High Speed WiFi Meets High Speed Thrills: Alton Towers Resort Rolls Out Free WiFi to Theme Park Guests With The Cloud
Poster: SySAdmin
Posted on July 4, 2012 at 6:35:01 AM
High Speed WiFi Meets High Speed Thrills: Alton Towers Resort Rolls Out Free WiFi to Theme Park Guests With The Cloud
LONDON, July 4, 2012/PRNewswire/ --
Alton Towers Resort, the UK's number one theme park and one of the UK's most popular
destinations for family fun and adrenalin-pumping rides, has signed a deal with WiFi
provider [http://www.thecloud.net/wifi ] The Cloud to deliver free, totally unlimited WiFi
access across the 500- acre theme park in Staffordshire.
Due to go live this summer, the WiFi will allow theme park goers to access the
internet between thrill seeking escapades on one of Alton Towers' 50 world-class rides and
attractions. Visitors will be able to access Facebook and Twitter to update their friends
on the fun they're having and even upload videos and photos instantly, instead of waiting
until they're home. They can also check emails, surf the web and access the Alton Towers
Resort App, which is jam-packed full of useful features, fun facts and challenging games.
Over the past year we have seen an exponential rise in the availability of WiFi
enabled devices, and an increased interest from consumers who want to share and connect
online wherever and whenever possible. Smartphone use covers all locations, with 85% using
it on the go and 64% in a store*. The Cloud has seen usage on its own network increase at
an unprecedented pace in the last two years, having witnessed its unique user base
doubling since the start of the year and the total number of sessions tripling,
highlighting the real demand for WiFi hotspots in public places around the UK.
Katherine Duckworth, head of consumer marketing at the Alton Towers Resort comments,
"The rapid growth in the use of smartphones and tablets has fundamentally changed how many
of us use the internet and has increased people's demand for internet access wherever they
are, which is why we want to offer free WiFi access to guests of Alton Towers Resort. The
Resort is all about having fun and creating lasting memories, which people naturally want
to tell their friends about on social networks and even share photos and videos throughout
their day with us. The new WiFi offering lets them do all this and more, making it a more
personal and interactive experience."
Vince Russell, managing director of The Cloud, said: "The roll-out at Alton Towers
Resort is a very important deal for The Cloud. Not only does this put our WiFi at the
heart of one of the UK's most popular tourist attractions, but along with the London Eye
it is the second Merlin Entertainments' venue to roll-out WiFi with The Cloud this year.
We look forward to delivering our fast, reliable internet access to the millions of
visitors each attraction sees every year and enhancing their overall customer experience
on the day of their visit."
The Cloud [http://www.thecloud.net ], a BSkyB company, now has more than 10,000
hotspots around the UK. An estimated 4m people every day pass through The Cloud network by
visiting one of its partners, including major outlets like Greggs, PizzaExpress, Caffe
Nero, Eat, Pret and Wagamama, as well as First Great Western and Network Rail stations.
About The Cloud
- The Cloud (http://www.thecloud.co.uk) builds and operates Wi-Fi networks
across the UK and Europe to provide the mobile media experience that consumers want.
The service delivers simple, fast, reliable and cost effective broadband to millions
of Wi-Fi enabled smartphones, laptops and entertainment devices.
- The Cloud has exclusive commercial partnerships with retail, leisure, hotels,
sports, transport, and entertainment and content partners to deliver its longer-term
vision of a connected society.
- The Cloud connects almost a million devices to its Wi-Fi network each month,
including Nintendo 3DS users and at locations such as the Emirates Stadium,
Silverstone Race Track, the City of London, Wetherspoon, PizzaExpress, Pret, Caffe
Nero, Eat, pubs, leisure facilities, restaurants and mainline stations.
- The Cloud is a BSkyB Company.
- In April, BSkyB announced that Sky Broadband customers can now quickly and
easily access free, unlimited and high-speed WiFi at thousands of public places across
the UK through new Sky "WiFi [http://www.thecloud.net/wifi ] Hotspots from The
Cloud". The service is available at no extra charge to all Sky Broadband Unlimited,
Sky Fibre Unlimited and Sky Connect customers, who are eligible to take unlimited
broadband with them whilst out and about through seamless access to The Cloud's
network of hotspots. A free "Sky Cloud WiFi" is available for iOS and Android devices
and, once downloaded and registered, will allow people to automatically connect
their smartphone or tablet to the internet without having to log-in ever again.
MERLIN ENTERTAINMENTS is the leading name in location-based, family entertainment, and
has seen the most successful and dynamic growth of any company in the sector over the last
five years. Europe's Number 1 and the world's second-largest visitor attraction operator,
Merlin now operates 89 attractions, seven hotels/two holiday villages in 19 countries and
across four continents. The company aims to deliver memorable and rewarding experiences to
its 46 million visitors worldwide, through its iconic global and local brands, and the
commitment and passion of its managers and more than 17,000 employees. Among Merlin's
attractions are - SEA LIFE, Madame Tussauds, LEGOLAND, The EDF Energy London Eye,
Dungeons, Gardaland, LEGOLAND Discovery Centres, Alton Towers Resort, Warwick Castle,
THORPE PARK, Chessington World of Adventures Resort, Blackpool Tower, Heide Park, Sydney
Aquarium, WILD LIFE Sydney, Sydney Tower Eye and SKYWALK, Siam Ocean World and Busan
Aquarium.
All brands which are distinctive, challenging and innovative - and which have great
potential for growth in the future. Visit http://www.merlinentertainments.biz for more
information.
