Stamford, CT – GuestCentric Systems, the premier Software-as-a-Service provider for the independent hotel industry, today announced it has completed a $4 million round of institutional financing led by new investor InovCapital, participated by Turismo Capital and all its major seed investors. This round of funding will be used to accelerate GuestCentric’s growth and market share worldwide and increase investment in product innovation related to e-Commerce optimization and customer intimacy for independent hotels.

“We are delighted that InovCapital decided to join the GuestCentric team. Their investment as well as the total amount raised in this financing round is the ultimate validation of the progress to date and the significant market opportunity that GuestCentric is addressing” said Pedro Colaco, President and CEO of GuestCentric.

GuestCentric is leading the way in revolutionizing the online presence of hundreds of thousands of independent hotels and is presenting a real challenge to traditional hotel software companies by providing innovative e-Commerce optimization features in an unbeatable Software-as-a-Service model. The closing of the Series A round follows GuestCentric’s highly successful product introduction in 2008 and the rapid growth of its customer base during the past six months, showing an unprecedented 100% customer success ratio of free trials performed in 2009.

The innovative GuestCentric platform comes as a response to independent hotels that want to boost revenues and save on commission costs, by capitalizing on the trend that customers seek a personalized experience and prefer booking directly with the hotel. Hence, hoteliers that relied almost solely on distribution through Online Travel Agents like Expedia are now increasingly choosing GuestCentric for a strong direct online presence, e-Commerce optimization and customer intimacy.

“GuestCentric enjoys that rare combination of an opportunity with ground breaking potential and great momentum.” said Joao Fernandes, Vice President at InovCapital. “The distribution paradigm of the multi-billion market for online hotel sales and marketing is undergoing a wave change. We believe GuestCentric is poised to become the star in this emerging market by providing unique e-Commerce optimization features and a break-through business model. We are delighted to work with GuestCentric’s team in expanding the company’s presence globally and further rounding out its product and service offerings.”

To support its efforts, GuestCentric is recruiting for multiple positions. For more information visit http://www.guestcentric.com/about-us/careers

About GuestCentric Systems

Headquartered in Stamford, CT with offices in UK and Portugal, GuestCentric Systems (http://www.guestcentric.com) is a Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) provider that revolutionizes the way independent hotel operators compete for customers. GuestCentric’s Hotel e-Commerce Optimization is a one-stop-shop solution that offers simple and cost-effective ways for hoteliers to create a professional web display, integrate direct online booking and online marketing capabilities to boost revenues, lower expenses and develop long-standing relationships with customers. GuestCentric has a growing customer base in the United States and leading tourism markets like the United Kingdom and Spain.

For media inquiries, please contact:
Karla Martinez
GuestCentric Systems
+1 (203) 989 0173
karla.martinez@guestcentric.com

Hotel Meliá Palacio de Lousa lanza nuevos servicios online; una página web interactiva y un innovador motor de reservas

EUA y Portugal – Meliá Palácio de Lousã Boutique Hotel, el primero de su clase en Portugal de la cadena Sol Meliá, utiliza el innovador servicio de la empresa GuestCentric Systems para optimizar su presencia online e incrementar las reservas online directas. Los servicios integrados de GuestCentric proporcionan a hoteles con herramientas online de marketing y distribución a precios accesibles.

“Las tendencias de los viajeros están cambiando especialmente durante este periodo de recesión de la económica, cada vez existe más demanda por servicios online.” Dice Pedro Colaco Presidente y Director de GuestCentric Systems “Es importante que los hoteles tomen control de su oferta y que proporcionen a sus clientes servicios online de primer nivel.”

Con el uso de las mejores tecnologías, la nueva página web proporciona a los clientes toda la información necesaria de la propiedad y ofrece un servicio seguro para realizar reservas online. Después de varias pruebas de usabilidad, la plataforma de GuestCentric crea un inigualable atractivo visual de la propiedad que ofrece a sus visitantes una experiencia online única. Con la tecnología InstantHotel de GuestCentric, Meliá Palácio de Lousã Boutique Hotel tiene control absoluto de su página web: puede actualizar y editar información cuando sea necesario.

