Business-to-Business Travel Distribution Leader Nexion Announces Major Expansion of Agency Support Services; Vacation Support Program, Ticketing Help Desk, and Expanded Tech Support Staff.

Business Editors/High-Tech & Travel Writers

SAN JOSE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 25, 2000

Nexion Inc. (www.NexionNet.com), the leading business-to-business travel distribution company, today announced a major expansion of its travel agency support services in an effort to better meet the needs of its growing customer base.

The Silicon Valley-based company said it plans to add a new VIP Desk that will offer a vacation support program and a ticketing help desk, as well as significantly expand its tech support staffing. Additionally, the company will begin offering travel insurance to its subscribers.

"With these new services, Nexion is offering travel agents and corporate travel planners the best of both worlds - real time, brick and mortar support services coupled with the world's most advanced and comprehensive reservation system accessed via the Internet," said Jim Smith, Nexion's Chief Executive Officer.

Smith said the new VIP Desk providing support for Nexion agencies customers is in response to the many requests Nexion has received from its subscribers. Managed by Nexion, this service will provide seamless vacation coverage for an independent agent or small travel agency. Customers could simply call an 800 number and be directed to a professional agent who would be able help them in place of their own agent.

"For an independent agent or a small agency, managing staff vacations becomes a critical challenge," Smith said. "With the Nexion vacation support program, our subscribers can enjoy their own vacation knowing that their customers will be well cared for while they're gone."

Nexion also announced that it has instituted a ticketing help desk designed to help resolve any issues that may arise for agents during the course of ticketing procedure. Agents will be able to quickly and easily receive real-time help in reservation system commands and transaction information.

To help better serve the needs of its growing client base, Nexion is also expanding its tech support staff and service hours for technical support. Technicians will be available from 5 a.m. to 5 p.m. Pacific Standard Time on Mondays, 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. PST Tuesdays through Fridays, and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays to help subscribers with technical support questions.

Additionally, Nexion said it is now offering travel insurance from Access America to its member agents as a product that they may resell to their clients. The new program is part of Nexion's efforts to help small and medium-size agencies increase their value to their customers.

Nexion offers connections to all four of the world's Global Distribution Systems/Central Reservation Systems - Amadeus, Apollo, Sabre and Worldspan - as well as inventory providers Pegasus and Hotel Quest, to the professional travel planner through a standard PC and the Internet.

Nexion has aggregated the airline and hotel inventories into a single-switched network using an Internet-based technology platform. By aggregating the major inventories, Nexion lowers the access cost and offers independent travel agents and small to mid-size agencies the comprehensive reservation information previously unavailable on a single platform.

Nexion offers its customers other benefits beyond access to the all four CRSs. It provides complete Internet-based back-office services for corporate travel departments or travel agencies seeking to outsource their internal operations to lower operating costs. Nexion services include 24x7 ticketing, fulfillment, custom invoicing, itinerary preparation, and ARC reporting.

Additionally, corporate travel departments and travel agencies that work with Nexion can increase their revenue through higher commissions. Nexion pools the ticketing volume of all customers, resulting in higher margins from preferred suppliers.

Nexion offers a variety of subscription programs that range from $49 to $99 for month-to-month subscriptions and are free for annual subscriptions.

About Nexion

Nexion(R) offers The Ultimate Travel Connection(TM) for travel agents worldwide. Headquartered in San Jose, Calif., 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 major global distribution systems, as well as the direct inventories of Pegasus and Hotel Quest, in one single, affordable platform by using a PC and a local Internet connection. The Nexion platform provides travel professionals with full-motion video "walking tour" of select hotel properties worldwide via the Internet. 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.