TRUST INTERNATIONAL TO PROVIDE RESERVATIONS SOLUTIONS TO RAFFLES INTERNATIONAL HOTELS & RESORTS

Reservations Technology Provider Adds 38 Hotels With Over 13,000 Rooms to International Client Portfolio

TRUST International, a member of the Bertelsmann Group and a global provider of reservations technology for the hospitality industry, today announced the company has been chosen to provide reservation technology to Raffles International Hotels & Resorts including their three brands of Raffles tier, Swissôtel and Merchant Court hotels. TRUST will provide full service reservation solutions including GDS and Internet distribution as well as voice reservations for all of the hotel company’s locations in North and South America, Asia, Europe, Middle East, and Australia.

Additionally, all hotel properties under the Raffles master brand including their corporate office in Singapore, will utilize TRUST View, a Web-based database management and reporting solution. The TRUST View software is used to compile and analyze reservation data gathered from various booking sources, evaluate the success of marketing projects, and create detailed reports to examine and respond to trends in the marketplace.

With the addition of Swissôtel’s properties to the Raffles portfolio, TRUST will now service the company’s 38 hotels with 13,457 rooms in 33 destination cities. Swissôtel has been a TRUST client for over three years and has experienced very high increases in reservations during that time period. The Raffles properties will be featured under the "YR"-code in the global distribution systems and the Swissôtel brand will be featured under the "SL"-code.

“Adding Raffles to our client listing has validated our continued focus on providing the highest degree of technology and service,” stated Connie Rheams, President of TRUST in the Americas. “Our joint services and technology initiatives will look to support Raffles’ high standard of quality service across multiple brands.

This adds to the TRUST reputation as global service provider for deluxe hotel brands. Landmark hotels like the ‘Raffles Hotel’ in Singapore, Raffles L’Ermitage in Beverly Hills and ‘Brown's Hotel – London’ will underline our service philosophy," says Sven Hohmann, CEO of TRUST International.

“Following Raffles’ recent acquisition of Swissôtel in April, we have evaluated our technology needs for both entities. For three years, Swissôtel has maintained an outstanding relationship with TRUST to provide reservation services and technology for their properties,” according to Michelle Woodley, Vice President, Electronic Distribution for Raffles International. “TRUST stood out as the premier provider of reservations for all of our worldwide hotels in terms of service, technology, and their vision for the hospitality industry.”

The contract is immediately effective with an expected smooth cutover period from other providers and service partners on December 4, 2001.