Amadeus today announced the successful completion of the acquisition process of Optims.After the proven success of their partnership, formally established through
the acquisition of an initial 30% shareholding in September 2003, Amadeus
and Optims have now laid the foundations for an even closer cooperation that
aims to deliver leading-edge standards of service to their hospitality
clients.

By building on their respective strengths, Amadeus and Optims are able to
provide a complete suite of products and services for the distribution and
management of hotel rooms, covering all processes from booking to check out.
Amadeus and Optims provide hoteliers with Property Management Systems,
Central Reservation Systems, Revenue Management Solutions and access to a
wide range of distribution channels. 

“At Optims, we are extremely excited about working ever more closely with
Amadeus to address the specific needs of hotel customers, and deliver the
technology solutions they need to transform their operational efficiency and
customer service,” says Antoine Medawar,  the CEO of Optims.

Today, hospitality technology remains fragmented and hotels still operate
multiple systems.  And to Improve guest service while maximising occupancy
and Revenue Per Available Room, the hospitality industry recognize the need
to operate new reservations technology and yield maximization systems that
will allow hotels to regain control over their inventory and pricing, and
address a wide variety of distribution options. 

In this context, this acquisition will allow the accelerated delivery of a
new and integrated Hotel Distribution Platform that will serve hotel
reservations from all direct and indirect distribution channels, through a
single and centralized inventory of hotel rooms and rates.  In joining
their expertise and building a Hotel Distribution Platform, Amadeus and
Optims will offer Hotel companies the possibility to operate a new
generation, integrated, Central Reservation System, Customer Retention
Management and Revenue/Yield Management systems to improve their operational
efficiency and service. 

Further benefits of the acquisition include the improvement of bookable
content available to Amadeus’ distribution partners, the strengthening of
Optims’ international expansion through Amadeus’ global network of National
Marketing Companies, the enhancement of technology solutions offered to the
hospitality industry, and the highest operational standards through the
hosting of Optims’ platforms in the Amadeus Data Processing centre.

“Strategically, full ownership of Optims demonstrates Amadeus’ commitment to
be the leading provider of IT solutions to the travel industry - in this
case the hospitality sector. Over the past months we have met with hotel
executives representing the different facets of the industry and who
confirmed their need for new solutions to address the key issues that the
industry has been facing.  We heard their message and we are committed to
leverage Amadeus and Optims strengths to deliver the right solutions the
market is waiting for.  In addition travel agents will also benefit from
this acquisition through Otedis, Optims’ e-business subsidiary, by getting
access to more local, but key, hotels via the Amadeus system,” says Philippe
Chérèque, Senior Vice President Corporate Strategy, Amadeus.
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