VIP International: Hospitality Industry Veteran Appointed as General Sales Agent for VIP International's Reservation Services in Asia Pacific.Business Editors CALGARY, Alberta & HONG KONG--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 8, 2002 VIP International (CDNX CDNX See Canadian Venture Exchange (CDNX). :HSS), one of the world's largest reservation service providers, today announced an agreement with IHC Asia Limited for the Hong Kong-based company to sell VIP International's reservation technology and marketing services to hotels in the Asia Pacific region. Led by Charles Lai, IHC Asia Limited will focus on building VIP International's early success in attracting high profile hotel groups in the region. "Mr. Lai is a highly respected leader in the Asia Pacific hospitality industry and we are excited to work with him," said Anita Chan, vice president, Asia Pacific for VIP International. "Hotels in the region will be assured of familiar faces and a wealth of industry knowledge when discussing their electronic channel distribution needs with Mr. Lai and his team." A former vice president, North Asia for Utell, Lai has more than 23 years of international hospitality management experience. Prior to IHC Asia Limited, Lai served as chief operating officer Chief Operating Officer (COO) The officer of a firm responsible for day-to-day management, usually the president or an executive vice-president. for Crown Development Limited., a joint venture company between Shun Tak Holdings Shun Tak Holdings Limited (HKSE: 0242 ) is a public company active in shipping, property, investments and hospitality businesses. It has been one of the constituents of the Hang Seng Hong Kong MidCap Index since 11 September 2006. The company was incorporated in 1972. Limited in Hong Kong and Asiatravelmart Sdn. Bhd. in Malaysia. Prior to these roles, Lai was the marketing consultant for The Fullerton Singapore and has held management positions with Regal Hotels International Regal Hotels International (RHI) is the largest hotel group in Hong Kong. Regal Hotels International Holdings Limited is a company incorporated in Bermuda and listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. and the Excelsior Hotel, a member of the Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group The Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group (MOHG) is a hotel management company which is part of Jardine Matheson Holdings Limited and is formally known as Mandarin Oriental International Limited. . Mr. Lai is a member of Hotel Electronic Distribution Network Association (HEDNA HEDNA Hotel Electronic Distribution Network Association ) and holds a diploma in HCIMA from Hong Kong Polytechnic University The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (Abbreviated:PolyU or HKPU Traditional Chinese: 香港理工大學 . He also received the Hong Kong Hotel Hong Kong Hotel was the Colony's first five-star hotel in Hong Kong. It was opened on the waterfront of Victoria Harbour, Central, Hong Kong. Competing in all respects with the owners of The Star Ferry Company, who owned the Peak Hotel, The, the management provided a special launch Association Scholarship for the Executive Program in Hospitality Management from Cornell University. Mr. Lai is an active guest lecturer for The School of Hotel Management, The Chinese University of Hong Kong The motto of the university is "博文約禮" in Chinese, meaning "to broaden one's intellectual horizon and keep within the bounds of propriety". and Hong Kong Polytechnic University. "Hotels are recognizing the importance of the need to have a reservation service partner with an infrastructure that is recognizably client-focused," said Charles Lai, chief executive officer of IHC Asia Limited. "VIP's total electronic distribution solution and their unique approach to generating reservations will definitely benefit the hotels. VIP provides hotels with the opportunity to stay ahead of the competition by capturing new market shares with cost effective marketing and distribution strategies. I look forward to introducing VIP International to our clients throughout the region." This announcement follows VIP International's recent purchase of UK-based HotelWorld's assets. This purchase increased VIP International's global hotel portfolio by 16 per cent, and provided VIP International with an increased presence in Europe. About VIP International: VIP International Corporation (www.vipintcorp.com), a wholly owned subsidiary Wholly Owned Subsidiary A subsidiary whose parent company owns 100% of its common stock. Notes: In other words, the parent company owns the company outright and there are no minority owners. of HARS Systems, Inc., provides electronic distribution and marketing services for thousands of hotels and car rental locations around the world. VIP International is the central point of distribution to every viable Internet travel Web site, including VIP's proprietary Web site (www.CarsAndHotels.com), and all of the major travel agent computer reservation systems (Global Distribution Systems.) With 22 years of GDS expertise, and a history of unparalleled client-focused service and marketing support, VIP International is positioned to provide the premier reservations solution available today. With its World Headquarters in Calgary, Canada, VIP International has business development offices in Denver and Kansas City, USA; Toronto, Canada; London, England; Hong Kong, China; and Buenos Aires, Argentina. HARS Systems, Inc. is traded on the CDNX under the symbol HSS. Certain statements contained in this press release are forward-looking statements. While these statements reflect HARS Systems, Inc.'s (the Corporation) current beliefs, they are subject to uncertainties and risks that could cause actual results to differ materially. These factors include, but are not limited to, the demand for the Corporation's products and services, economic and competitive conditions. The Canadian Venture Exchange The Canadian Venture Exchange (CDNX) is now a defunct stock exchange having been acquired by the TSX Group in 2001 and renamed the TSX Venture Exchange. History of the Canadian Venture Exchange (CDNX) has not reviewed and does not take responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. |
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