“Siendo nuestro Hotel el primer hotel de su clase de la cadena Sol Meliá en Portugal, queríamos tener la certeza de ofrecer a nuestros huéspedes no solo una experiencia única mientras se hospedan con nosotros, si no que también mientras navegan nuestra página web y realizan su reserva. GuestCentric inmediatamente entendió nuestras necesidades y nos forneció con las herramientas necesarias para garantizar un trato único a nuestros huéspedes”. Dijo Pedro Mendes, promotor comercial Meliá Palácio da Lousa. “El servicio de GuestCentric simplifica la vida de los hoteleros, el sistema es fácil y rápido de utilizar con precios invatibles. Con el servicio de GuestCentric nosotros controlamos nuestra página web.”

Con la plataforma integrada de GuestCentric, Meliá Palácio de Lousã Boutique Hotel ofrece a sus clientes una experiencia de compras interactiva y segura. El innovador motor de reservas proporciona un calendario interactivo que muestra hasta 550 días de disponibilidad. Las tarifas en tiempo real garantizan los mejores precios cuando se efectúa la reservación online. El motor de reservas de pantalla única facilita y disminuye el tiempo de reserva, lo que corresponde a una disminución en el índice de abandono y un aumento en las reservas online directas.

El Meliá Palácio de Lousã Boutique Hotel fue también equipado con una plataforma de reservas que simplifica la gestión de las reservas online y offline y maximiza los ingresos. Haciendo más fácil y rápida la gestión de la propiedad.

Por ultimo mediante la creación de promociones especiales el hotel puede reinventar su oferta. Las características de las promociones en la página web permite al hotel crear promociones con restricciones especificas como máximo y mínimo días de estadía, pagamentos en adelantado y vender en fechas especificas.

“Con GuestCentric Systems, en dos semanas teniamos nuestra nueva pagina web estaba lista para ser publicada. Estamos muy satisfechos con el progreso de nuestro sistema online. En un mes hemos conseguido incrementar las visitas a nuestra página y gracias al motor de reservas interactivo el porcentaje de abandono por reservación ha disminuido.” Dijo Pedro Mendes

Sobre Meliá Palácio de Lousã Boutique Hotel

El hotel es el primer hotel de la cadena Sol Meliá de su clase en Portugal. El antiguo Palácio de Lousã en 2005 fue transformado en un hotel de categoría cuatro estrellas que combina el encanto del ambiente histórico con las ultimadas modernidades de la tecnología. El edificio es considerado Patrimonio Histórico y ofrece las mejores condiciones para relajarte y disfrutar de la tranquilidad que ofrece la Sierra Portuguesa.

Para más información visite: http://www.palaciodalousa.com

Sobre GuestCentric

Con sede en Stamfort y oficinas en Reino Unido y Portugal, GuestCentric Systems es un proveedor de Software as a Service que está revolucionando la manera que los hoteles compiten por huéspedes. El e-marketing y plataforma de reservas ofrece una manera sencilla y rentable para los gerentes de hotel para crear una página web profesional de la propiedad, un sistema integrado de reservas online directas y un online marketing que les permite incrementar las reservas online, reducir gastos y estrechar las relaciones con los huéspedes.

Service Now Available for Spanish, French, German, Italian and Portuguese Speaking Markets

STAMFORD, CT – GuestCentric Systems (www.guestcentric.com/es), the premier Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) provider for the independent hotel industry, today announced further enhancements to its easy-to-use GuestCentric online booking and marketing service, including multilingual support for Spanish, French, German, Italian and Portuguese languages. With expanded language support and capabilities, GuestCentric can help hotel operators easily expand their online presence to international markets to attract new website visitors, increase bookings and online revenue.

