Denver, Colo. � Sept. 10, 2003 � To strengthen its positioning as a global provider of superior reservations technology, offering unparalleled channel advisory services and e-distribution support, Sceptre, a SWAN solution, has hired Connie Rheams as Managing Director, Business Development and Marketing. �Managing a small chain, independent hotel or resort in today�s market is no easy task,� Rheams said. �Hotels need more business, but they don�t have time or the expertise on property to find new ways of getting it. That�s where Sceptre steps in. Sceptre helps hotels determine what electronic distribution channels make sense for their property and ensures they are positioned correctly to maximize their bookings and revenue. �It is this distinctive service that attracted me to Sceptre � and it�s this service that sets Sceptre far apart from its competitors,� she said. Formerly Vice President, Sales and Business Development for the Travel Distribution Solutions division of Parsippany, N.J.-based Cendant Corp. and former President of Orlando-based Trust International Inc. (which was acquired by Cendant in June 2002), Rheams has been challenged with expanding Sceptre�s portfolio worldwide.
Industry applauds Sceptre mission High profile consultants and educators who frequently speak at industry events on the e-distribution marketplace commend Sceptre for its guest-centric approach and commitment to channel-management consulting. "Merely providing a connection to global and Internet distribution systems is a commodity today,� said Mark Haley, co-founder and Partner in Boston-based The Prism Partnership, a professional services firm serving the global hospitality industry. �Sceptre differentiates itself from the crowd by supporting clients in developing an effective distribution strategy and then executing it, rather than merely selling connectivity. Given the complexity of channel management as the number of distribution channels proliferates, this consultative service becomes crucial to all hoteliers, branded or otherwise." Daniel J. Connolly, assistant professor at the School of Hotel, Restaurant, and Tourism Management and Department of Information Technology and Electronic Commerce at the University of Denver's Daniels College of Business, concurs. �Distribution is one of the most complex and challenging aspects of the hotel business today,� Connolly said. �It is so important for competitive advantage that channel management must be a part of every hotel or hotel company�s core competencies. Having someone who can strategize, build strategic relationships, control costs, evaluate channels and understand the technical logistics associated with distribution is paramount in today�s market place, along with a strong and capable technology infrastructure and seamless channel integration. These are not options but competitive necessities.� Reams of Experience Prior to joining Cendant, Rheams served as Senior Director, Hospitality & Travel, TeleService Resources for AMR Corp. in Fort Worth, Texas. She also held numerous positions with within AMR on the airline side of the business and with SABRE. She is well versed in reservation sales, business development, marketing, product distribution channels, account management, international based services, legal contracts and project management. She will work remotely from Sceptre�s satellite office in Dallas. "Connie brings more than 18 years of strategic and tactical experience in the hospitality, airline and travel agency industries to Sceptre � a level of expertise that is lacking among many of our competitors,� said Mark Ozawa, Sceptre VP. �Like Sceptre, Connie knows technology and she knows hospitality. In this new role, Connie will be able to explain reservations and channel management processes in laymen�s terms to hoteliers and assist them in using Sceptre�s real-time solutions to do the things they must do and the things they should do to improve their business. �We are thrilled to have Connie as part of the Sceptre team, and we welcome her proven ability to grow companies,� he said. Personalized service Rheams said it is her goal to generate instant industry-wide recognition and appreciation for Sceptre's personalized approach to e-distribution and channel management expertise. �Sceptre matches services to clients instead of forcing clients to conform to programs that may not meet their own unique needs,� Rheams said. �It is this point of difference that separates Sceptre from the myriad of other providers in the marketplace. �I look forward to the challenges ahead and to working with Mark Ozawa and the entire Sceptre team,� she said. �It will be exciting to create a renewed energy in and for this company that has so much to offer.� About Sceptre Since 1987, Sceptre has helped chains, management companies and independent hotels and resorts increase their sales and profits through GDS representation, private-label voice reservations and consulting services. Sceptre provides electronic distribution power and expertise previously reserved for branded or franchised hotels, with state-of-the-art reservations technology and a strong commitment to customer service and support. Sceptre is one of the key business units of SWAN Inc., a multi-service company focused on the hospitality industry. Other hospitality services of SWAN include Richfield (hotel management), Shield (insurance and risk management) and Source (procurement of operating supplies and FF&E). Swan Inc. is headquartered in Denver with approximately 1,000 employees. The company's shareholders include City e-Solutions Limited (CES) listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, and Millennium & Copthorne Hotels plc, a U.K.-based company listed on the London Stock Exchange, operating 91 hotels worldwide. |
