Press Release: Voilà Appoints New Executive

NEWPORT BEACH, CALIFORNIA – February 20, 2008 – VOILÀ Hotel Rewards, the first global, point-based frequent guest programme specifically created for independent hotel companies, is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr. Gabi Kool to the position of Senior Vice President and Managing Director.

VOILÀ Hotel Rewards is a ground-breaking, new loyalty programme, bringing together a worldwide network of independent four and five-star hotels of different brands and independent properties under a single umbrella.  In addition to earning points for eligible spend and redeeming for complimentary night stays and room upgrades at participating hotels, VOILÀ members will also enjoy special perks, such as member-only room rates, special welcome amenities, instant recognition, pre-arrival room preparation based on hotel preferences, and airline mile exchange opportunities.

 “We are thrilled to have Gabi lead VOILÀ Hotel Rewards,” said Mokhtar Ramadan, CEO for VOILÀ Hotel Rewards.  “Over the course of Gabi’s career, he has accumulated an impressive depth of experience with loyalty and marketing programmes, as well as substantial expertise in leveraging established network strength.  This is an exhilarating growth period for VOILÀ Hotel Rewards, as we prepare to launch the programme at hundreds of properties and more hotel groups are turning their attention to us with interest.  I’m sure VOILÀ and its clients will benefit from Gabi’s insights and leadership.”

“VOILÀ Hotel Rewards is certainly a unique product that has captured my interest and excitement,” said Gabi Kool.  “I am very energized by the VHR concept, the company’s extensive global infrastructure and the robust technology behind it.  VHR has ambitious growth objectives that I am committed to deliver.  I look forward to working with VOILÀ’s executive and operations team to build on the programme’s momentum.”

Kool brings to VOILÀ a wealth of experience in the loyalty space.  Most recently, Kool held the position of Executive Vice President with Carlson Marketing in Asia Pacific.  During his six-year tenure, Kool was instrumental in Carlson Marketing’s entry into China, and also led Carlson’s large scale involvement in the Beijing 2008 Olympics and Shanghai World Expo 2010, supporting many of the world’s leading sponsor brands such as Kodak and UPS with their hospitality programs.

As Carlson’s Global Airline expert, Kool was responsible for leading the agency’s global airline vertical, supporting ten of the world’s leading frequent flyer programs in the areas of strategy, data mining, marketing communications, operations and IT.  As the lead in Asia Pacific for Carlson’s Strategic Account Management project, Kool also leveraged Carlson’s global leading position in the marketing (Carlson Marketing), travel (Carlson Wagonlit Travel), and hospitality industries (Regent hotels, Radisson hotels, Park Plaza among others) to the benefit of Carlson’s client base.

Before joining Carlson in 2002, Kool was in charge of the development of KLM Royal Dutch Airlines’ frequent flyer programme, ‘Flying Dutchman’, while working for the Dutch airline in Amsterdam.  Kool is a graduate of the Carlson School of Management Executive Leadership Program at the University of Minnesota, as well as an Alumnus from INSEAD University and Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam.

Kool will be joining VOILÀ as of March 1, 2008, and will be based in London, England.

ABOUT VOILÀ HOTEL REWARDS (VOILÀ)

Headquartered in Newport Beach, Southern California, VOILÀ is the first and only points-based, guest loyalty programme built specifically for a global alliance of independent hotels and small groups.  VOILÀ is operated by Hospitality Marketing Concepts (HMC), a global company with offices in more than 50 countries in North America, Central/South America, Europe, Middle East and Asia.  VOILÀ has a launch portfolio of over 400 hotels, including Husa Hotels, Diagonal Hotels and Coral Hotels & Resorts.  More information about VOILÀ may be found on the company’s website www.vhr.com or by contacting Peter Gorla, Vice President of Marketing at 949-833-8000 Ext. 218 or via email at peter@vhr.com.


