Unexplored to Acquire Premier Online Adventure Travel Company, Adventureseek.Business Editors/Travel Writers SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 20, 2000 Acquisition Enhances Unexplored's Network of Specialized spe·cial·ize v. spe·cial·ized, spe·cial·iz·ing, spe·cial·iz·es v.intr. 1. To pursue a special activity, occupation, or field of study. 2. Web Sites and Extends Key Strategic Partnerships Unexplored, Inc., a leading provider of technology and distribution services to the specialty travel industry, today announced that it will acquire Adventureseek Corporation. As a premier online adventure travel company, Adventureseek adds an important vertical component to Unexplored's rapidly expanding network of specialized web sites, bringing with it valuable travel supplier relationships, top-tier strategic partners and a broad consumer base. In addition, these partners and customers of Adventureseek will gain access to Unexplored's industry-leading Resort Automation(TM) technology for booking complex travel itineraries. "Adventureseek has a very strong and experienced team with extensive strategic relationships in the travel industry that can be leveraged across our entire range of specialized online marketplaces," said Unexplored president John Gordon John Gordon may mean:
Adventureseek's relationships with more than 450 best-of-class adventure travel providers, such as Abercrombie & Kent and Backroads, create access to a valuable new distribution channel for Unexplored's Resort Automation technology, a cutting-edge software that allows complex travel arrangements to be booked over the phone. Resort Automation is ideally suited to creating and booking the complex itineraries required by Adventureseek customers. By leveraging Adventureseek's exclusive partnership with REI, the largest retail and online merchant of outdoor gear and clothing, Unexplored also gains the ability to add e-commerce e-commerce, commerce conducted over the Internet, most often via the World Wide Web. E-commerce can apply to purchases made through the Web or to business-to-business activities such as inventory transfers. functionality across its range of consumer sites. "We are already seeing a considerable amount of consolidation in the online leisure travel industry and, with this strategic move, Adventureseek is proactively allying with a frontrunner in the space," said Adventureseek's chief executive officer, Pete Wheelan. "With innovative booking technology, diverse online services and an ever-expanding distribution channel of strategic partnerships -- now augmented by Adventureseek's existing relationships with top-tier travel companies -- Unexplored is poised to take a strong global leadership position in the travel industry." "It is inevitable that a select group of companies will emerge to shape the online leisure travel sector," noted REI's vice president of online sales, Matt Hyde. "Unexplored's acquisition of Adventureseek is an important step towards consolidating many of the best names in adventure travel, and we're confident that this union will create a dominant force in the industry." About Unexplored.com Unexplored serves specialized travel companies that need technology platforms and multi-channel distribution to increase revenues and profitability. Unexplored combines proven technology solutions, for the management of complex travel arrangements, together with a targeted distribution network, and exclusive partnerships with industry leaders. Unexplored is a privately held company privately held company A firm whose shares are held within a relatively small circle of owners and are not traded publicly. whose investors include Wand Partners, Allen & Company, the Special Opportunity Group Fund and individual investors, including Bill Hambrecht of WR Hambrecht + Co WR Hambrecht + Co. is a full service investment bank with headquarters in New York and San Francisco. It specializes in using its unique auction process called OpenIPO to compete with the traditional methods of larger and more established banks. .; Cristina Morgan of Chase H&Q; Tom Hicks
American painter of primitive works, notably The Peaceable Kingdom, of which nearly 100 versions exist. , Muse, Tate & Furst; and Allen Wheat of Credit Suisse First Boston Credit Suisse First Boston was originally the trading name of the Financière Crédit Suisse-First Boston, a London-based 50-50 investment banking joint venture formed in 1978 between the First Boston Corporation and Credit Suisse. . San Francisco-based Unexplored also has offices in Vermont, London and Johannesburg. About Adventureseek Adventureseek is an online guide to the world of adventure. Adventureseek provides interactive tools that are revolutionizing the way travelers connect with travel suppliers and book their ideal adventure vacation. Founded in 1998, Adventureseek has assembled as·sem·ble v. as·sem·bled, as·sem·bling, as·sem·bles v.tr. 1. To bring or call together into a group or whole: assembled the jury. 2. a talented management team from leading technology, marketing, travel, investment banking, consulting and Internet companies. The site, www.adventureseek.com, was recently included on Forbes Best of the Web list. Adventureseek is a privately held company based in San Francisco San Francisco (săn frănsĭs`kō), city (1990 pop. 723,959), coextensive with San Francisco co., W Calif., on the tip of a peninsula between the Pacific Ocean and San Francisco Bay, which are connected by the strait known as the Golden . Investors include Baccharis Capital, Recreational Equipment Inc. (REI), Westbury Equity Partners, Grove Street Advisors and the partners of Clayton, Dubilier & Rice. Private investors include Andrew McNally IV, the former chairman and CEO (1) (Chief Executive Officer) The highest individual in command of an organization. Typically the president of the company, the CEO reports to the Chairman of the Board. of Rand McNally Rand McNally & Company is the preeminent American publisher of maps, atlases, and globes for travel, reference, commercial, and educational uses. It also provides online consumer street maps and directions, as well as commercial transportation routing software and mileage data. & Company, and Scott Briggs, the former president of Ziff-Davis Inc. |
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