NEW YORK, January 20, 2004 � Completing its second year, the CARINO Collection, the most innovative sales representation company for independent hotels, celebrates a year of unprecedented growth and achievement. President Joe Carino announced the company�s results at its annual meeting at The Yale Club of New York City.

In 2003, the company doubled the size of its portfolio to more than 50 hotels, expanded membership to 35 cities and ten countries, grew its portfolio by more than 40% outside the United States and launched a private-label version of its acclaimed SalesConnect? software.  In addition, the company now boasts worldwide sales offices in London, New York, Los Angeles, Washington, D.C. and Philadelphia. 

According to Carino, 2003 was the year the company �separated itself from industry peers, once and for all.� He added, �In the most challenging environment for hoteliers and hotel brands in more than fifty years, our company has grown aggressively by providing members with a unique and unassailable value proposition - timely, efficient sales support, coupled with totally personalized service and international reach.�

David Sowell, General Manager of Chicago�s Sutton Place Hotel, congratulated CARINO on a successful year. He said, �CARINO deserves special congratulations not only for its impressive growth � but for establishing itself as the premier representation company serving independent hotels in the industry.�

CARINO�s two-day annual meeting featured sales visits and an analysis of the competitive landscape nationally and internationally, in addition to a host of panel discussions, interactive seminars and networking opportunities. The event was sponsored by DEPARTURES Magazine and TravelCLICK, with further presentations made by PricewaterhouseCoopers, LLC, Dickinson & Associates, Ozone Marketing, Artisan Columbia Printing, and Interactive Sites. Corporate panelists included Travel Managers Susan Finkbeiner of Goldman Sachs, Valerie Grubb of Oxygen Network, Elaine Collins of Bear Stearns, and John Lowry of Altria Group.

Personalized member services provided by the CARINO Collection include:

• Sales database management
• Global and regional sales office support
• Marketing support via cooperative marketing opportunities and negotiated packages to support key distribution partners
• Direct links to online-RFP tools
• Special CARINO Collection Rates at all member hotels
• Clearing, holding and reserving space for special accommodations
• Special CARINO Concierge Desk to assist with special needs
• Ability to �private-label� SalesConnect 2.0� for hotel companies

SalesConnect2.0� is a web-accessible database of corporate, leisure and group account information. This on-line tool enables hotel sales departments to maximize their sales potential by gathering real-time, up-to-date contact and business profile information, including historical travel statistics, on existing and potential clients. Furthermore, sales call reports and traces are integrated in real time thus creating the hotel industry�s first interactive, online data mining strategy tool. In addition, for those hotels that rely on corporate and consortia business, SalesConnect 2.0� is linked to a variety of on-line RFP tools to facilitate the on-line submission of completed proposals. 

For further information, please visit www.carinocollection.com or contact Peter Kressaty at [email protected] or tel. (212) 808-6590, fax (212) 808-6507.