Press Release: HMC CELEBRATES 20th ANNIVERSARY

NEWPORT BEACH, CALIFORNIA – January 7, 2008 – Hospitality Marketing Concepts (HMC), the global, leading solution provider of loyalty membership programmes, is celebrating its 20-year anniversary. It has been a dynamic and exciting 20-years for this vibrant company.
Established in 1988, HMC was a pioneer – and is still the definitive authority today – in bringing value and revenue to hotels from the SME market. HMC has a very simple philosophy – its client’s success is its success. The company’s longevity in the loyalty business stems from its unwavering focus on delivering exceptional service and performance, and the continual development of its people and its technology.

Longevity in its employees is a key ingredient in HMC’s success. Customer service is crucial in executing successful loyalty programmes, and HMC has proven that the right mix of people and communication skills, work attitude and experience is essential. HMC provides a positive and motivating environment that nurtures talent and focuses on building a culture of high performance. A number of employees have been with HMC for over 15 years, several of whom now hold executive and senior management positions in the company.

Delivering results for its clients, year after year, is also critical to HMC’s success.
The Hilton Shanghai has been an HMC client since the company first ventured into China 12 years ago. Over the years, HMC has helped the Hilton Shanghai through a re-branding of the programme and developed Hilton Premium Club to a record number of members. Volkmar Ruebel, General Manager, said, “We are extremely satisfied with our 12-year partnership with HMC. Decade-long business relationships are rare and it only goes to show HMC has demonstrated professionalism, dedication, and great customer service that more than deserve loyalty. Looking forward to extending our business in the years to come. Congratulations to your 20th anniversary!”

In addition to experienced teams and seasoned management in the field, HMC also invested substantial resources over the past 20 years developing proprietary technology unmatched in the marketplace. HMC developed sophisticated internal systems to streamline and support the company’s operations, and is the loyalty industry’s leader in robust Customer Relationship Management (CRM) technology that puts its hotel clients heads and shoulders above their competition.

Cutting edge CRM technology that is available to hotels at no cost.
By providing no-cost CRM technology, HMC equips its hotel clients with high-level tools that will enhance the success of the membership programmes. Successful clients remain long-term clients.

With thousands of successful private-label loyal programmes in its 20-year history, established infrastructure and advance technology resources, HMC is the leading paid–membership networked loyalty solution provider of choice for many hotels and hotel groups.
In 1997, HMC created CLUBHOTEL, a global network of four and five-star hotels, providing common benefits and recognition to a worldwide membership base. The synergy generated by CLUBHOTEL remains staggering, resulting in tens of thousands of incremental roomnights for participating hotels.

Now in its 20th year of operation, HMC is launching VOILÀ Hotel Rewards, the first global, point-based frequent guest programme specifically created for independent hotel companies. Already with a launch portfolio of over 300 hotels, there is no doubt that VOILÀ Hotel Rewards will be a success. Independent hotels can now enjoy the leverage of a global rewards programme, while travellers benefit from greater hotel choices – boutique properties and regional hotel groups not part of any reward programmes in the past – and reward points that can be redeemed around the world.

Husa Hotels, a regional hotel group with over 150 hotels in Spain and Europe, has been a client of HMC since 1992 and one of the launch clients for VOILÀ Hotel Rewards. “Since its inception in 1992, Husa Oro program has increased year after year our overall revenue, repeat business, increased brand loyalty and generated thousands of room nights as well as a significant increase in food and beverage revenue in our outlets from local members,” said Juan Gaspart, Chairman of Husa Hotels. “I am looking forward to continue working with Hospitality Marketing Concepts in the years to come!”

“The past 20 years have truly been a rewarding experience for all of us at HMC,” said Mokhtar Ramadan, CEO of Hospitality Marketing Concepts. “I believe our passion for the loyalty business is what sets us apart, and puts HMC in the leadership role. Not only have we been in business for 20 years, we have been on a path of continuous growth and that record speaks for itself.”

