Hotel Online Press Releases 

Choice Hotels International Chooses
Worldres for Online Distribution

SAN MATEO, CA, May 6 - WorldRes, Inc.(TM), The internet-based reservation network, has formed a partnership with Choice Hotels International (NYSE:CHH) that will directly link Choice 2001, Choice's central reservation system (CRS), to the WorldRes system. Taking full advantage of WorldRes' Internet-based technology, over 4,000 Choice properties will be distributed through WorldRes' rapidly expanding network of marketing partners beginning in the Fall of 1998.
 

The WorldRes network includes destination web sites and call centers, regional online guides, activity and special interest partners and travel-specific sites.

Choice has been a pioneer in its use of the Internet to drive business to its Comfort, Quality, Clarion, Sleep Inn, Econo Lodge, Rodeway Inn and MainStay Suites brands hotels. Choice's web site (www.choicehotels.com) was the first to provide real-time access to its CRS, and Choice was the first company to develop a site exclusively for travel agents called Travel Agent City. Since its Internet launch in 1995, Choice has experienced more than a 700 percent increase in the number of room nights booked via the World Wide Web.

"Online bookings represent a potentially explosive growth area for us in terms of delivering business to our franchisees," said Sandy Heilman, director of reservations automation at Choice. "The WorldRes disribution network provides us with a way to greatly expand our Web-based marketing presence."

"We are very pleased to be working with Choice and applaud their forward-thinking approach to Internet-based reservations," noted Domenic Rinaldi, vice president of sales and support for WorldRes. "Our system has proven successful with independent properties, reservation companies and smaller chains. This partnership clearly demonstrates that WorldRes also provides value for major hotel groups."

WorldRes owns and operates a hotel reservation system that fundamentally changes the way hotels do business over the Internet. Unlike exisiting property Global Distribution Systems (GDS), the WorldRes system was designed specifically for online use and is built on the latest Internet and database technology. All hotels on the WorldRes system display real-time rates and availability, which allows consumers to receive an instant confirmation online, eliminating the need for phone, fax or e-mail requests.

With no upfront or monthly costs, the WorldRes system is free to join, and provides hotels a no-risk, cost effective way to receive real-time confirmed reservations from consumers through WorldRes' network of partners. Participating hotels pay only a low transaction fee per net reservation and can take advantage of free marketing opportunities, including targeted one-to-one e-mail promotions.

WorldRes provides Internet sales and marketing to all segments of the lodging industry, including bed and breakfasts, independent hotels, small chains and hotel representation companies. Notable hotel partners include VIP Hotels, Amfac Parks and Resorts and Fiesta Americana Hotels, among others.

About Choice

With more than 4,000 hotels open and under development in 33 countries, Choice Hotels International was ranked the #1 lodging franchise company for 1998 by Entrepeneur Magazine. Choice chains are among the best known in the world and include Clarion, Comfort, Quality, Rodeway Inn, Sleep Inn, Econo Lodge and MainStay Suites.

About WorldRes

WorldRes, Inc. founded in 1995, provides Interent sales and marketing to hotels worldwide. Hotels interesred in joining the WorldRes system can enroll online at http://www.worldres.com or contact Scott Potter at (650) 372-1714 or through e-mail at [email protected].

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Contact:
Elizabeth Ripley 
WorldRes, Inc.
  (650) 372-1700
 [email protected]
Anne Curtis
Choice Hotels International
301-979-5155
[email protected]
   Rick Keating 
   Keating Communications
  (212)760-2400
[email protected]
 

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