100 installations is proof positive that LodgingTouch is a perfect fit for Candlewood Suites Hotels, a leader in the extended stay segment of the hospitality market. LodgingTouch�s newest release, version 3.0 contains multiple features, some driven by Candlewood, that provide enhanced functionality for extended stay hotels. Some of the new features include, the ability to handle even the most complex tax scenarios as related to federal, state and city taxation as well as exemption and rebate requirements, increased stay and rate controls, flexibility in minimum and maximum length-of-stay requirements, 30/60/90+ day stay �buckets� and specialized reporting. These features, as well as the addition of suite management and gift certificate processing, make LodgingTouch 3.0 one of the most feature-rich Windows®-based Hospitality Enterprise Systems available. The increased functionality not only benefits the long-term stay market, it improves revenue and inventory management for all types of lodging including short-term stay and bed-based inventory sites.

In addition to the LodgingTouch PMS, Candlewood also takes advantage of HIS� revolutionary new ePITOME^tm Transport (eT). One of HIS� most sophisticated data exchange products, eT acts as a systems integrator � among other things - allowing reservations to fluidly flow through to the 100 PMS databases, virtually real time, from the Global Distribution Systems (GDSs) and Internet travel sites and portals via Candlewood's Central Reservation System, SynXis Agent®.

VIP International Corporation, Candlewood's reservation service provider, in partnership with the SynXis Corporation, empowers Candlewood to control room inventory and rates by directly accessing the channel management system. This unique feature allows each property to determine availability separately for GDS and Internet Distribution (IDS).

�One hundred hotels is a notable milestone for Candlewood and HIS. I am impressed by Candlewood�s vision and understanding that powerful enterprise technology solutions can help streamline operations which, behind the scenes, ultimately benefits travelers. That, in turn helps fuel their rapid growth�, stated Brian Kretzmer, CEO of Hotel Information Systems. 

�In today�s climate more than ever, it is important that companies be effective in selecting technology solutions.   Candlewood�s strong commitment to guest service, requires us to choose those technologies that allow us to meet those high standards.   Not only has LodgingTouch improved our ability to deliver high levels of guest service, the newest version 3.0 has improved the effectiveness of our staff by automating functions that were handled manually in the past.�, stated John Angle Director of Information Systems of  Candlewood Hotel Company.

About Hotel Information Systems

Hotel Information Systems, a division of MAI Systems Corporation (AMEX: NOW), is a worldwide provider of enterprise information solutions for the hospitality industry.  Headquartered in Irvine, California, Hotel Information Systems has offices in Canada, the United Kingdom, Hong Kong, Singapore and Mexico as well as a worldwide distributor network.  Hotel Information Systems sells, installs and supports a wide variety of automation solutions including LodgingTouch�, Paragon� and CLS� Software.  Offering superior performance and leading-edge technology, these feature-rich solutions operate on Windows NT?, OS/400 and UNIX platforms and include modules for Front Office, Back Office, Central Reservations Systems (CRS) and Central Information Systems (CIS). For more information about Hotel Information Systems, visit the HIS website at www.hotelinfosys.com or call 1-800-497-0532. 

About Candlewood Suites Hotels

Candlewood Suites offers larger-than-average guest suites, which are loaded with amenities and perfectly suited for business and leisure travelers. Each suite includes a complete kitchen, 25-inch television, recliner, large business desk, adjustable executive chair, and two phone lines including data port. 

Other amenities include free local phone calls, low-cost long distance, 25-cent soft drinks, free laundry facilities, free video and CD checkouts and an upscale exercise room. Food items, snacks and sundries are available 24-hours-a-day at grocery store prices from the honor-based Candlewood Cupboard pantry.

Candlewood Hotel Co. (Nasdaq: CNDL) owns, operates and licenses Candlewood Suites; and operates and licenses Cambridge Suites. Both concepts serve travelers on short- or long-term stays. Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Jack DeBoer founded Candlewood Suites in 1995 and Cambridge Suites in 1998. DeBoer previously founded Residence Inn and co-founded Summerfield Suites. He is recognized in the hotel industry as the creator of the extended stay concept.

About VIP International

VIP International Corporation (www.vipintcorp.com), a wholly owned subsidiary of HARS Systems, Inc., goes further than providing global distribution system (GDS) and Internet connectivity. VIP generates business for hotels and car rental companies with a complete electronic distribution management solution. With more than two decades of reservations expertise, VIP International's reservations toolbox includes SynXis Agent®, an Application Service Provider (ASP) reservation management and distribution system; an in-house central reservation system (CRS) for onward distribution of all hotel and car rental clients; strategic marketing programs and services; a full service, 24 hour reservation sales center; an Internet travel site, www.CarsAndHotels.com; a travel agent commission payment program; a comprehensive hotel branding solution; and a dedicated team of Account Managers working directly with VIP's hotel and car rental clients to generate reservation revenue. VIP International's hotel and car rental clients are easily accessed through the four major GDS and all viable Internet travel portals and sites. With its World Headquarters in Calgary, Canada, VIP International has business development offices in Denver, Colorado; Kansas City, Kansas; Toronto, Ontario; London, United Kingdom; and Buenos Aires, Argentina. HARS Systems, Inc. is traded on the Canadian Venture Exchange under the symbol HSS.

About SynXis

SynXis® Corporation's Internet-based ASP solution delivers full electronic distribution and reservations management capabilities to the worldwide hospitality industry.  SynXis Agent®, at the solution�s core, empowers hotel operators to consolidate and manage hotel inventory from all sources - seamless GDS connectivity, over 1200 popular Internet travel sites, private-label central reservations systems, and full-service hotel Web sites.  It also helps hotels build revenue by enabling them to independently manage each distribution channel from one easy-to-use control center.  SynXis Agent does not require major upfront investment and hotels can realize substantial cost savings with SynXis' simple transaction-based pricing model.  SynXis is the technology source for more than 1000 hotels, bed and breakfasts, resorts, and destinations, including, Harrah's, VIP International, Sutton Place, Coastal Hotels Group, Meristar, Colonial Williamsburg, and Jumeirah Hotels."

SynXis' corporate headquarters are in McLean, VA, with offices in Denver, CO, and Amsterdam, The Netherlands. For more information on SynXis and its products, please call 703-448-2530, e-mail [email protected], or visit our Web site at www.synxis.com.

Certain statements in this news release may constitute "forward-looking statements'' within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company, to be materially different from any future results, performance, or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, among others, the Company's ability to retain and increase revenue from existing clients and to execute agreements with new clients; the successful implementation of strategic relationships with other vendors and service providers; the competitive nature of the market for our software products and services; rapid technological change in the software industry and possible delays in development or shipment of new versions of key product lines; lack of enforceability of intellectual property rights; the Company's ability to attract and retain qualified technical and management personnel; declining economic conditions, including a slowdown or recession; inability to control costs; changes in our product pricing; changes in business strategy or development plans; and other factors set forth in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2000 and other interim reports filed from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission.  Actual results, events and performance may differ materially. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. The Company undertakes no obligation to release publicly the results of any revisions to these forward-looking statements that may be made to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.