Celebrating 20 Years of Service, Performance, and Excellence, HMC now operates in over 50 countries, including Italy, France, Germany, Spain, Poland, Portugal, Australia, Singapore, Hong Kong, China, UAE, Egypt, Venezuela, Brazil, Canada, United Kingdom and United States. It’s newest product, VOILÀ Hotel Rewards, is set to launch in February 2008 with Husa Hotels, Coral International Hotels & Resorts, Diagonal Hotels, and other groups in the succeeding months.


Press Release: DIAGONAL HOTELS JOINS VOILÀ HOTEL REWARDS

NEWPORT BEACH, CALIFORNIA – October, 11 2007 – VOILÀ Hotel Rewards, the first global, point-based frequent guest programme specifically created for independent hotel companies, is pleased to welcome Diagonal Hotels as its newest partner.

VOILÀ Hotel Rewards brings together a worldwide network of four- and five-star hotels of independent groups under a single umbrella to forge a new kind of guest loyalty programme.  In addition to earning points for eligible spend and redeeming for complimentary night stays and room upgrades at participating hotels, VOILÀ members will also enjoy special perks, such as member-only room rates, special welcome amenities, instant recognition, and multi-network airline mile exchange opportunities.

For participating hotels, VOILÀ offers significant marketing synergy, which is further bolstered by cutting-edge CRM technology available at no cost.  Through a web-based portal, hotels can manage email and direct mail marketing campaigns, access key program performance reports, enroll members, and verify booked reservations linked to each member’s tier, details and preferences.

Diagonal Hotels is a growing hotel group currently with two properties: In Barcelona, Hotel Alexandra, and in Granollers, Hotel Augusta, and an associated hotel in Sitges, Hotel Calípolis.  Each of its boutique hotels averages 120 rooms, are well-located in destination cities and projects individual charm and personality.  Diagonal Hotels is also a member of Great Hotels Organisation (GHO) and a launch partner of VOILÀ Hotel Rewards with its private-label programme, Great Hotels Rewards.

“We are very excited about VOILÀ Hotel Rewards,” said Josep Antoni Martínez, Director of Sales of Diagonal Hotels.  “For small independent hotel groups, reaching out to the global market is a formidable task given the limits of our resources.  VOILÀ is a cost-effective way to offer competitive benefits to retain our existing customers, and to reach out to attain new ones through VOILÀ’s global network.”

“Diagonal Hotels is one of our newest members, and we are very pleased to see their enthusiasm in embracing Great Hotels Rewards,” said Peter Gould, CEO of GHO.  “VOILÀ is the backbone of Great Hotels Rewards, which will be a pivotal programme for our group’s strategic development.  There is no doubt our participating member hotels will realize tremendous benefit.”

“Diagonal Hotels represents exactly the type of hotel company that VOILÀ Hotel Rewards was created for,” said Marwan Ramadan, President EMEA for VOILÀ Hotel Rewards.  “Small hotel companies with innovative minds and the desire to reach out for more than what their resources and immediate market can deliver.  It is our pleasure to welcome Diagonal Hotels into our VOILÀ family.”

VOILÀ is a brand-neutral programme, and is currently in discussions with additional hotel partners around the world that may qualify to become founding members of VOILÀ Hotel Rewards.  

ABOUT VOILÀ HOTEL REWARDS
Headquartered in Newport Beach, Southern California, VOILÀ is the first and only points-based, guest loyalty programme built specifically for a global alliance of independent hotels and small groups.  VOILÀ is operated by Hospitality Marketing Concepts (HMC), a global company with offices in more than 50 countries in North America, Central/South America, Europe, Middle East and Asia.  VOILÀ has a launch portfolio of hundreds of hotels, including Spain-based Husa Hotels and Coral International Hotels throughout the Middle East.  More information about VOILÀ may be found on the company’s website www.vhr.com or by contacting Peter Gorla, Vice President of Marketing at 949-833-8000 Ext. 218 or via email at peter@vhr.com.