Designed to meet the demands of attracting guests from all over the world, GuestCentric’s new multilingual support overcomes the need to rely on custom development of a property’s website for each country. Hoteliers simply click on the desired GuestCentric-built page to be translated, add the information in the desired language and the service automatically places the new page in the website.

“With support for international languages, independent hotels can now leverage GuestCentric’s service to generate more online revenue in a struggling travel economy,” said Pedro Colaco President & CEO GuestCentric Systems. “We continue to work to provide independent hotels with an easy-to-use, time saving service that uses the latest technologies to help them level the playing field with large chains.”
“International travelers represent 40% of our online bookings that is why it was crucial for Memmo Baleira Hotel to offer a multilingual website,” said Rodrigo Machaz, General Manager at Memmo Baleira Hotel.  “With GuestCentric’s language support, publishing our website in different languages was really easy. Once we had the hotel’s information translated, the website was up and running in a couple of minutes.”

About GuestCentric’s Service

GuestCentric is a simple and cost effective Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) online marketing and booking platform specifically designed for independent hotels. Starting at $69 per month and using only a web browser, hoteliers can create a professional-looking website, yield prices, manage the online and offline reservations, offer customers a fluid shopping experience, and create promotions using its built-in e-marketing tools. For more information on GuestCentric’s booking and marketing service, please go to: tour the service

About GuestCentric

Headquartered in Stamford, CT with offices in UK and Portugal, GuestCentric Systems (http://www.guestcentric.com/es) is a Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) provider that revolutionizes the way independent hotel operators compete for customers with larger players in the travel industry. Its online marketing and booking platform offers a simple and cost-effective way for hoteliers to create a professional web display of the hotel property, integrate direct booking and online marketing capabilities to increase online bookings, lower expenses and develop long-standing relationships with guests.

During Economic Downturn, Independent Hotel Leverages Hotel Software-as-a Service to Enable Quick and Affordable Online Booking and Marketing

Stamford, Connecticut – November 10, 2008 – Looking to optimize their online presence and to increase direct revenue, Hotel Aiken (www.hotelaiken.com), an independent 64-room hotel located in South Carolina, has created a new website and booking platform using GuestCentric’s online service. This newly revamped site will allow Hotel Aiken to offer customers online real-time availability and pricing, exclusive hotel discounts, and an overall fluid shopping experience.

Despite the economic downturn hotels are facing, Hotel Aiken managed to improve their online revenue with this hotel software. Within two weeks of the introduction of their booking engine, their online bookings had increased by 200%. By the end of the 30-day free trial and with GuestCentric guidance, Hotel Aiken was able to create a very successful online marketing campaign that increased the number of visitors to the website by 560% and be ranked first in Google organic search.

“At Hotel Aiken, we want to be able to offer our guests an unforgettable online experience by providing them with a user-friendly website and a secure and easy-to-use booking engine to speed up the reservation process and most importantly receive instant confirmation of their reservation,” said Lindsey Wise, Sales Coordinator and Customer Care Director of Hotel Aiken. “GuestCentric really understood the challenges that independent hotels like us face and made the entire process easy for us. Now we can keep the hotel’s website looking fresh by updating content at anytime from anywhere.”

About the GuestCentric Service

The GuestCentric online service provides smaller independent hotel managers with an affordable yet powerful online marketing and distribution tool to drive more bookings using the Internet channel.  Previously only available for hotels with big budgets through expensive and time consuming custom development, GuestCentric is leveling the playing field for these smaller hotel players by offering a sophisticated online user experience at a fraction of the cost of traditional solutions. Using only a web browser, its one-screen interface makes it possible for smaller hoteliers to:

• Easily create a new impact website with the hotel branding where managers can always keep the site fresh by updating content at anytime from anywhere and create online promotions in minutes.
• Utilize a best-in-class online booking engine on one screen to simplify and speed up the booking process.
• Integrate GuestCentric’s reservation software platform to manage online and offline reservations to avoid double bookings.
• Keep track of the website performance in one place using the service’s online marketing performance tools and interactive dashboard.

