With broadband Internet access in Australian hotels notoriously scant and expensive, Houghton said Crowne Plaza is a "model site" for other four and five star hotels in the country who want to implement a converged network to improve customer service and drive growth plans.

New network or not, access rates of A$10 (US$7.80) per hour or $26.95 for 24 hours still make broadband access at the hotel a premium service.

Integ Group CEO Ian Poole said the four and five star hotel market is a sector that has traditionally been conservative in the uptake of technology, but now it is starting to "forge ahead" with the deployment of innovative solutions.

"Guest satisfaction, repeat visits, and increasing occupancy levels are the key drivers," Poole said. The converged network is based on Alcatel's IP-PABX, data switching systems, IP telephones, and wireless access points.

Each room and villa has two Alcatel IPTouch phones featuring soft keys for access to Hotel services. Staff also carry Wi-Fi handsets bringing the total number of IP telephones to over 500.