ABOUT GREAT HOTELS ORGANISATION
GHO’s family of brands include Great Hotels of the World (http://www.ghotw.com) and Special Hotels of the World (http://www.shotw.com), a forerunner among luxury hotel marketing alliances representing over 240 of the world’s finest hotels and resorts. Both brands are driven by six core values, notably to keep members’ costs down, to view each member as unique, to be innovative with technology, to value the power of the alliance, and to maintain the quality and integrity of the brand. Further information on GHO can be found at http://www.ghorg.com or via email at info@ghorg.com.

ABOUT DIAGONAL HOTELS
Diagonal Hotels offers accommodations in: Hotel Alexandra, located right in the centre of commerce, near the most exclusive stores and entertainment areas of Modernist Barcelona; Hotel Augusta a few minutes away from the Circuit of Catalunya and the Vallromanes golf course; and Hotel Calípolis in Sitges with views of sea and sand in the Garraf coast´s most famous leisure and cultural area. The three hotels have modern architecture and vanguard design. More information about Diagonal Hotels may be found at http://www.diagonalhotels.com/.


Press Release: Coral International Hotels Join Voilà Hotel Rewards

NEWPORT BEACH, CALIFORNIA – May 8, 2007 – Voilà Hotel Rewards, the first global, point-based frequent guest programme specifically created for independent hotel companies, is pleased to announce its newest partner, Coral International Hotels.

Voilà Hotel Rewards brings together a worldwide network of four- and five-star hotels of different brands and independent properties under a single umbrella to forge a new and unique guest loyalty programme.  In addition to earning points for eligible spend and redeeming for complimentary night stays and room upgrades at participating hotels, Voilà members also enjoy recognition benefits, such as member-only room rates, special welcome amenities, VIP access to facilities, and more.

For participating hotels, Voilà offers significant marketing synergy, which is further bolstered by cutting-edge CRM technology.  Through a web-based portal, hotels can access guest preferences, send welcome emails in advance, issue post-stay follow-ups, and even manage email and direct mail marketing campaigns.

“We are very excited about Voilà Hotel Rewards,” said Michel Noblet, Managing Director of Coral International Hotels, Resorts & Spas.  “In keeping with our long-term strategic goals and targets, Voilà helps us make a big leap forward.  Voilà not only establishes loyalty amongst our existing customers, which in itself is paramount to Coral International Hotels – but Voilà also helps us extend our reach into the global market in which we compete.”

“Voilà is more than just a guest loyalty programme,” said Marwan Ramadan, President EMEA for Voilà Hotel Rewards.  “The leverage of a global network and the marketing capability of our proprietary CRM make available valuable opportunities for hotels to boost occupancy, maximize revenue, and improve profit margin.  By lessening third-party dependency, hotels enjoy higher Average Daily Rate from Voilà members, while retaining total control of their pricing and distribution channels.  Very simply, Voilà Hotel Rewards is designed to deliver concrete, measurable return on investment for participating hotels.”

As part of the agreement, all hotels under the Coral International banner will offer Voilà Hotel Rewards.
 
ABOUT VOILÀ HOTEL REWARDS
Headquartered in Newport Beach, Southern California, Voilà is the first and only points-based, guest loyalty programme built specifically for a global alliance of independent hotels and small groups.  Voilà is operated by Hospitality Marketing Concepts (HMC), a global company with offices in more than 50 countries in North America, Central/South America, Europe, Middle East and Asia.  Voilà has a launch portfolio of hundreds of hotels, including Spain-based Husa Hotels.  More information about Voilà may be found on the company’s website www.vhr.com  or by contacting Peter Gorla, Vice President of Marketing at 949-833-8000 Ext. 218 or via email at peter@vhr.com.

