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SoftBrands Hospitality Launches "Connect" Interoperability and Connectivity Platform Contact Don Bryan ATLANTA (June 24, 2003) - SoftBrands Hospitality, Inc., a leading international supplier of enterprise-wide software and Internet-enabled solutions for the Hospitality industry, announces the launch of its "Connect" platform. The platform provides both a local application backbone to enable interoperability between disparate applications and technologies, and a smart integration server to directly connect properties to GDS and IDS channels such as Sabre(R) and Galileo(TM), and Hotels.com(TM). The Connect strategy comes in response to industry requests for a higher level of interoperability between systems. Utilizing both OTA (Open Travel Alliance) and HITIS standards, Connect is generally hosted by SoftBrands and is paid for by a hotel or hotel group through a licensing fee. The platform eliminates a variety of transaction fees that hotels accrue through the use of most Internet reservation systems. While the fee from a GDS company is generally fixed, surcharges can accumulate from intermediary companies through which the reservation passes. With SoftBrands Connect, GDS connectivity requires no switch or third-party software, ensuring that a hotel pays only the GDS fee for a reservation. The license-based fee structure provides ROI in six to twelve months compared to booking through typical Internet reservation systems. "Connect provides significant savings to hotels while resolving the issue of interoperability," said Don Bryan, vice president of marketing at SoftBrands Hospitality. "Not only does the Connect Platform do away with multiple transaction fees, it also helps hotels protect their investment in their current solutions. Typically, property managers have accumulated many disparate applications over the years. Connect's interoperability lets these technologies and applications work together, putting more control into management's hands while minimizing costs." SoftBrands Connect enhances the way a hotel publishes property and rate information to the GDS and regulates availability. Its simple-to-use control panel provides a single point of control for all connected channels. Connect maps room types and rates from the PMS to distribution channels, while allowing hotel management to publish availability to the Connect system, or to respond on real-time availability in the PMS itself. Connect's advanced Integration Server provides high speed messaging between the GDS and all SoftBrands Property Management System products, as well as third-party PMS products that offer an OTA compliant interface. The platform also includes a sophisticated rate and inventory-aware Web Booking Engine that hotels and hotel chains can integrate into their corporate web sites. Available as a hosted service or on-site installation, customers select and pay only for the components they want. About SoftBrands SoftBrands is a global supplier of enterprise application software. Currently focused on the hospitality and manufacturing industries, the company intends to expand both internally and through acquisitions. With more than 5,000 customers in over 60 countries now actively using its Fourth Shift(R), evolution(TM), DemandStream(TM), PORTfolio(TM) and RIO Grand(TM) products, SoftBrands has established a worldwide infrastructure for distribution, development and support of enterprise software. The company, headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota, has approximately 700 employees with branch offices in Europe, Asia, Australia, the Middle East and Africa. Additional information about SoftBrands can be found at http://www.softbrands.com. About SoftBrands Hospitality The SoftBrands Hospitality Group has a dominant position in the hospitality marketplace as a software provider. Its systems include: Property Management Systems (PMS), Point of Sale, Central Reservation Systems, Internet Bookings, Restaurant & Banqueting and Spa, Club, Golf and Retail management. The company's software applications utilize the SoftBrands Connectivity Platform to enable interoperability with disparate applications and technologies, while directly connecting single- and multi-property enterprises with Global Distribution Systems and major Internet reservation sites. With a broad spectrum of clients from hotels, resorts and restaurants, to spas and country clubs, SoftBrands Hospitality is committed to the ongoing care of its customers. It continually enhances its product and invests in finding new solutions which use technology to meet business challenges. |