SideStep, Inc. (http://www.sidestep.com/), the travel search engine, today
announced that the firm has named Don Smith as Vice President, Hotels. In
this role, Smith will focus on expanding and deepening SideStep’s
alliances with major companies in the hotel sector.
Smith served most recently as Vice President Sales/Account Management at
WorldRes, a leading online hotel reservation and distribution network. In
this position, Smith and his team developed and managed partnerships with
prominent hoteliers such as Starwood, Intercontinental Hotels, Marriott,
Hilton, Best Western and Cendant.

“SideStep represents a unique and effective marketing vehicle for
hoteliers,” noted Smith. “The search engine drives consumers to travel
providers’ Web sites, building direct relationships between buyers and
brands. As hotel companies look to regain control of pricing and inventory
management, SideStep makes the ideal ally. I’m looking forward to building
relationships with all hoteliers that are seriously committed to building
their businesses online.”

“With more than twenty years of experience in hotel sales and marketing,
Don brings to SideStep a deep understanding of the needs and concerns of
hoteliers, as well as an extraordinary set of industry contacts,” said
Mike Smith, SideStep’s Executive Vice President, Supplier Relations. “We
anticipate significant growth in our hotel business this year, and Don
will be a key driver of that growth.”

Prior to joining WorldRes, Smith was Founder and CEO of Performance
Marketing, a hotel group representation and corporate meeting planning
organization. Smith has also held senior level sales and marketing
positions at Le Meridien Hotels and Resorts, The Pan Pacific Hotel, The
Carmel Valley Ranch Resort, and Princess Hotels International.

Smith currently plays leadership roles in a number of different hotel
industry associations, including the American Hotel & Lodging Association
(AHLA) and the Hotel Electronic Distribution Network Association (HEDNA).

Winner of the Forbes “Best of the Web” Award, the SideStep travel search
toolbar is available at http://www.sidestep.com/. SideStep Hotels, the
company’s new Web-based hotel search engine, is available at
http://www.sidestephotels.com/. Both services are free to consumers.
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