ABOUT CORAL INTERNATIONAL
Founded in September 2003, Coral International Hotels, Resorts & Spas has quickly established itself as a dynamic hotel management company in the Middle East.  With 9 world-class hotels strategically located throughout the UAE, Oman and KSA and more than 15 on the way, Coral International has won widespread recognition as a top name in hospitality in the region.  With an interesting product mix of 4 and 5 star boutique hotels, serviced apartments, resorts, spas and learning centres, Coral International offers its clientele a wide selection of accommodations and services in a safe and alcohol-free environment. The group has a target of 25 properties within its first five years of operation and has already taken its first steps outside the Middle East by finalizing deals in North, South and East Africa. Coral International Hotels, Resorts & Spas is a member of the Boutique Hotels & Resorts International.


Press Release: RightNow

Leading Provider of Customer Loyalty Programs for the Hospitality Industry Delivers Top-Tier Service with RightNow Solutions

BOZEMAN, MONT. (February 12, 2007)—RightNow® Technologies (NASDAQ: RNOW) today announced that Hospitality Marketing Concepts (HMC), a leading provider of customer loyalty programs for the hospitality industry, is using RightNow solutions in 50 countries and 10 languages.  HMC uses RightNow to provide its clients, which include the world’s leading hotel brands, with extremely responsive service that meets the highest standards of professionalism and courtesy.

“RightNow provides an exceptionally powerful and flexible system for delivering a superior customer experience,” said Mokhtar Ramadan, CEO at HMC.  “Our implementation of RightNow will help us achieve even higher program renewal rates and improve our ability to help our hospitality clients strengthen their customer relationships.” 

In addition to providing customer service for hundreds of thousands of paid membership loyalty program members, HMC’s decision to implement RightNow was made in part by its introduction of Voilà Hotel Rewards, a new points-based guest loyalty program.  HMC needed to bolster its technology environment to handle increased activity.  RightNow’s on demand delivery model enabled HMC to link all of its employees around the world through a single system without making costly investments in IT infrastructure.  With RightNow, HMC is managing customer experiences across all geographies and all communication channels:  voice, email and web.  HMC is also integrating RightNow with its internally developed customer relationship management (CRM) application, to give its service representatives worldwide full visibility into all the customer data they need to quickly and effectively answer questions and resolve issues.  

About HMC
Headquartered in Newport Beach, Southern California, HMC is the leading provider of travel industry paid consumer membership and database management programs. HMC provides services to more than 1,000 full-service hotels worldwide. A selection of clients includes InterContinental, Le Meridien, Starwood, Ritz, Shangri-La, Mandarin Oriental, Husa, Orbis, Raffles and Swissotel. HMC is a global company with offices in more than 70 countries including Italy, France, Spain, Poland, Portugal,  Australia, Singapore, Hong Kong, China, UAE, Egypt, Venezuela, Brazil, Canada, United Kingdom  and United States.  More information about HMC may be found on the company’s website http://hmc.clubhotel.com.

About RightNow Technologies
RightNow (NASDAQ: RNOW) delivers the technology solutions and services organizations need to cost-efficiently deliver a consistently superior customer experience across their frontline marketing, sales and service touch-points. More than 1,700 corporations and government agencies worldwide depend on RightNow to achieve their strategic objectives and better meet the needs of those they serve.  RightNow is headquartered in Bozeman, Montana.  For more information, visit www.rightnow.com.

RightNow is a registered trademark of RightNow Technologies, Inc. NASDAQ is a registered trademark of the NASDAQ Stock Market.


World Travel Market - Launch Video

To view an edited version of selected speeches from the Voilà Hotel Rewards WTM launch presentation, please click the play button below:


Peter Gorla’s WTM Speech

I thought it would be relevant to post the speech I presented on Tuesday at WTM. Below, at the bottom of the speech text is an edited version of the video from the launch.

