Thistle Hotels Empowers 225 Sales, Conference, and Events Team Members Across the UK with Delphi Multi-Property Edition.

Business/Technology Editors

LONDON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 12, 2001

Proven reliability of Newmarket's thin-client enterprise solution

was key factor in Thistle's selecting Delphi MPE for its properties

across England, Scotland, and Wales 

Newmarket International, Ltd. announced today that London-based Thistle Hotels Plc is automating 22 of their key properties with Delphi Multi-Property Edition (Delphi MPE), Newmarket's thin-client enterprise application for groups of hotels.

Thistle Hotels Plc has chosen to install Delphi MPE throughout their key properties around the UK, as well as their central conference and events desk, enabling its sales, conference, and events management teams to direct-book across an inventory of 22 hotels representing 6078 guestrooms in the United Kingdom.

The executive team at Thistle developed a return on investment model with a solid software and e-commerce solution at its core. By implementing a single database with thin-client delivery across the estate, Thistle's ability of increasing cross-property sales and satisfying conference organisers' demands at the point of enquiry is expected to increase conference business substantially.

Thistle undertook an extremely detailed comparison of all products on the market over the past 12 months. The critical drivers in their decision included 1) product strength, 2) e- and m-commerce technology, 3) strength of support and services, 4) integration with other Thistle applications, and 5) proof of success in other deployments. In the end, Newmarket's ability to install a proven, fully functional centralised product won out. Furthermore, Newmarket's e-business products, including web-based Virtual Classroom training and Meetingbroker, were seen as crucial enhancements that will augment the system's deployment and ease of use.

"With over 55 hotels, Thistle is one of the UK's leading brands for corporate, leisure and events," said Ian Burke, Thistle's Chief Executive. "Having 23 properties and over 6,300 bedrooms in London alone, the potential of our increasing conference and events business is huge. By providing our sales and events team with Delphi MPE, they will be able to book yielded business across the entire UK in a matter of minutes. Added to this is our ability of linking www.thistlehotels.com directly through Meetingbroker into Delphi MPE, enabling internet-based enquiries to be received and actioned immediately."

"Thistle has had a long-standing history of installing proven products," said Emma Smith, Thistle's main Project Manager. "We completed a deployment of Financials, PMS and CRS over the past few years. Now, it was time to satisfy the sales, conference, and events team requirements with proven, mature technology. We completed a rather in-depth search of all available systems over the past year and chose Newmarket in the end. Their technology is years ahead of the others, and their e-commerce products like Meetingbroker.com fit in perfectly with Thistle's short-and long-term objectives."

Installation and training is scheduled to begin in the first quarter of 2001. Over 225 total users within Thistle will benefit with the Delphi MPE system when the project is completed by year-end, including Meeting Plan, Thistle's central booking office. Delphi MPE will enable all sales, conference, and events people in the Thistle enterprise with single-image inventory and Customer Relationship Management (CRM) tools to manage every aspect of their sales effort: from group and transient business to the meetings and conventions business. Full Internet access to Delphi MPE for remote, mobile, and distributed users will empower the Thistle team to sell into any property in the group with real-time information pulled from a single database.

"Thistle is one of the top companies in the UK and we're proud to have them as a partner," said Dan Hiza, Newmarket's Managing Director for Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA). "By implementing Delphi MPE centrally, Thistle has a strong opportunity of changing the way conference organisers book with them. By calling one central number or sending in one Meetingbroker enquiry, that organiser will have an immediate response on guestroom and meeting space availability and rates across all Thistle properties," continued Hiza. "Thistle will be on the leading edge of e-Business technology in the UK as Newmarket enables them to conduct business over the Internet."

About the Thistle Hotels

Thistle Hotels is one of the UK's leading four-star hotel companies with over 55 properties (just under 11,000 bedrooms) in key city centre and countryside locations and, with 23 hotels (almost 6,500 bedrooms) in London alone, it is the capital's largest hotel group.

"An unrivalled choice of hotels, strategically placed in prime locations the length and breadth of Britain. Each offers something special for the business or leisure traveler."

The Thistle brand stands for the whole guest experience - not just accommodation but food, drink and leisure. CoMotion is one example of a "brand within a brand" - a classy, friendly fusion of New York deli and Italian cafe. Faya and Gengis Restaurants are other exciting names in the Thistle portfolio - and like Otium Leisure Clubs, Just Gym workout rooms and Premier Executive rooms are exclusive to our hotels.

You can contact Thistle reservations in one of several ways. Please visit the Thistle Hotels web site at www.thistlehotels.com for a site guide and property review. Alternatively, you can email a Thistle representative on [e-mail] or by telephone on Tel: [phone].

About Newmarket International

Newmarket International (http://www.newsoft.com) provides e-Business solutions that automate sales and operations for every type of hospitality venue, from independent hotels of any size to resorts, casinos, convention centers, convention & visitors bureaus, and the complete corporate enterprise. Newmarket is widely recognized as the premier innovator of scalable sales and catering systems, web-enabled applications, and e-Business strategies, including www.meetingbroker.com. A total solutions provider, Newmarket offers leading-edge technologies, onsite and Web-based training, consulting, project management and superior support based on unparalleled industry expertise. Newmarket's UK headquarters is located in Kingston-upon-Thames, Surrey and can be reached on +44 (0)20.8481.6600. Otherwise, visit Newmarket on http://www.newsoft.com and http://www.meetingbroker.com.