Destination Tackles Web 2.0 with Avalon BUZZ Report

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. October 26, 2008

OCTOBER 24, 2008. Avalon Report Corporation announced they have been selected by Destination Hotels & Resorts as their primary solution for monitoring of online customer reviews and ratings. The Avalon BUZZ Report(C) will empower every Destination property to easily monitor their reputation and customer satisfaction through a consolidated dashboard report of online guest ratings, reviews, pictures and video.

'Over the last few years, consumer generated content on the internet has risen and it's become an important part of our customer's decision making process,' said Isaac Gerstenzang,' Corporate Director of E-Commerce for Destination Hotels & Resorts. 'The BUZZ Report allows us to monitor customer satisfaction and feedback to help guide our operations. This new turnkey solution provides a competitive value to our company to ensure we are always offering a quality guest service experiences.'

Destination recently completed a test pilot program with the Avalon BUZZ Report at Estancia La Jolla Hotel & Spa in San Diego. The company plans to roll out the new internet solution to its more than 30 hotels and resorts by the end of 2008.

'While many hotels have paralyzed spending in response to current economic conditions, the wise are investing in offensive technology with smart return on investment,' says Maureen Dime of Avalon Report. 'Destination Hotels & Resorts is one of the long-term thinkers recognizing revenue is the key to tough economic times. They have concluded web-driven transparency is here to stay and it is changing the face of distribution. Failing to react to the trend, one that shows over 40 percent of travel shoppers now consult traveler reviews when planning, risks essential revenues at a time of scarcity.'

Avalon Report welcomes Destination as a new Web 2.0 conscious customer. Dime supports the careful due diligence Destination took in the decision process, and understands their ultimate goal is to deliver each hotel team the most reliable and innovative solution regarding their virtual reputations. 'More and more travelers, meeting planners and corporate decision makers are logging on to find out if a hotel's reputation is reality,' said Dime. 'I just can't emphasize enough how important the 'word of mouse' component has become to the online buyer. Reviews impact decisions in 88 percent of those that read them and sit as a publicly visible comment card, positively or negatively, for all who log on.'

Along with the user generated content on sites they monitor, the San Diego based company has grown exponentially as the Web 2.0 wave has matured. First to monitor comments in 2005, Avalon Report continues to provide a competitive advantage to subscribers with proprietary search and data visualization software that identifies strengths and vulnerabilities in the ratings and review sphere. Avalon's focus on key sites embodies a revenue-driven approach to reputation management and removes the time constraints hotels face by making daily monitoring a 3-5 minute commitment rather than a web surfing safari.