Hello, good afternoon. I’m Peter Gorla. Thank you all for coming. I’m very proud to have the opportunity announce the official launch of Voilà Hotel Rewards. Why? Because, I’m here today to speak to you about a challenge faced by many independent hotels. Your hotels are unique and eclectic and found in exciting locations. You provide unparalleled experiences for your guests. And you offer them a level of service major hotel chains can’t match. Yet, your hotels often suffer for the very same reason they succeed: because they are independent. But what if there was a way to gain strength in numbers, while retaining your hotel’s individuality and operational freedom?

That’s where Voilà Hotel Rewards comes in. Voilà is a guest loyalty program created for independent hotel groups…that levels the playing field with as a turn-key rewards solution that provides members with value, recognition and rewards. You may already be familiar with airline programs such as OneWorld and Star Alliance. Voilà is a similar concept, however, it allows independent hotels to participate in a program that’s linked to a large, global network. With Voilà, independent hotel groups receive the same benefits offered by mega-brand reward programs but maintain their full operational independence. And by uniting hotels of different brands into one global program, Voilà delivers a number of benefits including:- Increased profit margin and lowered advertising costs- World-wide exposure and on-demand marketing opportunities and most importantly…Voilà gives your clients – the true heart of your business – the recognition they deserve.

Now let’s talk about Voilà reward points — because for members, that’s their currency. Each time a member stays at a Voilà hotel, they earn points. Depending on their tier level, they can earn point bonuses and additional recognition benefits. Once a member accumulates enough points, they can redeem those points for hotel nights or with redemption partners. It’s this currency that helps to create a strong affinity between members and hotels in the Voilà network. An affinity so relevant, that 88% of business travelers belong to at least one rewards program.

Voilà offers three membership tiers. Gold, which is the introductory level and available to anyone free-of charge. Platinum, which is reached after 10 nights are completed Black, a tier attained after 20 nights. As you can see, the more frequently a member stays in the Voilà network, the faster they accumulate points, thus, rewarding your best clients.

Now, you may be wondering what it takes on your end to join Voilà. Well, it’s quite simple actually, because we take care of practically everything. This includes all the required Technology, Management, Collateral and Member Services such as:– PMS and CRS integration– Member website– CRM– Fulfillment– Customer service– Marketing and PR– Etc. It’s a turnkey solution.

Your Voilà member collateral is co-branded with your hotel’s name and program logo. We will work very closely with you upon rollout to ensure your brand is represented to you standards. Plus, all collateral, such as the member card, promotional emails, and member website, is localized to each member’s native language.

In addition to a variety of fulfillment collateral, your hotel will also receive a co-branded website. This allows your Voilà members to do everything from booking their reservations, redeeming rewards, to checking their point balances online.

Voilà also provides you information that improves the way you interact with your members. Our CRM Partner Portal reveals travel patterns, room preferences, and booking methods. Which helps you give a guest the most personalized service possible. Here’s a simplified overview of how Voilà’s technology works.

OK, I know… this is the technology slide where I loose half of the audience becomes and the other half becomes VERY excited…But… Rest assured, Voilà is built upon an ultra modern platform of web-services that: • synchronize with your hotel’s CRS and PMS • power the CRM Partner Portal and Member websites • and automates all if the important functions that run Voilà.

Voilà Hotel Rewards was created by Hospitality Marketing Concepts, a company with nearly 20 years experience creating hotel loyalty programs. So you can be assured that Voilà was built with your industry’s unique needs in mind. Established in 1988, HMC has offices that span the globe in over 50countries.

Similarly, our reservation technology and PMS synchronization platform is supplied by one of the industry’s frontrunners – Interface Technologies. If you’re already familiar with Interface Technology then you know they’re a leader in implementing advanced solutions for electronic hotel reservations.

Because we want to ensure a seamless introduction into regions such as Europe, the Middle East and Africa, Voilà has also partnered with Great Hotels Organization. Now, GHO’s existing member hotels and independent hotels in these regions can easily join the Voilà network through GHO.

