Ruckus Powers Top Three Highest Ranked Chains for Hotel Wi-Fi

SUNNYVALE, Calif., Nov. 28, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Ruckus Wireless^® (NYSE: RKUS) today announced that for the second year in a row, the top worldwide hotel chains ranked as offering the "Best Hotel Wi-Fi" by HotelChatter all have one thing in common—they were smart to choose Ruckus technology to power their Wi-Fi networks.

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HotelChatter's 2012 Hotel Wi-Fi Report named Kimpton Hotels, Peninsula Hotels, and Fairmont Hotels as having the best Wi-Fi in the world for their guests, ranking them first, second, and third, respectively. All three of these premier worldwide hotel chains know that reliable, robust Wi-Fi service is a prerequisite for their guests, and Ruckus ZoneFlex™ Wi-Fi technology is the best way to provide reliable high speed wireless Internet access.

Ruckus ZoneFlex is one of the most popular Wi-Fi systems for hotels because it extends signal range and delivers consistent performance at long ranges. This is achieved through patented adaptive antenna technology that automatically focuses Wi-Fi signals only where they are needed, creating stronger signals that can be "steered" around obstacles and interference. The Ruckus ZoneFlex system is the only to combine SmartMesh Networking, directional, high-gain RF signal routing, and predictive channel selection for unprecedented coverage and performance at an affordable price.

"We've gone to great lengths to deliver to our guests the best wireless experience possible and Ruckus has been integral in helping us make this happen," said Donald O'Grady, regional vice president of Property Technology for Kimpton Hotels and Restaurants. "With Ruckus we've been able to deploy fewer access points that deliver greater coverage and have seen customer satisfaction rise. That's a big part of why Kimpton is number one."

Hotel chains like Kimpton, Peninsula and Fairmont that are aiming to increase revenues per available room (RevPAR) and maximize profitability use Ruckus Smart Wi-Fi ZoneFlex access points (APs) for: stronger Wi-Fi signals, ubiquitous coverage, more stable connections and consistent performance.

According to Hotel Internet Services (HIS), a leading provider of secure wired and wireless Internet services, Ruckus ZoneFlex Smart Wi-Fi has contributed to significant reductions in guest complaints for its customers across the United States.

"HIS is easily seeing 30 percent or greater reduction in guest complaints wherever we have installed a Ruckus-powered Wi-Fi network," said Gary Patrick, president of Hotel Internet Services. "Bottom line, we have far fewer truck rolls being required to maintain Wi-Fi at our contracted hotel properties, which means lower servicing costs and happier hotel clients for us, and, in turn, happier customers for them." 

Beyond high-speed Wi-Fi guest access, hotels are using Wi-Fi for a myriad of applications—from service optimization to environmental controls, and IPTV to tablet-based location services.

"Kimpton, Peninsula, and Fairmont are premier hotels, and these Best Wi-Fi rankings clearly demonstrate that ZoneFlex is the gold standard in hospitality Wi-Fi deployments," said Ted Watson, director of Global Hospitality Solutions for Ruckus Wireless. "Our hotel clients around the world have seen better coverage, which not only translates into better guest satisfaction scores, it also saves them a significant amount of money, helping to improve their profitability in a very competitive industry. In addition, hotel guests are increasingly demanding the same Wi-Fi reliability on their handheld devices like smartphones and tablets that they need in their room on their laptops. Ruckus Smart Wi-Fi delivers on all of these demands in a growing mobile world, and as we like to say, that's simply better wireless—for hotels and their guests."

More than 20 Kimpton Hotels and Restaurants worldwide feature Ruckus Smart Wi-Fi technology, including the Hotel Palomar Chicago, Eventi New York, Hotel Solamar in San Diego, and Hotel Monaco San Francisco in the U.S. Peninsula Hotels with Ruckus Smart Wi-Fi include locations in Beverly Hills, Chicago and New York in the U.S.; Beijing and Hong Kong in China; Paris in Europe, and Manila in Asia/Pacific. Fairmont Hotels powered by Ruckus include locations in Chicago, Dallas, San Francisco and San Jose in the U.S.; Geneva and Monte Carlo in Europe; Singapore (Swissotel) in Asia/Pacific, and Nairobi in Africa.

Ruckus Wireless advanced Smart Wi-Fi products and technologies address the growing challenges faced by hoteliers to support thousands of simultaneous Wi-Fi users within high-capacity venues and conference locations. For more information, visit us at: http://www.ruckuswireless.com/enterprises/hospitality.

ABOUT KIMPTON HOTELS & RESTAURANTS

San Francisco-based Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants, a collection of boutique hotels and chef-driven restaurants in the US, is an acknowledged industry pioneer and was the first to bring the boutique hotel concept to America. In 1981 Bill Kimpton founded the company that today is well-known for making travelers feel welcomed and comfortable while away from home through authentic and unscripted customer care, stylish ambience and embodying a certain playfulness in its approach to programs and amenities. Adjacent to the hotels are locally-loved, top-rated, Kimpton restaurants. Kimpton leads the hospitality industry in ecological practices through its innovative EarthCare program that spans all hotels and restaurants. Market Metrix, a recognized authority and leader in feedback solutions, consistently ranks Kimpton above other hotel companies in luxury and upper upscale segments for customer satisfaction. Privately held Kimpton was recognized by Fortune Magazine as a Best Company to Work for in 2012.  The company operates more than 50 hotels and more than 50 restaurants in 24 cities. For more information visit www.KimptonHotels.com or call 1-800-KIMPTON.

ABOUT RUCKUS WIRELESS

Headquartered in Sunnyvale, CA, Ruckus Wireless (NYSE: RKUS) is a global supplier of advanced wireless systems for the rapidly expanding mobile Internet infrastructure market. With 2011 revenues of $120 million, the company offers a wide range of indoor and outdoor "Smart Wi-Fi" products to mobile carriers, broadband service providers, and corporate enterprises, and has more than 16,000 customers worldwide. Ruckus technology addresses Wi-Fi capacity and coverage challenges caused by the ever-increasing amount of traffic on wireless networks due to accelerated adoption of mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets. Ruckus invented and has patented state-of-the-art wireless voice, video, and data technology innovations, such as adaptive antenna arrays that extend signal range, increase client data rates, and avoid interference, ensuring consistent and reliable distribution of delay-sensitive multimedia content and services over standard 802.11 Wi-Fi. For more information, visit http://www.ruckuswireless.com.

Media Contact
Mark Priscaro
Ruckus Wireless
[email protected]
+1-925-604-8531

SOURCE Ruckus Wireless