IRVING, Texas�June 23, 2003--Lexington Services (http://www.lexres.com),
the proven innovator in reservation services, electronic distribution and
channel management, today announced an agreement with OpenGrid, the first
and most advanced mobile commerce solution for the lodging industry. Travelers
will be able to access and reserve subscribing Lexington member hotels
via OpenGrid�s FastBook�, the first wireless reservations product exclusively
designed for hotel companies and their mobile customers. This unprecedented
union expands Lexington hotel members presence and distribution capabilities
to the growing wireless community and provides them with an additional
source of reservations.
Travelers can search Lexington hotels, make reservations and retrieve
and modify existing bookings in real-time, directly from handheld devices,
including Palm, Pocket PC, web-enabled cell phones and BlackBerry. Additionally,
users can retrieve property features and driving directions�anywhere, anytime.
Lexington�s electronic integration with FastBook is supported by an
OTA-compliant XML interface and OpenGrid�s mobile device recognition software,
which integrates seamlessly into Lexington�s CRS, providing hotel guests
with a highly practical, easy-to-use reservations and property information
application.
�Mobile device reservation volume is increasing rapidly and is quickly
becoming a valued source of bookings for hotels, similar to the early days
of the Internet reservations channel,� commented Shawn Heaton, president
of Lexington Services. �FastBook offers Lexington hotel members a new and
cost-effective reservation channel that lowers distribution costs, supports
their direct distribution strategy, increases their exposure to the growing
wireless reservation demand pool.�
Adrian van Haaften, President & CEO of OpenGrid, adds: �FastBook
is a perfect fit for an innovative organization like Lexington Services,
with its commitment to optimizing revenues and distribution channels for
its member hotels. Mobile commerce is an important component of a well-crafted
product distribution strategy and is poised to become the next significant
lodging distribution channel. With FastBook, Lexington member hotels will
now be able to reach high-value customers where other channels - and Lexington
competitors - can�t, with considerable impact on customer loyalty.�
With over 23 million mobile data device subscribers in North America
today, growing to an estimated 500 million worldwide by 2005, mobile commerce
has arrived as the newest, potentially most powerful, marketing channel
for the travel industry.
About Open Grid
Founded in 1999, OpenGrid is a pioneer in mobile commerce, offering
the lodging industry and its customers the first turnkey mobile transaction
application for anytime/anywhere reservations, property information and
loyalty plan access. Integrating seamlessly with existing CRS, GDS and
E-commerce systems, OpenGrid�s proprietary FastBook� application is accessible
from any mobile data device and presents hotel room inventory, search and
information, driving directions and guest loyalty data in a uniquely functional,
easy-to-use and device-specific format. OpenGrid offers the lodging industry
and its distribution partners the next cost-effective electronic distribution
and marketing channel. For more information on OpenGrid, contact Adrian
van Haaften at [email protected], or visit http://www.opengrid.com/.
About Lexington Services
Lexington
Services is a proven leader in reservation services, electronic distribution
and channel management to hotels worldwide. Since 1991, Lexington
Services has provided independent hotels, resorts, chains and management
companies the ability to realize their optimal revenue potential through
effective reservation services and product distribution. Lexington capitalizes
on the power of the travel agent global distribution systems (GDS), Internet
Distribution Systems (IDS), Call Center Services, Booking Engine technology
and marketing alliance strengths to generate, manage and process hotel
reservations electronically. Lexington Services provides electronic distribution
solutions using the latest and most advanced central reservations technology
available in the marketplace. Along with effective technology solutions,
Lexington has distinguished itself as the leader in providing continual
consulting services to its members and advising them on the ever-changing
distribution landscape that is critical to their hotel positioning and
representation. Lexington works with over 3800 hotels encompassing 28 brands
in 81 countries, and is headquartered in Dallas/Irving Texas with worldwide
offices or representatives in Germany, the United Kingdom, Australia, France,
Italy and Spain. More information about Lexington is available at www.lexres.com. |