Hilton Offers Wireless Access To Hotel InformationHilton Offers Wireless Access To Hotel Information

Hilton Hotels Corp. is using OpenGrid Inc.'s FastBook system to allow wireless device users to search Hilton's network for hotel information, to book reservations, and to access guest loyalty programs.

Hilton has just finished a three-month pilot test of the system using Palm operating system devices and plans to expand access to other devices, including PocketPCs, Windows CE devices, and Research In Motion Inc.'s BlackBerrys.

"The consumers want it," says Virginia Suliman, director of E-business interface technology for Hilton. "By virtue of being in the hospitality industry, we are automatically assigned to the mobile user. Our help desk received calls asking when we were going to be available on a wireless device and what kind of offers we would have."

After downloading the application from a standard Internet connection, PDA users can find information on 350 U.S. Hilton, Hilton Garden Inn, and Conrad hotels, but Suliman says its Wireless Application Protocol system being tested in Europe and Asia will likely see more immediate use.

Some travel industry analysts are wary of the consumer benefits of such a service, however, and believe that a more internally focused application would be of greater importance.

"I don't think this will get a single IT manager to go over to their travel manager and say Hilton is doing this, and we need to book with them," says Henry Harteveldt, senior analyst with Forrester Research. "Location and rate will still rule. Hilton is certainly going to gain valuable long-term knowledge on wireless device usage, but won't be seeing short-term booking or wireless transaction activity."

The Hilton Wireless Reservations System download is available now for Palm operating system devices.