<H1>Forte Goes Online</H1><H3>By Amon Cohen</H3><I>London </I>- Forte Hotels is in the beginning stages of installing online computer services for its guests.
The chain already is piloting the program in two hotels in London and plans to extend the service throughout its 85 Meridien and 18 Exclusive properties over the next 18 months.
The announcement follows a recent one by Internet service provider Comcor that it was planning to wire 8,500 guest rooms, meeting rooms and business centers at one Holiday Inn franchiser (BTN, May 6).
The Forte plan is, of course, subject to whether Forte still runs all those hotels in 18 months' time. After four months of deliberations, Forte's new owner, Granada, has announced that it will retain the four-star and five-star Meridien brand but will definitely sell its five-star Exclusive hotels. During its hostile New Year bid for Forte, Granada promised to sell Meridien.
In the properties that Forte does retain, guests will have access not only to the Internet but also to a dedicated online information service provided by business intelligence supplier Market Analysis and Information Database (MAID). Initially, only PCs in Meridien and Exclusive hotel business centers will be online. However, Forte and MAID are set to sign an agreement that will put the service in guest rooms as well. Guests will use a keyboard linked to the television. No date has been set for implementing this phase of the plan.
Forte IT strategy and planning manager Ritesh Patel said MAID would provide business, political, sports and domestic news from Europe, America and Asia. Stock prices will be updated every 15 minutes, and the service will quote exchange rates and commodity prices. News items will be culled from 4,000 newspapers around the world and will be updated very hour.
Forte will charge an hourly rate, yet to be determined, in the business centers and a 24-hour rate in guest rooms for about the same price as an in-room movie. In-room users will be charged a small pay-as-you-surf fee. Patel said Forte was considering installing kiosks with touch-screen controls for the business centers.
Meanwhile, the news that the Meridien portfolio is no longer for sale will come as a disappointment to Marriott, ITT Sheraton and French hotel group Accor, all of which are believed to have expressed interest in buying it. The decision also has scuttled the plans of former Forte chairman Sir Rocco Forte, who had offered to buy back both Meridien, which he bought from Air France in 1994, and Exclusive. With Meridien taken off the table, Sir Rocco has withdrawn his offer.