Company Press Release
November 17, 1999
SEATTLE, WA -- VacationSpot.com, the Web's leading source for finding and reserving independent vacation properties
worldwide, and East West Resorts, a leading provider of all inclusive ski vacations, today announced a strategic
partnership between the two vacation rental resources.
This partnership will offer consumers access to East West Resorts' 3,000+ vacation properties through the VacationSpot.com
Web site. With VacationSpot.com's substantial existing inventory of ski rentals worldwide, the alliance creates
the largest database of ski properties on the World Wide Web.
East West Resorts properties will be incorporated into the VacationSpot.com Web site on a market-by-market basis
over the next several months. East West Resorts manages properties in Aspen, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge, Copper
Mountain, Keystone, Steamboat Springs, Winter Park, Big Sky, Park City, Deer Valley, The Canyons and properties
in South Carolina. VacationSpot.com lists thousands of ski properties domestically as well as in Switzerland, France
and Canada.
``The VacationSpot.com Travel Network provides an ideal platform from which East West Resorts can reach tens of
thousands of travelers who are interested in unique vacation lodging experiences,'' said Steve Murch, Founder and
CEO of VacationSpot.com. ``The alliance with East West Resorts gives VacationSpot.com customers greater access
to even more vacation property rentals in some of the most prestigious ski areas in the United States.''
Like other VacationSpot.com properties, East West Resorts rentals featured on VacationSpot.com will include color
photos, a list of the properties' amenities and in many cases, the ability to book online.
``Becoming part of VacationSpot.com's expansive distribution network will greatly enhance East West Resorts' Internet
presence and enable our company to maximize the benefits of the exploding online travel industry,'' said Sandra
Sage, Corporate Director of Sales & Marketing for East West Resorts. ``VacationSpot.com's commitment to top-quality
properties and proven track record in the independent lodging category make them an ideal partner for East West
Resorts.''
The online travel industry is one of the brightest spots in the burgeoning e-commerce field, expected to eclipse
all other forms of online purchases by the end of 1999. However, the existing solutions in the independent leisure
lodging industry serve neither the consumer nor the property manager well. Great getaways such as beachfront homes,
ski condos, European villas and lakefront cabins are too hard to find, and for property managers -- too hard to
market. With its diverse and high-quality inventory dramatically expanded through the acquisition of Rent-a-Holiday,
VacationSpot.com is poised to provide the most comprehensive travel reservation and booking systems for the vacation
rental market.
About VacationSpot.com
Seattle-based VacationSpot.com, Inc. is the leading reservation network for vacation homes, rental condos, inns
and B&B's around the world with a vision of making every getaway instantly reservable with the click of a mouse.
Owned in part by Microsoft Corporation, VacationSpot.com is a premier member of the accommodation directory on
Expedia.com(TM) (http://www.expedia.com). VacationSpot.com owns Rent-a-Holiday.com, the leading European vacation
rental Internet site and together offers more than 100,000 leisure-lodging units in 44 countries, carrying a wide
selection of vacation lodging options including villas, condos, homes, B&Bs, inns and more. VacationSpot.com
also is a featured provider of information to Preview Travel (Nasdaq:PTVL - news), Travelocity.com, Yahoo! Lodging
(Nasdaq:YHOO - news), Infoseek's GONetwork (Nasdaq:SEEK - news), Infospace (Nasdaq:INSP - news), Rent.Net, 1 Travel.com,
SmarterLiving.com, SkiResorts.com and has been selected as an Ask Jeeves Silver Platter site. VacationSpot.com
(formerly Rezworks) was nominated as one of the three finalists for ``Most Promising Company of 1998'' by the Washington
Software Alliance. VacationSpot.com was the winner of the 1999-2000 Golden Web Award for excellence in Web site
design.
About East West Resorts
Colorado-based East West Resorts has been managing properties in Colorado, Montana and Utah since 1987. East West
Resorts also has divisions in South Carolina, including, Hilton Head Island, Kiawah Island, Wild Dunes, Seabrook
Island, Isle of Palms and Sullivan's Island. These divisions, along with the home office, control a combined total
inventory of nearly 3000 rental units and serve in a property management capacity for more than 50 homeowner associations.
East West Resorts also manages The Allegria Spa at the Hyatt Regency Beaver Creek, as well as owns and manages
Lynx Ski and Golf Vacations, a Colorado based tour company specializing in custom ski and golf vacations. For information
on East West Resorts' locations, call 1-888-8EASTWEST, or visit www.eastwestresorts.com.
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Contact:
VacationSpot.com
Alex Chang, 206/256-0504 ext. 425
alex@vacationspot.com
or
MWW/Savitt
Jani Baker, 206/587-7720
jbaker@mww.com