Voilà Hotel Rewards is the solution for any independent group that wants to maintain its individuality while enjoying the strength that comes from numbers. It’s for any hotel that’s seeking increased revenues, higher profit margins, and greater occupancy rates. It’s a way to minimize your expenses on marketing while maximizing your results. It’s a powerful reason for your guests to stay loyal to your brand. And Voilà is the way to finally gain a competitive edge against the mega-brands. Best of all, Voilà lets you to achieve ALL those things while still maintaining your independence and identity. Voilà is a landmark product and an excellent opportunity for independent hotel groups. Thank you so much for your time!

 


Press Release: HUSA Hotels & Resorts

HUSA FIRST HOTEL GROUP TO JOIN VOILA HOTEL REWARDS

NEWPORT BEACH, CALIFORNIA – November 1, 2006 – Spain-based Husa Hotels has entered an agreement with Voilà™ Hotel Rewards (www.VHR.com), the soon-to-be-launched, innovative frequent guest loyalty program, created by Hospitality Marketing Concepts (HMC) specifically for small groups and independent hotels and resorts.

All 160 Husa Hotels across Spain, Argentina, Andorra, Egypt, France and Belgium will be part of the Husa Rewards programme, operating under the global umbrella of Voilà Hotel Rewards.  Membership collateral, along with a monthly electronic newsletter, will be co-branded under the names of Husa Rewards and Voilà Hotel Rewards.

With the strength of global membership and worldwide hotel alliance, Voilà Hotel Rewards is designed to deliver concrete, measurable return on investment for participating hotels.  More than just a solution to retain customers, Voilà generates new and incremental revenue with improved profit margin.  Hotels enjoy higher Average Net Rate from Voilà members while retaining control of their pricing and distribution channels and lessen third-party dependency.

“Voilà Hotel Rewards is what independent hotel groups need to compete effectively with the mega-brands,” says Juan Gaspart, Chairman of Husa Hotel Group.  “The co-branding option gives Husa the opportunity to strengthen its brand image in our markets while offering our customers the versatility to earn and redeem points worldwide.  Voilà is something that every independent hotelier who has ever lost a customer to a mega-brand rewards programme should consider.”

Mokhtar Ramadan, CEO of Voilà Hotel Rewards, comments on the new agreement.  “We are delighted with our partnership with Husa Hotels.  Their product offering fits perfectly with the Voilà Hotel Rewards ethos.  Voilà offers travelers membership to an exclusive collection of independent hotels with unique character, along with all the advantages of a global, mega-brand rewards programme.”

Voilà Hotel Rewards presents members a portfolio of world-class independent hotels around the world.  Husa Hotels offers a choice of urban, mountain, luxury and spa properties, all with individual characteristics but guaranteed Husa quality.  Voilà members will enjoy unique experiences at the Castillo Hotel Son Vida, a 13th century castle, Husa Catedral, an 1850 Manierista style house in the cathedral plaza and Husa Monestir Sant Marcal, set in the middle of a nature park, offering 12 rooms that belonged to an ancient monastery.

Voilà Hotel Rewards will be exhibiting on stand GV7655 in the Global Village at World Travel Market in London, from November 6th to 9th, 2006.  Voilà Hotel Rewards’ debut presentation will take place from 1.30pm to 2.00pm on the World Stage on Tuesday, November 7th.

About Voilà Hotel Rewards:
Voilà Hotel Rewards is owned and operated by Hospitality Marketing Concepts (HMC). Headquartered in Newport Beach, Southern California, HMC is the leading provider of travel industry paid consumer membership and database management programs. HMC provides services to more than 1,000 full-service hotels worldwide, including both independent properties and prominent chain hotels.  HMC is a global company with offices in more than 50 countries, including Italy, France, Spain, Poland, Portugal, UAE, Egypt, UK, Australia, Singapore, Hong Kong, China, Venezuela, Brazil, and Canada.  More information about Voilà Hotel Rewards may be found on http://www.VHR.com or by contacting Peter Gorla, Vice President of Marketing at 949-833-8000 Ext. 218 or peter@VHR.com.

