AFL Network Services Selected for Peabody Hotels Network Expansion

22/06/2009

Spartanburg, SC - AFL Network Services, a leader of integrated network solutions for the hospitality and telecommunications industry, announces it was selected to install state-of-the-art network infrastructure as part of Peabody Hotel Group’s $450 million expansion of the Peabody Orlando. AFL will provide engineering support, materials, and installation for the voice, data and video networks.

Given the high rate of leisure traffic and ranking as the nation’s No. 2 convention destination, Orlando has a reputation for some of the best hotels in the country. At the top of the list is the Peabody Hotel(http://www.peabodyorlando.com/), one of the most luxurious sites in the city and neighbor to the Orange County Convention Center on International Drive. Priding itself on catering to the meetings and conventions industry nationwide, the Peabody Hotel has established itself as the Orlando convention hotel of choice for the nation’s professional meeting planners. In order to accommodate the many vacationers and business executives that travel to the area week in and week out, the Peabody sought to expand its operations, adding a new tower to its existing properties.

"We selected AFL as our service provider out of a group of highly-qualified contenders," said Michael Craft, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer for the Peabody Hotel Group. "This project is critical to our company and is very complex due to its size, as well as the quality that we are demanding of the completed product. We believe AFL is well- qualified to handle the cabling component of the project, and are counting on it to meet our technical requirements on schedule and on budget. We are very pleased with how AFL’s work is progressing thus far".

With a target completion date of Fall 2010, the Peabody expansion includes a new 32-story guest room tower. With 1,641 luxurious rooms the Peabody Orlando will become the largest four star hotel in North America, excluding casino properties. Other project highlights include a 55,000 square foot ballroom, three new pools and a 2,100 vehicle parking garage. From conference room to poolside cabana, all guest areas of the hotel will have access to a wide range of technology amenities.

AFL Network Services scope of work includes the installation of nearly one million feet of Cat5e cabling, intended for voice applications, and RG-6 coaxial cable will be installed for transmitting cable television and other video applications. Approximately one million feet of Cat6 cable with connectivity will be installed to allow for a high-speed data infrastructure, helping facilitate records, billing, and information that the hotel will store in its computers. The data infrastructure will also transmit digital signage information throughout the hotel and convention center. The entire fiber backbone will consist of AFL fiber and connectors.

"AFL Network Services is extremely pleased to be selected for such an exciting project. The scope of this project is a showcase for AFL’s expertise with end-to-end network solutions and value engineering. We look forward to celebrating the grand opening of the new expansion," stated Kent Brown – Vice President, Enterprise of AFL Network Services.

AFL Network Services’ mission is to provide advanced hospitality technology and network management services. AFL not only provides expertise in end-to-end network solutions, but partners with clients to ensure guest satisfaction and loyalty. Whether building, upgrading or expanding network communication systems, AFL has extensive knowledge of the latest technologies in the industry.

About AFL Network Services
AFL Network Services is headquartered in Spartanburg, South Carolina. With 35 field offices in the U.S. and over 1,300 employees, AFL provides telecommunications installation, maintenance and system integration services in the enterprise, wireline and wireless markets. For additional information on products and services offered by AFL Network Services and its affiliates visit www.AFLNetworkServices.com.

About Peabody Hotel Group
Peabody Hotel Group (PHG) is one of the nations leading hotel management companies, operating as two divisions, the Peabody Hotels division and the Brand Management Division. PHG specializes in profitably directing the operations of successful, high-profile, Peabody-flagged hotels and quality independent/franchise hotels. For more information about Peabody Hotel Group, visit www.peabodyhotelgroup.com.

Contacts
AFL Network Services
Kent Brown, Vice President – Enterprise
864.433.8072
kent.brown@afltele.com

Corie Culp, PR Manager
864.433.5409
corie.culp@afltele.com

Peabody Hotel Group
Maureen Gonzalez
Carroll Communications Group
352.241.0947