Digital Realty Announces Results of Customer Satisfaction and Loyalty Survey

SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 8, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Digital Realty Trust, Inc. (NYSE: DLR), a leading global provider of data center solutions, has received the results of an independent study of customer satisfaction conducted by Kingsley Associates, the respected research firm that has specialized in the real estate industry for nearly 30 years. The study is based on surveys of nearly 500 respondents from more than 400 organizations served by Digital Realty. Kingsley has conducted annual customer satisfaction surveys for Digital Realty since 2006 with the objective of measuring customer and broker satisfaction while simultaneously gathering feedback that enables Digital Realty to enhance the customer experience and improve loyalty.

Key findings from the 2011 survey include the following:

• Digital Realty scored in the "Good to Excellent" range in all three areas of the study: Overall Satisfaction, Satisfaction with Property Management, and Satisfaction with Quality of Work in Maintenance/Engineering.
• Digital Realty scored 15 points higher than the industry average for renewal intentions. The industry average is derived from the Kingsley Index(SM), which is based on scores from U.S. office property surveys conducted by Kingsley Associates across the United States.
• During the past four years, Digital Realty has achieved an increase of approximately eight (8) percent in Overall Satisfaction and five (5) percent increases in both Satisfaction with Property Management and Satisfaction with Quality of Work.

"This is the most comprehensive study Kingsley has conducted with our customers and brokers to date. We are very pleased with the positive results and believe they are directly related to the initiatives we have undertaken to address customer feedback provided in prior years' surveys," said Dave Caron, Senior Vice President, Portfolio Management at Digital Realty. "We have made the customer experience a priority at Digital Realty and meet with our customers regularly to understand their business needs and priorities. Based on the information we get from these conversations and from brokers, we are constantly improving our staff, processes and systems to deliver the best results."

In addition to providing top tier data center architecture and infrastructure, Digital Realty offers a wide range of value-add services that cater to the specific needs of data center customers, including maintenance management, specialized power monitoring and reporting, and remote hands services.

"Consistent with our approach to last year's results, Digital Realty will utilize quantitative data and qualitative feedback from the 2011 Kingsley survey to formulate customer-focused initiatives for 2012," added Mr. Caron. "We are committed to operational excellence and investing in state-of-the art systems to ensure a best-in-class experience for our customers. As a long-term owner and data center partner, we remain committed to actively soliciting feedback and maintaining an open dialogue with customers to continue to develop solutions that meet their ongoing needs."

About Digital Realty

Digital Realty Trust, Inc. focuses on delivering customer driven data center solutions by providing secure, reliable and cost effective facilities that meet each customer's unique data center needs. Digital Realty's customers include domestic and international companies across multiple industry verticals ranging from information technology and Internet enterprises, to manufacturing and financial services. Digital Realty's 98 properties, excluding three properties held as investments in unconsolidated joint ventures, comprise approximately 17.4 million square feet as of October 27, 2011, including 2.1 million square feet of space held for redevelopment. Digital Realty's portfolio is located in 30 markets throughout Europe, North America, Singapore and Australia. Additional information about Digital Realty is included in the Company Overview, which is available on the Investors page of Digital Realty's website at http://www.digitalrealty.com.

Safe Harbor Statement

This press release contains forward-looking statements which are based on Digital Realty Trust, Inc.'s current expectations, forecasts and assumptions that involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual outcomes and results to differ materially, including statements related to the Kingsley survey results and Digital Realty Trust, Inc.'s plans to utilize the survey results. These risks and uncertainties include, among others, the following: the impact of the recent deterioration in global economic, credit and market conditions, including the downgrading of the U.S. government's credit rating; current local economic conditions in its geographic markets; decreases in information technology spending, including as a result of economic slowdowns or recession; adverse economic or real estate developments in its industry or the industry sectors that it sells to (including risks relating to decreasing real estate valuations and impairment charges); its dependence upon significant tenants; bankruptcy or insolvency of a major tenant or a significant number of smaller tenants; defaults on or non-renewal of leases by tenants; its failure to obtain necessary debt and equity financing; increased interest rates and operating costs; risks associated with using debt to fund its business activities, including re-financing and interest rate risks, its failure to repay debt when due, adverse changes in its credit ratings or its breach of covenants or other terms contained in its loan facilities and agreements; financial market fluctuations; changes in foreign currency exchange rates; its inability to manage its growth effectively; difficulty acquiring or operating properties in foreign jurisdictions; its failure to successfully integrate and operate acquired or redeveloped properties; risks related to joint venture investments, including as a result of its lack of control of such investments; delays or unexpected costs in development or redevelopment of properties; decreased rental rates or increased vacancy rates; increased competition or available supply of data center space; its inability to successfully develop and lease new properties and space held for redevelopment; difficulties in identifying properties to acquire and completing acquisitions; its inability to acquire off-market properties; its inability to comply with the rules and regulations applicable to reporting companies; its failure to maintain its status as a REIT; possible adverse changes to tax laws; restrictions on its ability to engage in certain business activities; environmental uncertainties and risks related to natural disasters; losses in excess of its insurance coverage; changes in foreign laws and regulations, including those related to taxation and real estate ownership and operation; and changes in local, state and federal regulatory requirements, including changes in real estate and zoning laws and increases in real property tax rates.  For a further list and description of such risks and uncertainties, see the reports and other filings by Digital Realty Trust, Inc. with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including Digital Realty Trust, Inc.'s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010 and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2011, June 30, 2011 and September 30, 2011.  Digital Realty Trust, Inc. disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

SOURCE Digital Realty Trust, Inc.