PORTSMOUTH, N.H. (June 15, 2000) - Newmarket International, Inc., which has delivered the hospitality industry�s first working �marketplace exchange� for meeting planners and destinations, MeetingBroker.com, has joined the OpenTravel Alliance (OTA) to further drive the specification and use of open standards for B2B
e-commerce throughout the industry.

The OpenTravel Alliance is already developing Version 2 of its specification, which builds on the customer profile scope of Version 1.  The core Version 2 work covers �the journey� and transactions which edit journeys, including online bookings.

In parallel with this, OTA wants to tackle other areas which promise early results.  Newmarket International is pleased to join in OTA�s work to address the data and transactions used in industry exchanges within the hospitality and destination verticals.

�It�s very encouraging to have Newmarket International not only represented, but pushing for the development of OTA specifications for its immediate use,� said Nick Lanyon, Chairman of Lanyon, Inc. and Chair of OTA�s Non-Supplier Work Group.  �It�s a good example of how a non-supplier can make a major contribution on behalf of its customers, and thus enhance its service to them.  The OTA welcomes the input which Newmarket brings to the table and its willingness to share the UML case studies it has developed and their knowledge from real-world implementations.�

Newmarket International represents over 3000 installations and 65,000 desktops with an interest in how information about the requirements for meetings and the facilities at hotel properties seeking to accommodate them is collected and transmitted. Having helped to shape the business rules for sales, event, and group business management for the last 15 years, Newmarket International will apply standard message formats to their software in order to extend customer lead opportunities to the rapidly expanding Internet market.

�We are participating as a worldwide community of individuals who use Newmarket sales automation and e-commerce solutions,� said Eric Blonda, Newmarket�s OTA representative.  �We felt it is vital for our customers to have a voice going forward as standards are established for the interconnectivity of systems and platforms.�

About OpenTravel Alliance
OTA, which began in work May 1999, now has over 120 members representing influential names in all sectors of the travel industry, including air, car rental, hotel, travel agencies, technology providers and related suppliers. The Alliance is comprised of five working groups - air, car, hotel, leisure supplier, and non-supplier - together with an interoperability committee to coordinate their efforts. OTA defines its open messages with XML, which makes it possible to exchange business data seamlessly among different systems, companies, and industries over both the Internet and more traditional channels.  For additional information, including membership details, visit www.opentravel.org.

About Newmarket International
Newmarket International (www.newsoft.com) provides software and e-commerce solutions that automate sales and operations for every type of hospitality venue, from independent hotels of any size to resorts, casinos, convention centers, convention & visitors bureaus, and the complete corporate enterprise.