[2] Travel Distribution Leader ITA Network Completes Corporate Evolution, Renames Company `Nexion'.

Business Editors and Travel Writers

SAN JOSE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 17, 2000

New Name Reflects New B-to-B Business Model of Providing Travel Agents With ``Ultimate Connection'' to the World's Largest Reservation

Database Via the Internet 

ITA Network Inc., a leading Silicon Valley-based business-to-business travel distribution company, today announced it has changed its name and brand to Nexion to better reflect the company's direction and business model.

Nexion, which rhymes with "connection," is derived from the words "nexus," which is defined as "the core or center," and connection. Nexion supports the nation's travel agencies and corporate travel departments by connecting them with the world's largest travel inventory database via the Internet.

As a fully licensed, accredited travel agency, Nexion also offers complete Internet-based back-office services for agencies seeking to outsource their internal operations to lower operating costs. Nexion services include 24x7 ticketing, fulfillment, custom invoicing, itinerary preparation, and ARC reporting.

"The change from ITA Network to Nexion is the final step in our corporate evolution," said Mark Nixon, Chairman and founder of Nexion. "We've evolved from a consumer Internet travel company five years ago to a leader in the B-to-B travel distribution marketplace today. With our new name, the evolution has been completed."

Nixon said it became clear in recent years that the most urgent need in the travel market is for a B-to-B company that uses cutting-edge Internet technology to support travel professionals.

At a time when travel sellers are feeling squeezed by lower commissions, higher operating costs and lost revenue to consumer Internet travel sites, Nexion has found a way to leverage the power of the Internet to boost the bottom-line of agencies and increase their value to their customers as well.

Nexion is the first travel distribution network to aggregate all four of the world's major global distribution systems (GDS) -- Amadeus, Apollo, Sabre and Worldspan -- and offer them to professional travel sellers and corporate travel planners through a single, affordable platform accessed through the Internet. The Nexion platform also includes a variety of other direct lodging and travel inventories, including Cheapest Hotels.

By aggregating the major GDS inventories into a single switched network, Nexion is able to lower the access cost and offer independent travel agents and agencies the kind of comprehensive reservation information previously available only to the largest travel companies.

Travel agencies access Nexion's database through a proprietary software solution called InternetView(TM). The software gives agencies fast and secure connections to the GDS of their choice. InternetView(TM) lets agents access the network from anywhere in the world using a PC and a local Internet connection.

"The nation's professional travel sellers have been under extreme competitive financial pressures in recent years," Nixon said. "Nexion's strategy is to provide the kind of support travel professionals will need to not only survive, but prosper in the Internet age."

Ken Kearney, executive vice president of sales and marketing, said Nexion supports the evolution of travel agents increasingly becoming "value-added consultants" serving the traveling public.

"Nexion enables travel agencies to offer more, better and cheaper travel alternatives than consumers can get on their own," he said. "We also help their bottom line by cutting operating costs and increasing commission revenue."

The company pays agencies 80 percent to 100 percent commissions on bookings, depending on the package agencies choose. Additionally, agencies can benefit by pooling their ticketing volume with other Nexion customers, resulting in higher margins from preferred suppliers.

Nexion offers its Internet based reservation service for a simple monthly flat-rate subscription. There are three versions of Nexion's monthly service with prices ranging from $99 to $395. There are no additional fees or charges, such as a per-ticket fee, or long-term contracts.

The company plans to introduce its new Nexion brand through a sweeping advertising campaign in major travel publications beginning May 1. Ads will carry the tagline, "Nexion, The Ultimate Travel Connection(TM)." Nexion will also sponsor a number of major trade shows and conferences throughout 2000.

In conjunction with the company's evolution and stepped-up marketing effort, Nexion has retained two leading Silicon Valley advertising and public relations agencies to support the new operations.

San Jose-based Pagliaro/Kuhlman Advertising, which helped develop the new corporate identity, has been retained to develop ads and direct marketing material for Nexion. Pagliaro/Kuhlman has designed and managed full, integrated programs for a variety of clients, including AT&T, NCR, Tropian, and the San Jose Convention and Visitors Bureau.

Maita-Saviano Public Relations, based in Fremont, has been retained to develop and execute Nexion's communications program with the news media, analysts and trade organizations. Specialists in Internet and wireless communications, Maita-Saviano's clients include InsureZone, InternetSpeech.com, Tropian and Teligent.

About Nexion

Nexion offers The Ultimate Travel Connection(TM) for travel agents worldwide. Headquartered in San Jose, Nexion has developed an exclusive Internet-based technology platform for travel agents, agencies and corporate travel departments that gives them access to the widest possible travel inventory. Nexion connects travel professionals with all four of the Global Distribution Systems in one single, affordable platform by using a PC and a local Internet connection. Nexion also supports travel agencies that want to outsource their internal operations to lower operating costs. Nexion's automated back-office services include 24x7 ticketing, fulfillment, custom invoicing, itinerary preparation, and ARC reporting. Subscribers access the Nexion database with a proprietary software solution called InternetView(TM). For more information contact Nexion at 408/280-6410 or visit its Web site at www.NexionNet.com.