HotelFIRST will be an important addition to the company's previously released, online tools which include the Online Vendor System (OVS), and the Hospitality Catalog.

The hotelworks.com development team's mission for the HotelFIRST project is to design the most powerful, scaleable, efficient and secure, multilingual and multi-currency procurement environment utilizing cutting-edge technology tools such as Visual Interdev, Internet Information Server, SQL, Site Server Commerce and XML.

In order to assure the integrity, reliability and sound design of the system, Microsoft(R) consultants have been employed as project advisors. They will have an active role in validating the technical architecture, reviewing code and recommending project improvements.

"HotelFIRST will feature unique hospitality industry functionality that will not only be customized for usage in the hotel industry," stated Douglas Parker, President and CEO of Hotelworks.com, "but will be easily employed by related industries, such as time share, assisted living, cruise line, colleges and universities, and municipalities."

Unlike other yellow page, open marketplace e-procurement tools, HotelFIRST, addresses the reality of hospitality purchasing requirements at the corporate and property levels by acting as a true Services Solution Provider (SSP), combining evolving technology with expert procurement services.

HotelFIRST promises to provide an efficient, one-stop Internet procurement solution, backed by the collective buying value of all Hotelworks customers, as well as a proven service methodology, complete understanding of the supply chain, and an experienced staff of procurement professionals assisting every aspect of the purchasing process - from product sourcing to price negotiation and worldwide delivery.

Hotelworks.com [AMEX: HWS] is the world's largest independent provider of hotel procurement services. The company has leveraged its 30-plus years of servicing the procurement needs of the hospitality industry through a vertical e-commerce solution that has established it as a global business-to-business leader in hospitality procurement and fulfillment. For more information on Hotelworks.com, please visit our web-site at www.hotelworks.com