Hotel Online  Special Report

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An Affiliate of VIP International Reaches Definitive
Agreement to Acquire Lexington Services 
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VIP Becomes Second Largest Provider of Reservation Sales Services
with a Combined 4,600 Hotels

Calgary, Alberta, Canada � November 17, 2003 � An affiliate of VIP International Corporation. (�VIP�), a channel marketing provider committed to being �the number one producer of reservations per client� for hotels, car rental companies and regional airlines, today announced that it had entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Dallas-based, Lexington Services, one of the largest providers of reservations and centrally hosted technology services to hotels worldwide, for US $7.75 million.  The move propels VIP to the top tier of the channel marketing industry; the company will maintain offices near Dallas, Texas.  The transaction is expected to close before year-end.
 
A combined client base of 4,600 properties for the two companies makes VIP the second largest reservation channel sales provider globally.  VIP�s President, Kelly Blake, said, �Our acquisition of Lexington will give us two of the strongest reservation providers in the industry.  The combination of Lexington�s leading edge technologies plus its exceptional customer base, and VIP�s focus on customer service and support, will drive higher reservation volume and greater revenue for hotel customers of both VIP and Lexington.�  VIP intends to add 19 revenue managers in Texas, and will introduce its customer service and revenue management model to Lexington�s properties.  Lexington represents nearly 2,900 hotels globally encompassing 28 brands in 81 countries.
Kelly Blake
President & CEO
VIP International Corporation

Shawn Heaton, President of Lexington Services, said, �We are looking forward to joining forces with VIP.  We especially look forward to bringing their proven ability to increase hotel reservations to Lexington�s hotel clients.�

The agreement to acquire Lexington comes on the heels of VIP International�s partnerships with TravelWeb and WorldRes to increase bookings and lower fees for its clients.  The May 2003 VIP International �TravelWeb agreement allows independent hotels and chains to manage discounted rooms through central reservation systems with zero transaction fees.  In September 2003 VIP International and WorldRes partnered to provide client hotels with greater Internet reach and flexibility without incurring distribution costs added by other companies.  VIP International has experienced strong growth in the past two years through its focus on client revenue generation. In 2002, VIP International�s aggressive approach to Internet distribution resulted in more than a 100% increase in Internet bookings. Growth has also come through the creation of a world-class, 100-seat call center.

About Lexington Services 

Lexington Services (www.lexres.com) is one of the largest providers of reservations and centrally hosted technology services to hotels in North America. Lexington capitalizes on the power of the travel agent global distribution systems (GDS), Internet travel portals, marketing alliances and its own call center strengths to manage and process hotel reservations electronically.  Lexington has corporate offices in Dallas/Las Colinas, Miami, Reno, and London, and has development representative offices in Germany, the United Kingdom, Mexico, Australia, France, Spain, Italy, Sweden, Poland, Russia, Czech Republic, Israel, Turkey, North Africa, and the Middle East. 
About VIP International Corporation

VIP International

VIP International (www.vipintcorp.com) is a channel marketing organization that drives revenue for hoteliers, car rental owners and regional airlines through a multi-channel reservation sales center, the adoption of leading-edge technology, and partnerships with clients to provide ongoing education.  Founded in 1979, the privately held Calgary, Alberta-based firm pursues a mission of being "The number one producer of bookings per client." This is accomplished through mastering the electronic channel marketing environment, developing and implementing strategies for each client's unique position, and educating customers about how to optimize participation in the changing electronic marketplace. The company is a central distribution point to every viable Internet web site, and to all of the major global distribution systems including Sabre, Galileo, Pegasus, WorldRes, Amadeus, and Worldspan. VIP International has business development offices in Denver, Colorado; Kansas City, Kansas; Toronto, Ontario; London, United Kingdom; Sao Palo, Brazil; and Hong Kong.

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Contact:

Kelly Blake
President & CEO
VIP International Corporation
Tel. (403) 269-3566
[email protected]
www.vipintcorp.com

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Also See VIP International Boosts Hotel Reservation Services, Selects Voxify to Reduce Costs for Clients, Enhance Call Center Efficiency / October 2003
#1 Provider of Car Rental Software Teams with VIP International to Fuel Independents� Reservation Volume / October 2003
Business Travelers, Consumers Grab Lower Rental Car Rates, Book Online from Independent Agency Site / September 2003
E-Z Rent A Car Perfects Internet Strategy to Boost Reservations 20% in 2003 / September 2003
WorldRes Agreement Gives VIP International Hotels Second �Low-Fee� Merchant Model Program / Aug 2003
Top Channel Marketing Provider VIP International Taps Industry Veteran to Power Marketing Efforts, Funnel 158% Growth  / Aug 2003
VIP International Cements Reputation as Leading GDS and Channel Marketing Provider for Asia Pacific / Aug 2003
Hotel Owner/Operators Disclose Secrets of Web Booking Success / June 2003
Dave Crawford Appointed Director of Airline and Auto Rental Business Development for VIP International / June 2003
Hotel Company Sharpens Channel Management for 22% Increase in Average Length of Stay for GDS Bookings, 14% Jump in ADR / June 2003
Interstate Hotels, Candlewood Suites, Regal Hotels, Canadian North Airlines Shift Call Center Responsibility to VIP: Interstate To Pass Along 8% to 10% Savings to Properties; Regal Hotels up 26% / May 2003
Zero Transaction Fees: Independent Hotels, Chains Profit from Landmark Agreement; Manage Discounted Rooms Through Central Res Systems at No Cost / May 2003
Interstate Hotels & Resorts Signs Five-Year Agreement with VIP International to Outsource Call Center; Expects to Pass Along 8 Percent to 10 Percent Savings, Increased Revenue to Hotels / April 2003
Hong Kong�s Largest Hotel Operator Sees Reservation Numbers Jump 26 Percent In First 10 Months of 2002, Increases Global Presence with New Reservation Sales Provider / February 2003
Canadian North Chooses Calgary-based VIP International to Provide Voice Reservation and Support services / January 2003
Midwestern Chain Targets Value-Conscious Senior Market; Picks New Channel Marketing Provider to Power Goal of 100% Increase in Bookings / January 2003
Midwestern Management Firm Gains 69% Increase in GDS Reservations YTD at 12 �Enhanced Limited-Service� Properties / Dec 2002
Texas-Based Hotel Chain Captures 104% More GDS Reservations YTD, Speeds Ahead of Economy / Dec 2002
Four Star Calgary Hotel Reports 42% Increase in Bookings During Initial Period With New Channel Marketing Provider / Nov 2002

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