Following the launch of lastminute.com`s integrated dynamic product,
“Breakbuilder”, in the UK in November 2002, the Group is pleased to
report the achievement of a strong sales performance for the new
product during its first full month of trading in December.

Caption: Brent Hoberman, 
CEO - lastminute.com
Currently, purely a UK product, “Breakbuilder” achieved gross sales
(TTV) for December of just over £1.0 million for the month,
representing approximately 7.5% of total UK monthly sales and
approximately 3% of total Group sales.  Currently “Breakbuilder”
enables customers to book a flight and hotel in the same shopping
basket and receive an integrated price for those services.

The average booking value amounted to £463 with in excess of 2,200
bookings being made in the month and representing some 7,500 hotel
room nights.  Top outbound destinations were Paris, which represented
20% of total bookings, followed by Amsterdam, Prague and Dublin,
which each represented 10% of total bookings.  Booked hotels were
across a broad spectrum of classifications from 3* to 5* properties.
The principal departure airport was Heathrow which accounted for
approximately 50% of departing passengers.

In the run up to Christmas sales (TTV) of “Breakbuilder” amounted to
in excess of £50,000 per day, with the most valuable individual
package sold in the month being worth over £5,000.

Commenting,
Brent Hoberman

, Chief Executive Officer said: “We would
anticipate that the growth of dynamic packaging will continue rapidly
during the course of our financial year.  During 2003 we will extend
the geographic spread of the product to other countries.  We will
also extend the product range to include other categories including
entertainment, experiences, car hire and restaurants.  We believe
that these extensions will provide customers with a unique offering
unavailable on any other online service.”

In response to Lastminute`s announcement of these figures, Mark Jones

, CEO at OTC comments:

“Lastminute`s self packaging figures are further proof that dynamic packing technology will be the leading trend in online travel, if not travel as a whole, during 2003.

“Since OTC became the first company to market Build-Your-Own (BYO) technology in October 2001, we have seen a host of other companies looking to take a share of the market. Our belief in the technology is clearly demonstrated by our results, which show BYO has increased from zero to 28% of all our bookings, across OTC`s own 15 consumer brands, as well through our 60 partner sites, including The Guardian, Freeserve and The Telegraph.”

 

Further updates on dynamic packaging will be provided during the
normal quarterly reporting process.  Lastminute.com `s Quarter 1 financial results will
be announced on 6 February 2003.
Related stories on ITN:

(06/12/2002) lastminute.com Partnership with Voyages Auchan

(29/11/2002) Hertz Signs Supplier Agreement with lastminute

(29/10/2002) lastminute.com Signs Deal for Customers to Park and Fly

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