About Hotel Aiken

Located in the heart of South Carolina’s historic downtown Aiken, Hotel Aiken is the perfect place for both leisure and business travelers alike, described as Aiken’s truly “Grand Hotel.” Originally built in 1898, the Aiken hotel has gone through a series of major and continuous renovations since 2001, with the accent on retaining the historical feel of this landmark building whilst providing all the modern amenities one would expect from a contemporary hotel. The main bar, The Polo Tavern, is one of downtown Aiken’s most popular watering holes. The Tiki Tavern, located on the back patio, has been awarded the title of “Best New Bar” in Aiken.

About GuestCentric

Headquartered in Stamford, CT with offices in UK and Portugal, GuestCentric Systems (http://www.guestcentric.com/es) is a hospitality software-as-a-service (SaaS) provider that helps independent hotels revolutionize the way independent hotel operators are able to compete for customers with larger players in the travel industry. Its online marketing and booking platform offers a simple and cost-effective way for hoteliers to create a professional web display of the hotel property, integrate direct booking and online marketing capabilities to increase online bookings, lower expenses and develop long-standing relationships with guests.

For media inquiries, please contact:
Dana Harris
Red Javelin Communications, Inc.
+1 (978) 440-8392
dana@redjavelin.com

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New Interactive Dashboard, Tools and Limited Time Free Trial Allow Independent Hotels to Level Playing Field with Large Chains

STAMFORD, CT – September 16, 2008 – GuestCentric Systems (www.guestcentric.com/es), the premier Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) provider for the independent hotel industry, announced today the release of marketing performance tools designed to help independent hoteliers easily track performance and increase visibility to their property’s website.  The new Dashboard feature offers operators a single overview of key online metrics and is integrated into GuestCentric’s online marketing and distribution platform for an easy, powerful and inexpensive way to compete with larger hotel chains for customers on the Internet.

With GuestCentric’s Dashboard, hotel operators can view graphs showing daily number of visits, number of unique visitors, time spent on each page, visitor statistics by country, detailed information on the booking engine interaction, real-time information on total revenue generated.In addition, the new Dashboard proactively provides a status bar indicating how hoteliers can optimize usage of the GuestCentric platform with tips to optimize revenue and visibility. These detailed analytics empower hotels to better understand the patterns and behavior of their online customers and position themselves online more efficiently.

Lastly, for a limited time, hotel operators can try out all of GuestCentric’s tools for free and receive advice on inexpensive ways to push their brand online using strategies like online promotions. During the trial, GuestCentric provides cost effective advertising campaigns and other visibility tactics to gradually increase the number of visitors to their website.

To sign up for a free trial go to: http://www.guestcentric.com/es/signup/

GuestCentric offers independent hotels efficient ways to promote their properties and interact with customers. The new analytics tool we are launching today is an eye-opener as the detailed information about the customers’ viewing behaviors will help them target guest interests and needs much more effectively” said Filipe Tappenbeck, Vice President at GuestCentric. “Customers that have used the tool immediately improved their performance by following the simple step-by-step instructions that the Dashboard provides.”

About GuestCentric’s Platform

GuestCentric offers a complete, inexpensive online website creation, marketing and booking platform for small to mid-market independent hoteliers seeking to increase their visibility on the Internet. With GuestCentric InstantHotel Technology  hoteliers can create an attractive property display that includes interactive elements like flash banners, Google maps, trip advisor, weather forecasts. GuestCentric’s integrated booking engine provides unparalleled speed and convenience for guests willing to book online, complete with verification of guest information and real-time room availability. GuestCentric’s platform offers tools to control revenue, website analytics to monitor the progress of the website a well as online marketing tools to create on-the-fly marketing promotions for special offers, packages or special events to drive customers to their property’s website.

