TravelZoo Inc. (TZOO)

[MAILMAN1A]

Travelzoo `Hotel Direct` Program Generates Buzz
September 03, 2003 08:02:00 (ET)
NEW YORK, Sep 3, 2003 /PRNewswire-FirstCall via COMTEX/ -- Travelzoo Inc. (OTC Bulletin Board: TVZO), the Internet's largest publisher of sales and specials available directly from hundreds of travel companies, today announced that its "Hotel Direct" program more than doubled in size to include over 140 hotels in the last six months. The success of the program has generated high praise from participating properties nationwide.
Each property was promoted for one week on Travelzoo's website and in the Top 20(R) newsletter. All bookings were sent directly to the hotel's website or reservations telephone number. Participating properties reported a significant rise in occupancy and revenues during their promotional periods with Travelzoo.
Among the advertisers from the leading chains and independent hotels who participated in Travelzoo's Hotel Direct program are: Affinia Hospitality, Aston Hotels & Resorts, Embassy Suites Hotels, Fairmont San Francisco, Grand Hyatt Hotel New York, Hotel Marlowe, Hotel Monaco San Francisco, Hotel 71, Irvine Marriott, Millennium Hilton, Miramonte Resort, Ocean Edge Resort & Golf, Radisson Plaza Lord Baltimore, Sheraton Biscayne Bay Hotel, Silverado Resort, Swissotel Chicago, The Mansfield Hotel, and Wyndham Tremont Boston Hotel.
Positive feedback about the program came from properties at all price points and locations:
Aladdin Resort & Casino, Las Vegas: "I was truly astounded by the volume of reservations we received from the Hotel Direct program," said Jania Lambert, Vice President of Marketing. "A typical newspaper ad generates about half of the bookings at approximately twice the cost of Travelzoo's program."
Beekman Hotel, New York: "Our parent company, Affinia Hospitality, has promoted over five properties including the Beekman Hotel via the Travelzoo Hotel Direct program," said Alvin Lopez, General Manager. "The response rate from the Top 20 newsletter kept our reservation lines busy for two days straight."
Fairmont Hotels & Resorts: "We've featured six of our properties on Travelzoo this year, all with a positive return on investment," said Jens Thraenhart, Director of Internet Strategy. "Our recent promotion for the Fairmont Chicago Hotel was no different."
Hotel Monaco, New Orleans: "I've been in the hotel business over 10 years and have never seen anything like this. We booked hundreds of rooms in the first few hours after the Top 20 was released," said Jason McCormick, Revenue Manager. "What's amazing is that the ADR for the promotion is actually higher than the offer, so these folks are buying upgraded rooms, and the average length of stay is 2.75 nights!"
Marriott Monterey: "We've advertised twice this year in the Hotel Direct program and both times even after the offer ran, consumers continued to call our reservation number, saying they had seen our ad on Travelzoo," said Brendon Bainbridge, Director of Marketing.
Savoy Hotel, Miami: "The Hotel Direct program is the most effective advertising on the Web," said Chuck Castiglia, General Manager. "The program generated a return on investment that was sixteen times greater than the cost. We are already signed up to participate again."
Sheraton Safari Hotel, Orlando: "We were extremely pleased with the phenomenal number of room nights and revenues booked through this program," said Cheryl Cain, Director of Revenue Management.
"We attribute the continued success of the Hotel Direct program to three main factors," explained Chris Loughlin, Vice President of Business Development at Travelzoo Inc. "First, each promotion reaches and influences Travelzoo's large audience of frequent travelers. Second, the program provides maximum visibility for each participating hotel, since Travelzoo strictly limits how many properties can participate within a given regional market. Finally, the program provides properties with upsell and upgrade opportunities since hotels take all bookings directly," he concluded.
About Travelzoo
Travelzoo Inc. is the Internet's largest publisher of sales and specials available directly from hundreds of travel companies. Travelzoo's media products include the Travelzoo(R) website (www.travelzoo.com) and the Top 20(R) and Weekend.com(R) e-mail newsletters. Reaching over 5.1 million unique visitors per month (comScore Media Metrix 3/2003), Travelzoo lists sales and specials from more than 200 advertisers, including Air New Zealand, Alamo Rent A Car, American Airlines, American Express Travel, Avis Rent A Car, Carnival Cruise Lines, Fairmont Hotels & Resorts, Gate 1 Travel, Ian Schrager Hotels, InterContinental Hotels, JetBlue Airways, Kimpton Hotels, Liberty Travel, Lufthansa, Mark Travel, Marriott, Omni Hotels, Pleasant Holidays, Royal Caribbean Cruises, Spirit Airlines, Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, The Venetian, Travelocity, United Airlines, US Airways, Virgin Atlantic Airways and Wyndham Hotels & Resorts.
Certain statements contained in this press release that are not historical facts may be forward looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934. These forward looking statements may include, but are not limited to, statements about our plans, objectives, expectations, prospects and intentions, markets in which we participate and other statements contained in this press release that are not historical facts. When used in this press release, the words "expect," "predict," "project," "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "intend," "plan," "seek" and similar expressions are generally intended to identify forward looking statements. Because these forward looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, there are important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by these forward looking statements, including changes in our plans, objectives, expectations, prospects and intentions and other factors discussed in our filings with the SEC. We cannot guarantee any future levels of activity, performance or achievements. Travelzoo undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances occurring after the date of this press release.
NOTE: Travelzoo, Top 20, and Weekend.com are registered trademarks of Travelzoo Inc. All other company and product names mentioned are trademarks of their respective owners.
SOURCE Travelzoo Inc.
Dana Carmel of Travelzoo Inc., [phone], or
[e-mail]
http://www.travelzoo.com