Company Press Release
May 3, 2000
ALAMEDA, CA -- In what may be the single largest Web site hosting deal in the travel industry, Cendant Corporation
(NYSE:CD), the world's largest hotel franchisor, and Netopia, Inc. (NASDAQ:NTPA), a market leader in providing
DSL Internet equipment and e-commerce Web platforms to small and medium size businesses, announced they have successfully
launched over 4,000 hotel Web sites for Cendant's Howard Johnson, Days Inn, Ramada and Travelodge hotel chains.
The Web sites of each hotel chain feature photos of the individual hotel, provide information about amenities and
rates and offer a link to the central reservation system so that potential guests may make or change their reservations
online.
The travel industry is one of the fastest growing online categories. According to a recent report by Jupiter Communications,
online travel sales tripled from $2.2 billion in 1998 to $6.5 billion in 1999, representing nearly 4.5% of total
U.S. travel revenue. ``The launch of these sites marks the next phase of an overall strategic shift to a more Internet-focused
way of doing business,'' said John Paul Nichols, executive vice president, Sales & Marketing, for the Cendant
Hotel Division. ``As they become accustomed to doing business on the Internet, consumers are getting more used
to doing what they want when they want to do it. These new sites will enable them to book hotel rooms in exactly
that way.''
Overall, this launch of Web sites for over 4,000 hotels is empowering both for the consumer who wants more choices
and the frachisor who wants more control in marketing his hotel and offering enhanced local services.
The Web sites for these four major hotel chains also give Cendant's hotel franchisees a way of creating innovative
local online marketing programs. ``We are empowering franchisees to creative destination-based online promotions
that simply aren't feasible at the national level,'' Nichols added. ``They give the hotels more control over local
revenue generating programs and partnerships while still maintaining the integrity of the corporate brand identity.''
The 4,000 Web sites were created very quickly using the Netopia e-Business Platform. ``We offer a full suite of
e-Business services to franchisors,'' said Tom J. Spadafore, Group Vice President, Netopia e-Business. ``Thanks
to Netopia's robust platform, we designed and built the Web sites, host the sites on our server, provide excellent
partner and merchant support, and are now working closely with Cendant to promote this new service and create online
marketing programs. Cendant's success with the 4,000-plus hotel Web sites validates the strength of Netopia's flexible
Web site building platform.''
About Cendant Corporation
Cendant Corporation (NYSE:CD - news) is a global provider of real estate, travel and direct marketing related consumer
and business services. The Company's core competencies include building franchise systems, providing outsourcing
solutions and direct marketing. As a franchisor, Cendant is among the world's leading franchisors of real estate
brokerage offices, hotels, rental car agencies, and tax preparation services. The Company's real estate-related
operations also include Move.com Group, Cendant's relocation, real estate and home-related services portal on the
Internet. As a provider of outsourcing solutions, Cendant is a major provider of mortgage services to consumers,
the global leader in employee relocation, and the world's largest vacation exchange service. In direct marketing,
Cendant provides access to insurance, travel, shopping, auto, and other services primarily to customers of its
affinity partners. In addition, Cendant Internet Group is aggressively pursuing a convergence strategy for the
Company's off-line and online businesses. Other business units include NCP, the UK's largest private car park operator,
and WizCom, an information technology services provider. Headquartered in New York, NY, the Company has approximately
30,000 employees and operates in over 100 countries.
More information about Cendant, its companies, brands and current SEC filings may be obtained by visiting the Company's
Web site at www.Cendant.com or by calling 877/4INFO-CD (877/446-3623).
About Netopia
Netopia, Inc. develops, markets and supports Internet and electronic commerce infrastructure for small and medium
size businesses. Netopia's DSL equipment and e-commerce Web platforms enable businesses to connect easily and cost-effectively
to the Internet, establish and enhance their Internet presence, and conduct business and electronic commerce on
the Web.
With its Netopia e-commerce Web platform, the Company has established Web-based services with Citigroup's Bizzed.com,
Cendant Corporation, Netscape Netcenter, Jato Communications, France Telecom, SmartAge.com and Concentric Network.
With its Netopia DSL Router family, the Company has established interoperability with central office equipment
from Copper Mountain Networks, Lucent Technologies and Nokia; and has established strategic distribution relationships
with leading CLECs including Covad Communications, NorthPoint Communications, Rhythms NetConnections Inc. and Jato
Communications; and with hundreds of ISPs including France Telecom, Telecom Italia, Bell Atlantic, PSINet, Verio,
UUNet, Earthlink Network and Concentric Network.
Headquartered in Alameda, Calif., Netopia's common stock is traded on the Nasdaq National Market under the symbol
``NTPA.'' Further information about Netopia can be obtained via phone 510/814-5100, fax 510/814-5021 or on the
Web at www.netopia.com.
For more information about how Netopia can benefit your organization, contact Tom J. Spadafore, Group V.P., Netopia
e-Business at 510/814-5123 or send email to spadafore@netopia.com.
Portions of this release include forward-looking statements made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the
Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Netopia, Inc.'s actual results could differ materially from the results
discussed in this release and in the forward-looking statements contained herein for many reasons. Investors are
cautioned that all forward-looking statements involve numerous risks and uncertainties, including but not limited
to product development, product acceptance, licensing opportunities and general economic conditions. For more information
concerning Netopia and risk factors that may affect Netopia's future results and may cause actual results to vary
from results anticipated in forward-looking statements, investors should review Netopia's public filings with the
United States Securities and Exchange Commission, which are available by calling Netopia at 510/814-5260 or online
at www.sec.gov.
All company names, brand names and product names are trademarks of their respective holder(s).
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Contact:
Netopia, Inc.
Katie Peterson, 650/966-8420 x103
www.netopia.com