*Source = Our Mobile Planet: UK, Understanding the mobile consumer, May 2012
Source: The Cloud
Press contact details: The Cloud, Rachael Thomas, Harvard PR, +44(0)20-7861-1627, TheCloud@harvard.co.uk; Alton Towers Resort, Liz West, PR Manager, +44(0)1538-704015, Liz.west@alton-towers.com
LONDON, July 4, 2012/PRNewswire/ --
Alton Towers Resort, the UK's number one theme park and one of the UK's most popular
destinations for family fun and adrenalin-pumping rides, has signed a deal with WiFi
provider [http://www.thecloud.net/wifi ] The Cloud to deliver free, totally unlimited WiFi
access across the 500- acre theme park in Staffordshire.
Due to go live this summer, the WiFi will allow theme park goers to access the
internet between thrill seeking escapades on one of Alton Towers' 50 world-class rides and
attractions. Visitors will be able to access Facebook and Twitter to update their friends
on the fun they're having and even upload videos and photos instantly, instead of waiting
until they're home. They can also check emails, surf the web and access the Alton Towers
Resort App, which is jam-packed full of useful features, fun facts and challenging games.
Over the past year we have seen an exponential rise in the availability of WiFi
enabled devices, and an increased interest from consumers who want to share and connect
online wherever and whenever possible. Smartphone use covers all locations, with 85% using
it on the go and 64% in a store*. The Cloud has seen usage on its own network increase at
an unprecedented pace in the last two years, having witnessed its unique user base
doubling since the start of the year and the total number of sessions tripling,
highlighting the real demand for WiFi hotspots in public places around the UK.
Katherine Duckworth, head of consumer marketing at the Alton Towers Resort comments,
"The rapid growth in the use of smartphones and tablets has fundamentally changed how many
of us use the internet and has increased people's demand for internet access wherever they
are, which is why we want to offer free WiFi access to guests of Alton Towers Resort. The
Resort is all about having fun and creating lasting memories, which people naturally want
to tell their friends about on social networks and even share photos and videos throughout
their day with us. The new WiFi offering lets them do all this and more, making it a more
personal and interactive experience."
Vince Russell, managing director of The Cloud, said: "The roll-out at Alton Towers
Resort is a very important deal for The Cloud. Not only does this put our WiFi at the
heart of one of the UK's most popular tourist attractions, but along with the London Eye
it is the second Merlin Entertainments' venue to roll-out WiFi with The Cloud this year.
We look forward to delivering our fast, reliable internet access to the millions of
visitors each attraction sees every year and enhancing their overall customer experience
on the day of their visit."
The Cloud [http://www.thecloud.net ], a BSkyB company, now has more than 10,000
hotspots around the UK. An estimated 4m people every day pass through The Cloud network by
visiting one of its partners, including major outlets like Greggs, PizzaExpress, Caffe
Nero, Eat, Pret and Wagamama, as well as First Great Western and Network Rail stations.
About The Cloud
- The Cloud (http://www.thecloud.co.uk) builds and operates Wi-Fi networks
across the UK and Europe to provide the mobile media experience that consumers want.
The service delivers simple, fast, reliable and cost effective broadband to millions
of Wi-Fi enabled smartphones, laptops and entertainment devices.
- The Cloud has exclusive commercial partnerships with retail, leisure, hotels,
sports, transport, and entertainment and content partners to deliver its longer-term
vision of a connected society.
- The Cloud connects almost a million devices to its Wi-Fi network each month,
including Nintendo 3DS users and at locations such as the Emirates Stadium,
Silverstone Race Track, the City of London, Wetherspoon, PizzaExpress, Pret, Caffe
Nero, Eat, pubs, leisure facilities, restaurants and mainline stations.
- The Cloud is a BSkyB Company.
- In April, BSkyB announced that Sky Broadband customers can now quickly and
easily access free, unlimited and high-speed WiFi at thousands of public places across
the UK through new Sky "WiFi [http://www.thecloud.net/wifi ] Hotspots from The
Cloud". The service is available at no extra charge to all Sky Broadband Unlimited,
Sky Fibre Unlimited and Sky Connect customers, who are eligible to take unlimited
broadband with them whilst out and about through seamless access to The Cloud's
network of hotspots. A free "Sky Cloud WiFi" is available for iOS and Android devices
and, once downloaded and registered, will allow people to automatically connect
their smartphone or tablet to the internet without having to log-in ever again.
MERLIN ENTERTAINMENTS is the leading name in location-based, family entertainment, and
has seen the most successful and dynamic growth of any company in the sector over the last
five years. Europe's Number 1 and the world's second-largest visitor attraction operator,
Merlin now operates 89 attractions, seven hotels/two holiday villages in 19 countries and
across four continents. The company aims to deliver memorable and rewarding experiences to
its 46 million visitors worldwide, through its iconic global and local brands, and the
commitment and passion of its managers and more than 17,000 employees. Among Merlin's
attractions are - SEA LIFE, Madame Tussauds, LEGOLAND, The EDF Energy London Eye,
Dungeons, Gardaland, LEGOLAND Discovery Centres, Alton Towers Resort, Warwick Castle,
THORPE PARK, Chessington World of Adventures Resort, Blackpool Tower, Heide Park, Sydney
Aquarium, WILD LIFE Sydney, Sydney Tower Eye and SKYWALK, Siam Ocean World and Busan
Aquarium.
All brands which are distinctive, challenging and innovative - and which have great
potential for growth in the future. Visit http://www.merlinentertainments.biz for more
information.
*Source = Our Mobile Planet: UK, Understanding the mobile consumer, May 2012
Source: The Cloud
Press contact details: The Cloud, Rachael Thomas, Harvard PR, +44(0)20-7861-1627, TheCloud@harvard.co.uk; Alton Towers Resort, Liz West, PR Manager, +44(0)1538-704015, Liz.west@alton-towers.com