About GuestCentric

GuestCentric Systems is filling the technology gap that exists for small to midsize hotels by helping them quickly and economically create websites, inexpensively market their properties online and accept reservations in real-time. As the first online marketing and interactive booking platform for independent hotels, GuestCentric’s Software as a Service platform allows independent hotels to develop long-standing relationships with guests, improve online revenues and lower expenses associated with online distribution. Through the use of Web 2.0 technologies, GuestCentric provides easy-to-use tools at reasonable prices that up until now were only available for hotels with big budgets. For more information about GuestCentric, visit www.guestcentric.com/es.

For media inquiries, please contact:
Dana Harris
Red Javelin Communications, Inc.
+1 (978) 440-8392
dana@redjavelin.com

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Stamford, CT – GuestCentric Systems (www.guestcentric.com/es), the premier Software as a Service (SaaS) provider for the independent hotel industry, announced their incorporation as member to the Hotel Electronic Distribution Network Association (HEDNA).
As a member of HEDNA, GuestCentric joins over 200 of the most influential companies in the hotel distribution industry focused in optimizing the use of current technology and influenced the development of current and emerging electronic distribution channels. HEDNA has emerged not only as a lobbying organization for the hotel industry but has also created an arena in which the major players cooperate in resolving issues and promoting electronic distribution systems.
“Joining HEDNA is another step in establishing GuestCentric as a company committed to lead the way in offering easy-to-use new online technology accessible to everyone. Said Pedro Colaco President and CEO at GuestCentric. It is a pleasure for GuestCentric to participate with an association that is constantly seeking to implement solutions to the challenges face by the hotel industry now a day”.

About GuestCentric

GuestCentric Systems develops and markets web services that revolutionize the way independent hotels work. GuestCentric has built a Software as a Service platform that allows independent hotels to develop long-standing relationships with guests, improve online revenues and lower expenses associated with online distribution. Through the use of Web 2.0 technologies, GuestCentric provides easy-to-use tools at reasonable prices that up until now were only available for hotels with big budgets. For more information about GuestCentric, visit www.guestcentric.com/es

About Hotel Electronic Distribution Network Association

The Hotel Electronic Distribution Network Association (HEDNA) is a not-for-profit trade association whose worldwide membership includes executives and managers from over 200 of the most influential companies in the hotel distribution industry. Founded in 1991, all of HEDNA’s activities are intended to stimulate the booking of hotel rooms through the use of GDS, the Internet and other electronic means. HEDNA brings all segments of the hotel industry together to evolve systems and services into electronic distribution that is easy and efficient. Additional information on HEDNA is available by calling +1 202-204-8400 or by visiting www.hedna.com

For media inquiries, please contact:
Dana Harris
Red Javelin Communications, Inc.
+1 (978) 440-8392
dana@redjavelin.com

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In times of economic uncertainty Independents need to turn to online to control costs and increase revenue

AUSTIN, TX – June 18th, 2008 – GuestCentric Systems (www.guestcentric.com/es), the premier Software as a Service (SaaS) provider for the independent hotel industry, released at a press conference at HITEC 2008 today results from a survey that shows that the online presence gap is widening between smaller, independent hotels and larger hotel chains in the US The survey was conducted by GuestCentric in February 2008 and 300 hotels located in the US were polled showing dramatic differences in terms of leveraging their online websites to book consumer and business travel online between independent hotels with less than 80 rooms and branded chain hotels.

This gap is revealed in all of the main aspects analyzed in this survey: website and ability to receive online reservations, presence on internet distribution systems and average occupancy rate.

Independent Hotels’ Struggle with their Online Presence

The survey found that while overall more than 85% of independents and chains are happy with their website, when asked about their biggest concern about their websites, a significant difference emerged:

• Independents struggle with their website: The number one concern for independents about their website is that it does not generate business for the hotel (33% of respondents). Next, independents are concerned about cost (19%), updating pictures (19%) and content (14%). This suggests that independents are struggling with the basics of their website and that they feel they can’t afford the right tools to create a professional online presence.

