The InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) has selected Avaya, a leader in enterprise communications systems, as one of its preferred communications providers for its properties across the Middle East and Africa region.

The framework agreement calls for Avaya to deploy its portfolio of innovative communications solutions for the hospitality industry, including in-room management, staff mobility solutions, contact centre solutions and unified communications.

IHG is the world’s largest hotel company by number of rooms, with the biggest development pipeline that will see over 1,300 new hotels opened over the next three to five years.

Operating a portfolio of five hotel brands in the Middle East and Africa – InterContinental hotels, Crowne Plaza, Holiday Inn, Holiday Inn Express and Staybridge Suites – IHG runs a total of 97 hotels and 23,621 rooms across the region.

A complete IP telephony solution is currently being deployed at the Crowne Plaza Dubai, while data, Wi-Fi, and IP telephony solutions are being installed at the Intercontinental Al Ain.

“Advanced technology provides a competitive edge in the hospitality market in attracting sophisticated business and leisure travelers, adding value and generating revenue,” said Ali Saeb, director of technology for IHG MEA.

“Working with a leading hospitality solution provider such as Avaya will add value to our services and improve our guests’ overall experience, leaving us well positioned to grow market share,” he added.

Fredrick Sabty, director of hospitality solutions, Avaya, said: “Avaya’s solutions will allow IHG to leverage flexible, scalable, next generation technologies that keep up with their needs as they expand across the Middle East and Africa region.”

“One of the key reasons IHG selected Avaya  is our ability to use of the group’s existing, multi-vendor infrastructure and implement a solution that incorporates a wide-range of technologies – including  analogue to high-end IP telephony -- that meet the varied demands of IHG’s brands and properties.”

Saeb added: “We believe Avaya’s communications solutions will enhance customer satisfaction levels, help increase staff productivity and efficiency, trim down maintenance costs and reduce total cost of ownership.” – TradeArabia News Service