TravelCLICK Reports Hotels Nearly Double Their GDS Advertising in 2001.

Business/Technology Editors

CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 20, 2002

TravelCLICK released statistics today reporting strong growth in usage of GDS media by hotels throughout the world during 2001 - nearly double that of hotels' spending in 2000. Total spending on GDS advertising

In addition to the increasing dollars spent on GDS media, the total number of hotels advertising in the GDS through TravelCLICK has grown substantially. In 2001, over 3,800 hotels worldwide advertised in the GDS, a 23% increase in the number of hotels that advertised in the prior year.

TravelCLICK also reported a significant 58% increase in the average spend per property for GDS media in 2001. This increase in spending indicates that hotels are shifting more of their advertising budgets to electronic media.

"The number of hotels utilizing GDS advertising in the fourth quarter rose 33 percent compared to the fourth quarter of 2000," said Bruce W. Mainzer, senior vice president of marketing for TravelCLICK. "Given the tremendous economic pressure that hotels were under following the events of September 11, this increase shows that GDS media is successful in generating bookings."

"The average spend per property in the fourth quarter was also up 41% year over year, which indicates that the hotel industry viewed GDS media as essential for improving their profitability," said Mainzer.

TravelCLICK (www.travelclick.net) is the leading provider of digital media and data solutions to the worldwide travel industry. The company's products help hotels and other travel industry suppliers improve profits through electronic distribution channels. TravelCLICK's exclusive electronic marketing networks allow hotels and other travel related suppliers to target promotional messages to specific travel agents and consumers when they are booking travel. The company's competitive benchmarking reports provide hotels with price and booking performance information unavailable through any other source. Established in 1996 and headquartered in the Chicago area, TravelCLICK operates in more than 140 countries around the world. The company has over 5,000 clients, including national and international companies such as Accor, Air France, Avis, British Airways, Fairmont Hotels & Resorts, Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts, Hilton Hotels Corporation, Hyatt Hotels & Resorts, Kempinski Hotels & Resorts, Leading Hotels of the World, Lufthansa, Marriott Hotels, Resorts and Suites, The Peninsula Group, Radisson, The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, SAS, The Savoy Group, Shangri-La Hotels, Sol Melia, Starwood Hotels & Resorts, Thistle Hotels, USAirways, Virgin Atlantic and Wyndham Hotels & Resorts.