Press Release: Hotel Reservation Network
April 20, 2001
DALLAS, TX -- Hotel Reservations Network (HRN), (Nasdaq: ROOM), www.hoteldiscount.com , the number one provider
of discount hotel accommodations worldwide, announced yesterday it will open a new call center in June, 2001. The
increase in operations is fueled by Hotel Reservations Network's continued rapid expansion both domestically and
internationally and will enhance the Company's booking capabilities by 70 percent. Located in Pharr, Texas, the
call center will initially employ over 100 people with capacity for 140 additional employees. The Company operates
two other call centers in Dallas and Ft. Worth, Texas.
Commenting on the expansion, Bob Diener, president of Hotel Reservations Network said, ``The new call center will
enable us to serve the travel needs of our clients and support our continuing aggressive expansion strategy. We
continue to see an increase in our bookings, even with current economic conditions, and this increase in the number
of call center agents will help ensure our customers receive quick, easy and informative assistance whether they
book accommodations online via our websites or by calling our toll-free call centers. In addition, our upgraded
call center capability enables us to continue to pursue opportunities with affiliates that do a significant amount
of business via the telephone, as recent agreements with Northwest Airlines and Cheap Tickets illustrate.
According to Diener, ``Hotel Reservations Network's booking staff and customer service agents are comprised of
highly trained individuals, and are integral to achieving our goal to provide travelers with the most value for
their travel dollars. Our employees are at the core of our business and strengthen our industry-leading position.''
Hotel Reservations Network, Inc. (HRN) (Nasdaq: ROOM) is the number one provider of discount hotel accommodations
and supplier of room availability during sold out periods worldwide. In addition, HRN provides travelers with access
to vacation rental properties, including condominiums, vacation timeshare properties and other managed vacation
properties. Through its wholly owned subsidiary, TravelNow.com, HRN also provides travelers with access to online
booking capabilities for hotels, car rentals, airline tickets, cruises and rail passes. HRN has achieved its leadership
position through its successful use of traditional and new media distribution channels including its own Websites
( www.hoteldiscount.com, www.180096hotel.com, www.condosaver.com , and
www.travelnow.com ), its toll-free 24x7 call centers (1-800-96 HOTEL), and
over 18,600 Internet and call center affiliates. HRN provides discount hotel accommodations at 3,084 hotels in
118 markets in North America, the Caribbean, Western Europe and Asia, and vacation rentals at approximately 222
properties in 46 markets in North America and the Caribbean. For more information about HRN, visit the Company's
websites at http://www.hoteldiscount.com and http://www/180096hotel.com.
Located in Dallas, Texas, HRN is a majority-owned subsidiary of USA Networks, Inc.'s (Nasdaq: USAI) Information
and Services unit.
This news release contains ``forward-looking statements'' within the meaning of section 21E of the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934, as amended. The company has based these forward-looking statements on its current expectations and
projections about future events, based on the information currently available to it. The forward-looking statements
include statements relating to the company's anticipated financial performance, business prospects, new developments,
new strategies and similar matters. The following important factors, in addition to those described under the section
``Risk Factors'' in the company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2000 (which is available
upon request from the company or on the company's websites, www.hoteldiscount.com and www.180096hotel.com , under
the heading ``Investor Relations'') may affect the future results of the company and cause those results to differ
materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements: material adverse changes in the economic conditions
in the company's markets; future regulatory actions and conditions in the company's operating areas; competition
from others; product demand and market acceptance; the ability to protect proprietary information and technology
or to obtain necessary licenses on commercially reasonable terms; and the ability to obtain and retain key executives
and employees. The company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements,
whether as a result of new information, future events or any other reason.
SOURCE: Hotel Reservation Network