planetarium, Harold Washington Library, Navy Pier, Sears Tower
Skydeck, Enterprise Rental Cars, Emporium Luggage, Prince Limousine,
Regional Transit Authority and Rosemont Pharmacy.
The Sears Tower Skydeck, a popular tourist attraction at 110 stories
and 1,454 feet high, is targeting the convention business traveler.
"Since InfoTravel is available in a number of popular hotels that
attract convention attendees, it is a perfect medium for that market,"
said Jill Goldsberry, director of sales and marketing, Sears Tower
Skydeck.
Hotels participating in the InfoTravel service are: The Ambassador
West, Chicago Hilton and Towers, Clarion International at O'Hare,
Courtyard Marriott Downtown, The Drake, O'Hare Courtyard by Marriott,
The Palmer House Hilton, The Westin Hotel O'Hare and the O'Hare
Hilton. InfoTravel also will be offered in the Hotel Allegro, formerly
The Bismarck, when it opens this summer.
"We are always seeking ways to simplify life for the traveler," said
Ken Smith, general manager, O'Hare Hilton."InfoTravel makes it easy
for travelers to get what they need and want when traveling to a new
city by simply using their in-room TV remote."
InfoTravel is a feature offered as part of On Command Corporation's
hotel-based, in-room entertainment and information services system.
InfoTravel is provided by Bell Atlantic Electronic Publishing Inc.,
part of the directory services group of the Bell Atlantic Corp. Bell
Atlantic Directory Services and Bell Atlantic Electronic Publishing
are headquartered in Bethesda, Md.
Bell Atlantic Electronic Publishing Inc. is a separate subsidiary of
Bell Atlantic. Bell Atlantic Directory Services Inc. is a separate
subsidiary of Bell Atlantic. Bell Atlantic Corp. (NYSE: BEL) is at
the forefront of the new communications, entertainment and information
industry. In the mid-Atlantic region, Bell Atlantic's telephone
company subsidiaries are the premier providers of local
telecommunications and advanced services. Globally, it is one of the
largest investors in the high-growth wireless communication
marketplace. Bell Atlantic also owns a substantial interest in
Telecom Corporation of New Zealand and is actively developing
high-growth national and international business opportunities in all
phases of the industry.
