| DALLAS, TX �March 1, 2004 � Lexington Services, a worldwide leader
in reservation management and travel distribution for the hospitality industry,
announced today that it has implemented Inside Shopper�, the next-generation
seamless capability offered through Galileo®, to provide the highest
level of connectivity for its hotel clients. The technology, which
Lexington launched earlier this quarter, provides Galileo-connected travel
bookers with direct access to Lexington�s Central Reservation System (CRS)
for real-time room and rate availability information, as well as enhanced
search capabilities.
�Implementing the power of Inside Shopper allows us to take that extra step to ensure travel agents have the most up-to-date information,� commented Rick Shaum, senior vice president of sales and marketing, Lexington Services. �It�s also reflective of Lexington�s continual commitment to provide the most productive solutions to the hotel industry.� With 108 brands and approximately 15,120 properties under contract around the globe, Inside Shopper provides a direct, real-time connection between a hotel�s CRS and Galileo�s 43,000 travel agency customers worldwide. By interfacing directly through the hotel�s CRS, Galileo-connected agents, online travel providers and corporate clients can access the same, up-to-the-minute information and last-room-available inventory offered through a hotel�s internal reservation number, improving the level of service that travel agencies are able to offer their customers. Inside Shopper also helps travel agencies improve productivity since the technology requires agents to spend less time in shopping mode, leaving them with more time to dedicate to other revenue-generating activities and services. �Lexington is one of the growing list of industry leaders who are leveraging the power of Inside Shopper to provide their hotel clients with the best speed and access to accurate room rates and availability,� said Michael W. McCormick, senior vice president, Travel Distribution Services, Cendant Corporation. �Partnering with Lexington gives Galileo agents the highest level of connectivity to Lexington�s hotel clients, improving the service they can provide to their traveling customers.� About Lexington Services
An affiliate of VIP International, the industry�s second largest provider of reservation sales services with 4,600 hotels, acquired Lexington Services in December 2003. 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 2,900 hotels encompassing 28 brands in 81 countries, and is headquartered in Dallas/Irving, Texas with worldwide offices or representatives in Mexico, Australia, the UK, France, Spain, Italy, Sweden, Poland, Russia, the Czech Republic and Romania. More information about Lexington is available at www.lexres.com. About Galileo International Galileo International (www.galileo.com) is a global technology leader. Its core business is providing electronic global distribution services for the travel industry through its computerized reservation systems, leading-edge products and innovative, Internet-based solutions. Galileo is a value-added distributor of travel inventory dedicated to supporting its travel supplier, agency and corporate customers and, through them, expanding traveler choice. A subsidiary of Cendant Corporation (NYSE: CD) and part of Cendant's Travel Distribution Services Division, Galileo is headquartered in Parsippany, NJ, and has offices worldwide. |
