US Franchise Systems Partners With VFM And VR National To Provide Rich Media Solutions

Atlanta, Georgia, Hayden, Idaho, and Toronto, Canada | US Franchise Systems, Inc. (USFS) announced today that it has selected VFM Interactive and VR National as the exclusive endorsed producers and distributors of rich media for its three hotel brands Microtel Inns & Suites, Hawthorn Suites and America’s Best Inns & Suites.

Under the agreement, VR National will provide production of hotel 360° tours and still images for US Franchise Systems’ hotel properties. VFM Interactive will provide production of PhotoFlicks® -- moving slide-shows enhanced with voice narration and music. VFM will also provide hosting, management and distribution of all USFS properties’ rich media to USFS’ hotel brand websites and to VFM’s growing network of more than 5,000 travel websites such as Travelocity, Orbitz and TripAdvisor.

“The ability for consumers to experience our hotels online and have confidence before booking is critical for our properties to compete more effectively and capture more bookings online,” explained Allison Solomon, director of electronic marketing for US Franchise Systems. “We are excited to partner with VFM and VR National, and to be able to provide our franchisees with the most effective and affordable marketing tools available.”

VR National is a leader in affordable, quality 360° virtual tours and still image photography, using the most advanced technology in order to give consumers a much more realistic view of a property’s rooms. VFM is a leader in a range of rich media products and recently added PhotoFlicks® to its portfolio in order to offer rich media that was as engaging as video but affordable to all hotels.

As well, VFM provides unparalleled distribution of hotel property rich media across the Internet. This enables properties to sell their properties far more impactfully wherever a consumer may find them while researching hotels on the web.

“We are tremendously excited about this partnership,” says Paolo Boni, President and CEO of VFM. “US Franchise Systems has taken the best of the best and put it together to offer a comprehensive rich media solution for these three hotel brands. Our current clients have seen dramatic increases in conversion rates by using rich media and distributing it strategically and there’s every reason to believe that USFS will as well.”

Adds Tina Koehler, President of VR National: “Since we began providing virtual tours for leading hotel brands, we’ve been determined to maintain leading edge quality with extremely affordable prices. We’re thrilled that our consistent track record in doing exactly that has led USFS to select us.”

About USFS - US Franchise Systems, Inc. is an Atlanta-based service industry franchising company. With nearly 500 properties open or under construction worldwide, it is one of the nation’s fastest growing hospitality systems. Microtel Inns & Suites is an award-winning chain of all newly constructed, interior-corridor budget/economy hotels. Hawthorn Suites is a predominately upper-end, extended-stay chain. America's Best Inns & Suites is the mid-priced brand known for its health-conscious EverGreenTM rooms. In November 2000, business interests of the Pritzker family of Chicago, Ill., which also own other hospitality businesses and assets, including Hyatt Hotels, as well as numerous manufacturing, health-care, natural resources and other businesses and assets, recognized USFS' potential and acquired the company. All USFS hotels are independently owned and operated. For additional information, visit www.usfsi.com.

For more information, please contact:
US Franchise Systems, Inc.
Barbara Wiener-Fischhof
Tel: 404-235-7400
Email: [email protected]

About VFM Interactive - VFM Interactive is the leading producer and distributor of rich media content for the lodging and travel industry. VFM’s production service offers hotel and resort clients a variety of multimedia content. These range from full motion video to slide-shows enhanced with voice-over and music, providing consumers with the ability to visualize their travel purchase and giving them the confidence to book. VFM’s distribution service increases conversion rates both on and offline by making this content available to its clients’ websites as well as to a network of thousands of travel sites such as Travelocity, Orbitz, and TripAdvisor. This unparalleled distribution service ensures a property both stands out and increases confidence to book wherever a consumer may find it online, turning consumer research into customer revenue. Currently, VFM provides content distribution services for more than 1,000 individual hotels and resorts from brands and management companies such as Choice, Crowne Plaza, Hilton, Holiday Inn, Interstate, Marriott, MGM, Outrigger, Radisson, Regent, Sheraton, W, Westin, and Wyndham properties.

For more information, please contact:
VFM Interactive
Debra Sharp
Director of Communications
Tel: 416-263-5674
Email: [email protected]
Website:

About VR National - Since 1999, VR National has provided online virtual tours to a wide variety of clients who need to showcase a property’s assets and physical features in a compelling and realistic way -- from hotels and apartments to restaurants and golf courses. With VR’s virtual tours, clients are able to turn online shopping into online booking, providing the security and confidence consumers need to make a purchase decision. VR National has set a precedent for providing only the highest quality product using only the best and most advanced technology, while maintaining economical prices. VR National’s hotel clients include leading brands such as Choice Hotels, Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, Radisson, Marriott and Doubletree.

For more information, please contact:
VR National, Inc.
Corinna Whiting
Tel: 208-769-4249
Email: [email protected]
Website: