The Kessler Collection, a leader in upscale boutique hotels, recently debuted two innovative high-tech iPod Touch tours of Savannah highlighting the city's historic hotspots. The iPod tours serve as the Kessler Collection’s latest amenity for guests staying at the Bohemian Hotel Savannah Riverfront or the Mansion on Forsyth Park, both of which are located in historic downtown Savannah.

The Kessler Collection, renowned for its impeccable service and remarkable amenities, commissioned CityTrex, an interactive media tour company headquartered in Savannah, to develop a set of customized self-guided iPod tours. Visitors are able to see the city with exclusive access to interviews, professional tour guides, voice content, photos, videos, GPS maps and more.

"The idea is to allow our guests the freedom to stroll through historic Savannah at their own pace with all the bells and whistles of a guided tour," said Mark Kessler, Senior Vice President of Marketing and Business Relations. "We treat our guests as we would our own friends, by taking them to unique local hotspots that may be left off a traditional guided tour."

Visitors can choose between two tours. The first tour begins at the Mansion of Forsyth Park, located at 700 Drayton St., and ends at the Bohemian Hotel Savannah Riverfront, 102 W. Bay St. The tour continues along Bull Street, showcasing some of the city's highlights and significant Revolutionary War landmarks, and ends at the Bohemian Hotel Savannah Riverfront. The second tour begins at the Bohemian Hotel Savannah Riverfront and continues along Abercorn Street, emphasizing the city's pedestrian-friendly squares as well as well-preserved antebellum mansions.

Each tour begins with a personal greeting from Richard Kessler, the Kessler Collection's founder and the visionary behind the company's distinctive boutique hotels, sharing his personal enthusiasm for each of his hotels and everything that historic Savannah has to offer. Historic content is provided by local experts, including interviews from notable persons around the city. For instance, when visitors are led to the Owens-Thomas House, one of the finest examples of English Regency architecture in America, the chief curator of the house provides an overview of the home's history, while interior pictures are shown on the iPod screen.

"We produced a customized experience in an authentic local voice," said Burton Sauls, CEO and Managing Partner of CityTrex LLC. "As a hotel amenity, it sure beats a mint on a pillow. Our current clients for strategic mobile media include museums, municipalities, politics, PR, hospitality, healthcare and real estate industry leaders. Skilled use of new media channels is affordable, effective and rewarding."

Voted "Top Emerging Company" by the Coastal Business Education and Technology Alliance for the vision to apply new technology to traditional industries, CityTrex connects consumers to venues, retailers, services, and events via smart phones, handheld devices or the Internet.

For more information or reservations: Mansion on Forsyth Park

More information: Kessler Collection