• Chains worry about providing up-to-date information to the visitor: The number one concern for chains is updating content on their website (41% of respondents). Next, chains are worried about ease of use (15%) and updating pictures (13%). This indicates that chains have realized that keeping the website fresh with promotions and providing a rich online experience is required to capture the online traveler.

Independent Hotels Still Book Majority of Reservations Offline

The study shows that only 44% of the independent hotels are able to receive online reservations as opposed to 93% of the chains. From the independents that receive online reservations, 50% receive e-mail inquiries compared to a meager 7% of chains.
The overwhelming majority of chains (81%) rely on booking engines to automate their booking process, while only 18% of independents have a booking engine.

Independent Hotels Require Online Customer Intimacy

The main concerns regarding the online booking process differ widely between chains and independents. While chains are mostly concerned about booking engine issues (23%) and managing their online offer (19%) a wide set of concerns troubles independents from booking engine issues (16%), booking validation (12%), credit card validation (12%), lack of human contact in an online booking (12%) and security (12%).
These results, coupled with the fact that 28% of independent hotels see no point in receiving online reservations indicate that independent hotels do not trust the online booking process and explain the huge gap in adoption of booking technologies. Independents feel the lack of customer intimacy of online transactions as a major obstacle to embracing online.

Independent Hotels Not On the Online Traveler Radar

Regarding presence on internet distribution systems, sites which are the main source of hotel visibility and research by online travelers 77% of the chain hotels are present in at least one of these sites while only 26% of the independents use them. 43% of the independents see no point on being present and 19% aren’t even familiar with these sites.
These results indicate that independent hotels have not recognized the importance of being present in internet distribution systems for visibility of their property and are rather concerned with the high commissions that these sites demand. However, this strategy is limiting access of their property to the online traveler. Because almost 50% of the users prefer to book directly on the hotel website being present in distribution sites will not only create reservations, but also increase direct bookings on the hotel’s website.

Independent Hotels Still Struggling to Increase Occupancy Rates

As a result of the strategies by each hotel, occupancy rates vary widely. 35% of independent hotels have occupancy rates below 50%, while only 6% of the chain hotels. On the opposite side, 55% of chains have occupancy rates above 75%, while only 34% of independent manage to have healthy occupancy rates.
“The differences between the chain hotels and small independents shows the opportunities and challenges that face the independent hoteliers” said Pedro Colaco, GuestCentric’s CEO. “This gap indicates a real need for the independent hoteliers to find available technologies to allow them to cost effectively close this gap and gain advantages over the chains, supplying the market with what they do best: customer intimacy.”

About GuestCentric

GuestCentric Systems develops and markets web services that revolutionize the way independent hotels work. GuestCentric has built a Software as a Service platform that allows independent hotels to develop long-standing relationships with guests, improve online revenues and lower expenses associated with online distribution. Through the use of Web 2.0 technologies, GuestCentric provides easy-to-use tools at reasonable prices that up until now were only available for hotels with big budgets. For more information about GuestCentric, visit www.guestcentric.com/es.

For media inquiries, please contact:
Dana Harris
Red Javelin Communications, Inc.
+1 (978) 440-8392
dana@redjavelin.com

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For Less than $70 per month, Build a Cost Effective, Integrated Website for your Hotel in less than One Hour

STAMFORD, CT – June 3, 2008 – GuestCentric Systems (www.guestcentric.com/es), the premier Software as a Service (SaaS) provider for the independent hotel industry, announced today the launch of the first easy to use online marketing and distribution platform for independent hotels. Based on GuestCentric’s patent-pending InstantHotel technology hotel managers can now have a complete website up and running in less than one hour, complete with new offerings and promotions. With GuestCentric’s platform, independent hotels are now for the first time able to provide the rich online and offline experience that demanding guests expect without entering time-consuming and expensive customization projects.
Bridging the independent hotel gap

