January 25, 2010

Swisscom partner hotels can now tempt guests with free worldwide phone calls, an innovative new feature available with Swisscom’s Business Internet solution. It allows guests to make free calls, using the existing phone in the guestroom, to any landline number worldwide and any mobile phone number in the USA. The service is provided at no additional cost to the hotel or the guest.

“Phone bills are an important cost factor for guests, especially when they roam while travelling abroad,” comments Philip Taylor, general manager of Holiday Inn Express Edinburgh City Centre. "Swisscom not only provides more value for money to the business traveller but also offers a financial advantage to the company paying the expenses.  It’s really two essential services rolled into one which helps differentiate us from competition, secure repeat business and attract new guests. The initial reaction from guests has been very positive.”

“The use of the hotel phone has steadily declined over the years as a result of guests using their mobile phones and hotels maintaining their high telephone rates,” says Leo Brand, CEO of Swisscom Hospitality Services. “Over the years, the hotel PBX system has become a cost factor rather than a revenue generator. Our new free calling service allows hotels to reintroduce the use of the guestroom telephone for making convenient and free calls to their families or colleagues around the world.”

In addition to a traditional phone service, Swisscom also allows guests travelling with their WiFi-enabled phones – so-called Smartphones – to connect at broadband speed from anywhere on the property through their integrated Wireless network. Adds Leo Brand: “The free phone call feature and our WiFi-enabled Smartphone service complete the profile of our Business Internet Solution as a service rich communication package which really offers hotels a  multi-play of value added services: TV, landline telephone, Internet and mobile Internet.”