About Husa Hotels:
The Barcelona-based Husa Group (http://www.husa.es) is a well-established and prestigious family company founded in 1930 and dedicated, over the course of four generations, to the provision of hotel and restaurant services. Since 1990, the Group's corporate headquarters have been based in the Masia Torre Rodona, a unique seventeenth-century building.


Press Release: World Travel Market

Revolutionary Hotel Rewards Programme to Launch at World Travel Market 2006

NEWPORT BEACH, CA — October 12, 2006 — Voilà Hotel Rewards, an innovative frequency guest loyalty program designed specifically for small groups and independent hotels and resorts, will launch at World Travel Market in London.

Voilà Hotel Rewards (http://www.VHR.com) is the latest product offering from Hospitality Marketing Concepts (HMC), the leading provider of travel industry paid consumer membership and database management programs. Voilà is the first and only points-based, guest loyalty program that gives independent hotel groups the competitive edge previously reserved for only the largest global hotel brands.

Within the first five years, Voilà is projecting to have at least 1000 partner hotels and over five million members, providing Voilà partner hotels with instant credibility and exposure to a new, devoted clientele.

Voilà Hotel Rewards supplies all the systems, technology and support services required to operate the program via the Voilà CRM Partner Portal. The automated capabilities that drive Voilà, such as points administration, data storage, PMS and CRS synchronization, drastically reduce labour costs, previously associated with loyalty programmes.

"So many hotels today face the challenges of low awareness, limited resources and marketing funds in addition to loss of business due to the lack of a loyalty programme," says Mokhtar Ramadan, CEO, Voilà Hotel Rewards, "We have launched Voilà Hotel Rewards to equip independents with the tools and technology to address these challenges and ultimately increase occupancy and revenue."

Voilà Hotel Rewards has entered into an agreement with Great Hotels Organisation as the European partner for the independent hotel sector. GHO's Great Hotels Rewards (http://www.greathotelsrewards.com/) will provide the platform through which independent hotels will be able to join the Voilà Hotel Rewards network in Europe, Middle East, and Africa.

Voilà will launch with three membership tiers: Gold, Platinum and Black. Points are awarded per dollar spent at member hotels. Over and above room revenue, qualified hotel spend, such as mini bar, telephone and food and beverage, can also be converted to points.

Points can be redeemed against room nights at Voilà partner hotels or transferred to air miles and other redemption partners. Point redemption is an interactive, seamless, simple and fast on-line process via the www.VHR.com website.

"Ultimately, Voilà is more than just a guest loyalty program," says Mokhtar Ramadan, "It spans a hotel's entire business life cycle — new customer generation, guest recognition, customer relationship management, communication — and gives you the power to unlock your potential and maximize your profits without losing any of your quality, service levels or individuality."

Voilà Hotel Rewards will be exhibiting on stand GV7655 in the Global Village at World Travel Market, Excel, London 6th to 9th November 2006. Voilà Hotel Rewards' debut presentation will take place from 1.30pm to 2.00pm on the World Stage on Tuesday, 7th November.

About Voilà Hotel Rewards
Voilà Hotel Rewards is owned by Hospitality Marketing Concepts (HMC). Headquartered in Newport Beach, Southern California, HMC is the leading provider of travel industry paid consumer membership and database management programs. HMC provides services to more than 1,000 full-service hotels worldwide. A selection of clients includes InterContinental, Le Meridien, Starwood, Ritz, Shangri-La and Mandarin Oriental. HMC is a global company with offices in more than 50 countries. More information about Voilà Hotel Rewards may be found on http://www.VHR.com or contact Peter Gorla, Vice President of Marketing at 949-833-8000 Ext. 218 or gorlap@clubhotel.com.

More news and information at http://www.voilahotels.com.