The Leading Hotels of the World, Ltd. & TRUST International to Launch The Private Label Company
The preeminent luxury hospitality company will partner with TRUST to offer an alternative customized
NEW YORK, NY, March 8, 2006. The Leading Hotels of the World, Ltd. is working to form The Private Label Company LLC (PLC) in partnership with TRUST International, part of Cendant's Travel Distribution Services (TDS) division. The new company is designed to give a global presence to a hotel group or chain in the luxury marketplace by leveraging the existing infrastructure and reservations volumes of The Leading Hotels of the World, Ltd.
The PLC will provide superior technology for distribution; personalized sales representation; and cost-effective private-label services for Leading member and non-member hotel groups and chains. Via TRUST International's sophisticated reservations and distribution services, hotel groups who are customers of the PLC will be able to retain their own GDS codes and have access to worldwide voice reservations services. In addition, customers of the PLC will benefit from direct connectivity to all major on-line channels, as well as from interfaces to front-office and revenue-management systems. The PLC will enable hotel companies to build their unique brand identities by capitalizing on the combined expertise of The Leading Hotels of the World, Ltd. and TRUST International in the areas of sales, marketing and distribution.
In making the announcement, Paul M. McManus, president and chief executive officer of The Leading Hotels of the World, Ltd., commented, "This alternative solution will permit Leading to effectively address what has become a chronic problem with group and chain hotels, who feel that they require their own structure and brand identities in an ever increasingly competitive market for management contracts. With this issue resolved, we will be able to concentrate more intensely on our core business, that is the sales, marketing and distribution of independent hotels.
Mr. McManus added, "What makes the PLC such a viable solution is the combined strength of its partners. TRUST International, which provides the highest level of distribution technology, together with Leading Hotels' global marketing reach, offers the best and most comprehensive solution, from both effectiveness and cost standpoints for group hotels in existence today."
Currently, while other companies in this sector offer inexpensive transaction fees, they cannot provide the comprehensive menu of services or the complete global distribution capabilities offered by the PLC. This forces hotels to adopt an ad-hoc distribution approach, resulting in higher costs and missed revenue opportunities.
The PLC is structured to meet the specific needs of groups and chain-affiliated hotels, with numerous bespoke sales representation options within designated markets. Unique to the industry, the PLC will offer the services of either a "card-carrying" dedicated salesperson or shared-sales team, each of whom will be educated on all properties within the portfolio. It will also afford hotels the opportunity to choose select target market regions for both voice centers and sales offices.
Richard Wiegmann, chief operating officer of TRUST International, described the new company concept as ground breaking: "The ability to provide customized white-labeling services, combined with innovative reservation technology, is something which will simply revolutionize the hotel representation sector."
About The Leading Hotels of the World, Ltd.
Established in 1928, The Leading Hotels of the World, Ltd. is a prestigious luxury hospitality organization representing more than 430 of the world's finest hotels, resorts, and spas. As the largest international luxury hotel brand, the company maintains offices in 24 major markets across the globe.
Since its inception, The Leading Hotels of the World, Ltd. has been noted for its innovative character. In addition to sales, marketing and reservations, it offers a full range of products and services to its members - including cutting-edge Internet strategies, financial solutions, architectural and design consulting, and educational support, through 10 joint ventures and ancillary businesses.
High resolution images of member hotels are available for downloading through the press room at www.lhw.com. For reservations and information, visit www.lhw.com or telephone toll-free from the USA, Canada, Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands, (800) 223-6800.
About Cendant Travel Distribution Services
Cendant Corporation's (NYSE: CD) Travel Distribution Services Division, is one of the world's largest and most geographically diverse collections of travel brands and distribution businesses. The division, employing approximately 8,200 people in approximately 130 countries, includes: a leading (GDS) global distribution system (Galileo), serving more travel agencies and other subscribers at more than 52,000 locations and hotel companies with over 60,000 properties; hotel distribution and services businesses (Neat Group(R), THOR(R), TRUST and WizCom(R)); leading online travel agencies (asia-hotels.com, CheapTickets(R), ebookers.com(R), HotelClub.com, Lodging.com, Orbitz(R), RatesToGo.com, and The Away Network); an airline market intelligence company (Shepherd Systems); an international travel technology and software company (Travelwire); a leading international provider of long-haul air travel and travel product consolidator (Travel 2(R)/Travel 4(R)); online global corporate travel management solutions (Orbitz for Business(R) and Travelport(R)); and a leading wholesaler and global online provider of hotels, destination services, travel packages and group tours (Gullivers Travel Associates, OctopusTravel.com(R) and Travel Bound, Inc.).
About TRUST International
TRUST International (www.trustinternational.com) is a subsidiary of Cendant's Travel Distribution Services Division. It develops and implements state-of-the-art central reservation systems, providing tailor-made, real-time reservations and global distribution solutions for the hospitality industry. TRUST services include CRS services and software, private label telephone lines, connectivity to all Global Distribution Systems (GDS) and various Web sites and Internet platforms. The company serves 47 countries in 10 languages from its Customer Communication Centers strategically located in North America, Europe and The Far East. Together with its sister company WizCom, Inc. (www.wizcom.com) the full range of Connectivity, Data Management, CRS and Global Voice Solutions are offered to the hotel and car rental businesses.
Contact:
Claudia Kozma
Vice President, Corporate Communications
The Leading Hotels of the World, Ltd.
Tel: (212) 515-5708
E-mail: [email protected]
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