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with Hotel Mapping Feature |
| ATLANTA (Sept. 13, 2000) � U.S. Franchise Systems (Nasdaq: USFS), parent
company of the franchisors of the Microtel Inns & Suites, Hawthorn
and Best Inns & Suites hotel brands, has integrated new mapping software
on each of its brand web sites at www.microtelinn.com, www.hawthorn.com
and www.bestinn.com to enable travelers to locate hotels by simply entering
the city and state of their destination. The software was created
by Norcross, Ga.-based eXitSource, formerly known as Interstate America.
�Our goal is to make things as easy as possible for guests planning a trip,� commented Steve Romaniello, president and COO of USFS. �Online Travel Planner has superior map accuracy and detail, and provides users the convenience of not having to choose a hotel until they are able to see all the properties within a specific mile radius of their destination.� Historically, most hotel web sites only allow users to map hotels once they�ve chosen the specific property. �We are enthusiastic about providing our locator service to U.S. Franchise Systems. More and more businesses are finding that our mapping capabilities are most competitive in the industry due to the level of detail and the degree of user-friendliness that we provide,� said Ron Peterson, president of eXitSource. Once travelers have chosen a hotel, they can automatically link to that hotel�s individual property page for step-by-step driving directions and on-line reservations. Microtel Inns & Suites is an all newly-constructed, budget/economy chain; Hawthorn a predominately upscale, extended-stay chain, and Best Inns & Suites a mid-priced chain. As of June 30, 2000, there were 254 Microtel, 158 Hawthorn and 168 Best properties open or under construction. Earlier this year, USFS began an electronic couponing initiative with eXitSource�s web site, exitcoupons.com, a travel-oriented web site that allows users to search for electronic coupons along their designated driving routes. eXitSource is an information company that provides travel content on wireless web phones as well as data for mapping software programs and in-vehicle navigation systems. The company, which has three travel web sites (exitcoupons.com; professionaltruckers.com and buseswelcome.com), also publishes several interstate travel directories. |
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U.S. Franchise Systems, Inc.: Jessica Knaak Manager, Corporate Communications (404) 235-5780 [email protected] |