Hotels are under pressure to leverage the Internet as a distribution and marketing channel with customers. While large, high-end hotel chains have large budgets and strong brand recognition for global distribution, non-chain mid-market and smaller, independent hotels are left stranded on how to manage this new reality of more demanding guests without the resources or budgets for new software suites or expensive custom development. Recent studies have indicated that the lackluster adoption of online distribution by independents has been driven from a fear of online cancellations and not being able to deal with floods of email, lack of trust in guest’s information coming over the Internet, and reconciling online and offline reservations.
“Things are about to get tougher. Sobering economic conditions and a mature online market are forcing independent hotel managers to rethink their products and distribution strategies,” said Pedro Colaco, President and CEO of GuestCentric Systems. “To remain independent, hotel managers must adopt new, more intelligent tools that enable them to focus on their core business and differentiate through products instead of being tied down by technology that served them well in the past but is not fit for today’s market conditions.”

Create a high-end website in less than 45 Minutes

• First hotel-focused website builder – The GuestCentric platform provides the first hotel-focused website builder. It creates an attractive property display using the result of hundreds of hours of intense usability testing with demanding guests. As a result, sites created with the GuestCentric platform include interaction elements like flash banners, Google maps, weather forecasts, and other public web services.

• Patent-pending InstantHotel technology – Combining automatic content creation with the comfort of automatic spell checking, text formatting, and other helpers, GuestCentric’s unique InstantHotel technology avoids the need for external programmers or designers. Hotel managers can now have a new website, booking and pricing up and running in less than 45 minutes.

Automate the booking process

• Next-generation booking engine — Based on the latest Ajax technology, GuestCentric’s breakthrough booking engine provides unparalleled speed and convenience for guests willing to book online. The shopping experience is uniquely interactive, allowing key features like deal shopping or one-click checkout for returning guests.
• Easily push promotions and special offers — Due to the tight integration between the different components in the platform, the GuestCentric booking engine automatically highlights special offers, packages or special events to encourage upgrades and filling up rooms in dates where occupancy is lowest.
• Eliminate double-bookings, reduce bogus reservations — GuestCentric lifts the barriers currently faced by independent hotels pressured by minimal resources and staff. Guest information is verified and room availability is checked in real-time before confirming the booking. GuestCentric eliminates double-bookings, reduces bogus reservations, and improves the experience for returning guests by providing automated validation of guest information, real-time availability and pricing information and customizable e-mail confirmations.

Leverage online marketing to engage customers and fill up rooms

• Reinforces guest relationships — The GuestCentric platform automatically recognizes returning guests, reinforcing the customer intimacy that guests experience at independent hotels. The GuestCentric platform automatically creates guest profiles and records guest usage patterns and preferences for hotel managers to quickly identify the most profitable guests and target them for special offers, promotions or loyalty programs.
• Leverage e-mail communications — Templates for automatic responses like reservation confirmations can easily be customized to carry additional messages to drive the hotel’s brand to the guest.

“GuestCentric’s innovative online customer engagement platform is going to revolutionize the way independent properties do business.” said Joao Neto, Online Marketing Director at Memmo Hotels. “We can now compete with larger properties by using a more efficient platform. It’s like guerrilla marketing”. For more information about the service, visit www.guestcentric.com/es/tour-the-service

Pricing and Availability

The GuestCentric service is immediately available and pricing starts at $70 per month. Additional pricing information and details on signing up for a free one-month trial are available on www.guestcentric.com/es/pricing

About GuestCentric

GuestCentric Systems develops and markets web services that revolutionize the way independent hotels work. GuestCentric has built a Software as a Service platform that allows independent hotels to develop long-standing relationships with guests, improve online revenues and lower expenses associated with online distribution. Through the use of Web 2.0 technologies, GuestCentric provides easy-to-use tools at reasonable prices that up until now were only available for hotels with big budgets. For more information about GuestCentric, visit www.guestcentric.com/es

For media inquiries, please contact:
Dana Harris
RedJavelin Communications
+1 (978) 440-8392
dana@redjavelin.com

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CEO Pedro Colaco to speak about the importance of ease of use in the Reservation Technology panel

