The network is used to deliver services and applications, including wired and wireless broadband Internet access, digital video on demand, IP telephony, and wireless point of sale (POS) devices for real-time processing of guest orders.

Crowne Plaza Hunter Valley, part of the worldwide InterContinental Hotels Group, has 150 rooms, 72 two-bedroom villas, and conference facilities for up to 560 delegates. The hotel is set on an 18-hole golf course.

Local communications integrator Integ Communications deployed the new network, which also promises to streamline the hotel's back-office processes.

Crowne Plaza Hunter Valley general manager Neil Houghton said the hotel's target market is 60 percent business and 40 percent leisure travellers, and business travellers are technologically savvy so don't have to time to "mess around with complicated connectivity options and slow Internet services".

"They need to be able to connect and get on with business," Houghton said. "The network gives our business guests a true mobile office environment. And it has helped increase staff efficiencies and improve responsiveness [with] wireless telephony, wireless Internet access, [and] the wireless point of sale solution."