With thinking "outside the guestroom" Staybridge is the first hotel brand in category, to offer free wireless internet access anywhere on its properties.

IHG announces today that its upscale extended-stay hotel brand, Staybridge Suites is offering free wireless Internet access, available anywhere on its hotels' premises at locations across the U.S. and Canada. For guests who choose to connect via wired high-speed Internet access, this complimentary amenity available since the brand launched in 1998 remains unchanged.

"We want our guests to be comfortable wherever they choose to access the Internet during their stay," said Robert Radomski, vice president, Brand Management, Staybridge Suites. "Many of our guests enjoy wireless Internet access at home, so why should they be limited at their home-away-from-home?  Whether they choose to do this by the pool, in the hotel's 'great room', or the traditional way in their guest suite or the hotel's business center, we feel its important to offer conveniences to our guests while meeting the demands of the marketplace," he added.

The first in the upscale extended-stay category to offer free "wireless anywhere," Staybridge Suites recently opened its 100^th hotel and expects to double its size in the next few years, offering this amenity at nearly 200 hotels across the Americas by year-end 2009.

One of five Staybridge Suites hotels open in the greater Chicago area, the Staybridge Suites Oakbrook Terrace expects this amenity will contribute to the hotel's community-like environment.

"Nearly all of our guests stay with us for business, and ‘wireless anywhere' will allow them to work or access the Internet in other areas of the hotel without being confined to their suite," said Destini Williams-Best, general manager, Staybridge Suites Chicago-Oakbrook Terrace.  "This is especially important to most of our guests who stay with us for weeks on end and want to work in an environment similar to what they would have back home."

Keane Bell, regional director of operations for the Mid-Atlantic Staybridge Suites hotels adds, "The freedom and comfort of working in a large open space, such as the Staybridge Suites' great room, or even outdoors, can be rewarding and relaxing, especially when it's a complimentary service offered by the hotel."