Stamford CT, May 20, 2008 – GuestCentric Systems (www.guestcentric.com/es), the premier Software as a Service (SaaS) provider for the independent hotel industry, announced today that Pedro Colaco, GuestCentric’s President and CEO will speak at the Hotel Technology Forum in London on May 21st 2008. Mr. Colaco will address how web 2.0 technologies are creating the ultimate booking experience for hotel customers and how next-generation booking engine features like interactive deal shopping and one-click-checkout can improve conversion ratios and improve customer satisfaction. The Forum is free to attend and will take place on 21st May at the Business Design Centre in London alongside EyeforTravel annual European Travel Distribution Summit.

When: May 21st 2008, 11:45 AM

Where: Hotel Technology Forum at the Business Design Centre in 52 Upper Street, Islington, London N10QH

About GuestCentric Systems

GuestCentric Systems develops and markets web services that revolutionize the way independent hotels work. GuestCentric has built a Software as a Service platform that allows independent hotels to develop long-standing relationships with guests, improve online revenues and lower expenses associated with online distribution. Through the use of Web 2.0 technologies, GuestCentric provides easy-to-use tools at reasonable prices that up until now were only available for hotels with big budgets.

For media inquiries, please contact:
Dana Harris
RedJavelin Communications
+1 (978) 440-8392
dana@redjavelin.com

Stamford, CT – October 15, 2007 – GuestCentric Systems, an early-stage startup that develops web services for travelers and the travel industry, today announced that it has joined Hotel Next Generation Technology (HTNG). As a member of HTNG, GuestCentric joins a worldwide list of leading company members, such as Agilysys, Cisco, IBM, Micros, Microsoft, PAR Springer-Miller and Pegasus among many others committed to the development of next-generation, customer-centric technologies to better meet the needs of the global hotel community.

Through the use of HTNG’s base architecture hoteliers can build best-of-breed applications based on open Internet technologies reducing technology management cost and complexity while improving reliability and scalability. GuestCentric will support the growth and adoption of existing and evolving HTNG standards and share its knowledge in workgroups and events to achieve an open, distributed application foundation for travel applications.

“Web 2.0 is a trend that is coming fast and furious to the travel industry and we at HTNG are tracking it closely,” said Douglas C. Rice, Executive Vice President and CEO of Hotel Technology Next Generation “We welcome GuestCentric’s commitment to contributing to the standardization of web technologies that are more interactive and customer-centric.”

“The solution to satisfied customers is innovation and freedom of choice. Open standards and interoperability are the only path to achieve this big goal. While the travel industry has been behind other industries to date, HTNG and the Internet are changing that,” said Pedro Colaco, President and CEO at GuestCentric. “We at GuestCentric are committed to working with our peers to revolutionize the way this industry works and collaborating with HTNG is one of the stepping stones in that strategy.”

About GuestCentric Systems

GuestCentric Systems is an early stage start-up that was founded in October 2006 with the mission of developing web services that revolutionize the way the travel industry works. For more information on GuestCentric, visit http://www.guestcentric.com/es

About Hotel Technology Next Generation

The premier technology solutions association in the hospitality industry, HTNG is a self-funded, non-profit organization with members from hotel and hospitality companies, technology vendors to hospitality, and other industry members including consultants, media, and academic experts. HTNG’s members participate in focused workgroups to bring to market open solution sets addressing specific business problems. HTNG fosters the selection and adoption of existing open standards. Where necessary, it also develops new open standards to meet the needs of the global hospitality industry.
Membership in HTNG is open to hotel and hospitality companies, technology vendors to hospitality, consultants, academics, press and others. Currently nearly 400 corporate and individual members from across this spectrum, including most of the world’s leading hotel companies and technology vendors, are active HTNG participants. Workgroup proceedings, drafts, and specifications are published for all HTNG members as soon as they are created, encouraging rapid and broad adoption. Specifications are released to the public domain when the workgroup has completed its work, typically after no more than 18 months. For more information, visit www.htng.org.