VSi Unveils New Amenity

ShipMate self-service shipping stations enable business travelers

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. October 14, 2008

SUNNYVALE, CA, June 12, 2008. Vertical Systems, Inc. (VSi), a global leader in guest-services technology for the lodging industry, is adding another product to its growing line of solutions specifically designed to help hotels serve the growing needs of business travelers.

Sunnyvale-based VSi is now offering ShipMateTM, a self-service shipping station from which hotel guests can ship packages and other work-related materials at any time of day or night.

"This is a service that business guests are demanding-and business hotels, as a result, are clamoring for a self-service product they can offer their guests 24/7," said Saeed Kazmi, VSi President. "Our surveys show that a lot of guests want to ship their materials from the hotel at odd hours, and that's usually difficult because hotels comply with service-center operating times. Also, hotels don't make any money on shipping things for guests, but they do pay out considerable money in labor costs. Now, with ShipMate, hotels will be able to offer their business guests a convenient place they can use to send business correspondence quickly, easily and with no hassle."

ShipMate is a computer-based shipping tool that can be integrated into a hotel's existing business center or can stand independently in a lobby or other strategic location. If a guest has an account with UPS, FedEx or DHL, they can click on that carrier, insert their account number, and enter information on the package to be shipped, print the shipping label and drop the package into a box provided by VSi. If the guest does not have an account with one of these shippers, the guest can pay via credit card or using VSi pre-paid cards.

"The shipping station includes a weight machine, so users can get information quickly, and all packages are shipped within the time frame of normal shipping hours," Kazmi said. "This is an excellent amenity not only from the busy business guest's point of view, but from the hotel's point of view because no staff has to be involved-VSi manages all shipping. ShipMate is perfect for larger business properties, for convention hotels, for properties without guest shipping-and-receiving facilities, and for limited-service properties that would now be able to offer a virtually unlimited shipping service to its business guests."

The self-service ShipMate station's features include:

---|- 24/7/365 availability

---|- Guests can select their choice of shipping carrier and packaging, and can print shipping label and package the material being shipped

---|- Payments are made using credit card, VSi Prepaid card or personal account number of guest's preferred shipping vendor

---|- Wide range of kiosk colors available, so hotel can match it up with brand requirements, room d'ecor or location theme

---|- Multiple shipping carriers from which to choose (UPS, FedEx, DHL, etc.)

---|- No hotel staff required

---|- Secure user information-user data is completely erased after each use.

"Also, VSi offers 24/7 live, toll-free customer support, as well as a full product warranty and maintenance," Kazmi said. "This truly is an amenity business travelers want, and that hotels should be making available."

For information on more of VSi's wide range of products and services, visit the VSi Web site at www.ver-sys.com.