| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
|
| CONTACTS |
|
| Ann Parker |
Mike Smargiassi (investors) |
| Director of Corporate Communications |
Ray Yeung (media) |
| LodgeNet Entertainment Corporation |
Brainerd Communicators |
| 605-988-1000 |
212-986-6667 |
| ann.parker@lodgenet.com |
smarg@braincomm.com |
| |
yeung@braincomm.com |
LODGENET ENTERS CHINA MARKET
WITH LAS VEGAS SANDS’ CORP. AGREEMENT
Customized In-Room Guest Experience
to be Deployed in 3,000 Hotel Rooms Initially;
Potential Expansion of up to 20,000+
Rooms Over the Next Three Years
SIOUX FALLS, S.D., May 15,
2007 – LodgeNet Entertainment Corporation (Nasdaq: LNET) today announced that
it has been selected by Las Vegas Sands Corp. (LVS) as its in-room media and
guest experience provider for
LVS’s flagship Macao property, The Venetian
Macao-Resort-Hotel, which is currently under construction, and LVS’s other
current Macao development, the Sands
Macao. These landmark agreements
represent LodgeNet’s first entry into the robust China market.
Under the agreements,
LodgeNet will create, install and manage customized in-room interactive
solutions purchased by LVS, which will include on demand movies and television
programming. The agreements call for
LodgeNet to initially deploy services in the 3,000 rooms at The Venetian
Macao-Resort-Hotel, a luxury resort that will be the cornerstone of the Cotai Strip
development and the 200-plus room Sands Macao.
With the ambitious LVS Cotai
Strip growth plan to build more than 20,000 hotel rooms over the next three
years, LodgeNet and Las Vegas Sands have also begun discussions to offer
the LodgeNet programming and services to the other hotel developments on the
Cotai Strip planned for future launch.
“As our first entry into
Asia, The Venetian Macao
represents an important milestone and a tremendous growth opportunity for
LodgeNet,” said Scott C. Petersen, LodgeNet President and CEO. “We are extremely pleased to have been chosen
by the Las Vegas Sands as their inaugural and sole interactive media partner,
and entrusted with supporting their spectacular hotel development in Macao. With our expertise and resources LodgeNet is
uniquely positioned to deliver the best in-room interactive experience to meet
the needs of the brand’s ambitious vision and growth schedule.”
According to the China
National Tourism Association, 125 million foreign visitors traveled to China in 2006. Tourism is
expected to increase, especially with Beijing hosting the Summer Olympics
in 2008, spurring demand for hotel rooms with cutting-edge entertainment,
information and guest-connectivity services.
“Demand for hotel rooms
with five-star amenities is growing at a significant rate in China,” said Mr. Petersen.
“There is a tremendous opportunity for LodgeNet to further expand in this
region as it continues to grow. We believe that our focus on developing
solutions that help hotel guests to stay connected, informed and entertained
positions us well for the new opportunities that are developing in this
exciting growth area.”
About LodgeNet
LodgeNet Entertainment
Corporation is the leading provider of media and connectivity services designed
to meet the unique needs of hospitality, healthcare and other visitor and
guest-based businesses. LodgeNet serves more than 1.8 million hotel rooms
representing 9,300 hotel properties worldwide in addition to healthcare
facilities throughout the United States.
LodgeNet's services include on demand movies, games, television programming,
music and information, along with subscription sports programming and
high-speed Internet access. LodgeNet Entertainment Corporation owns and
operates businesses under the industry leading brands: LodgeNet, LodgeNetRX,
On Command and StayOnline. LodgeNet is listed on NASDAQ and trades under the
symbol LNET. For more information, please visit www.lodgenet.com.
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