News Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 21, 1999
Contact:  Jose Rosa
619 692-9439

Superior View Takes San Diego's Hospitality Industry to the Next Level with 360-Degree Virtual Tours

San Diego - December 21, 1999 - By 2002, hotel bookings via the Internet will generate approximately $3.1 billion in revenues. This is up from less than $100 million in 1997. Even with the positive growth of Internet usage among hospitality and tourism companies, "they are severely under-utilizing the web and failing to reap its maximum benefit" according to a new analysis by the lodging, gaming and leisure research group Bear, Stearns & Co. Inc.

The stakes are high for hospitality organizations when it comes to investing well and wisely in technology. But are San Diego's hotels and golf courses harnessing better uses of technology? Superior View, San Diego's only provider of virtual tours specializing in the hospitality/tourism industry has been gauging the interest among local players. "San Diego's hospitality industry is just beginning to realize the benefits of virtual tours," says Rebecca Kramer, Superior View Director of Business Development. "We surveyed 39 of the local 2-5 star AAA-rated properties with web sites in San Diego and found that executives seem well aware that how they invest in and use new tools and systems influences cost, effectiveness and their company's overall competitiveness. However, we were particularly surprised at the number of local properties that did not yet have a web site or even use e-mail."

Virtual tours are the next stage in online vacation planning -- taking much of the risk out of the process of selecting a vacation property. Hotel web sites, for one, are not very popular nor compelling enough to keep the "surfer" interested for long. Most sites are static and lack the tools necessary to really show the customer what they are getting. Superior View's virtual tours, on the other hand, consist of 360-degree moving pictures of the interior and/or exterior spaces of a property.Virtual tours enable prospective visitors to preview local hotels, timeshares, restaurants, and attractions, 24-hours a day without leaving the home or office.

Superior View, a member of the San Diego Convention and Visitor's Bureau, produces web site and CD ROM enhancement that virtually brings potential guests inside the hotel for an in-depth property tour. The 360-degree "viewpoints" can be multimedia enhanced with sound, motion, and floor plans to add compelling dimension to the images. This technology is used to showcase accommodations, meeting venues, golf courses, and other attractions. Superior View's virtual tours offer visitors a chance to explore hotels and resorts twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week; to "walk" through the lobby; to inspect meeting and convention facilities; to enjoy the beach or poolside view. "The aim of this new technology is to entice viewers with a visually stimulating presentation that encourages them to book their reservation or group event instantaneously," explains Ms. Kramer. "The 360-degree view of the property allows companies to differentiate themselves based on more then price and location." Most of Superior View's virtual tour packages include automatic inclusion on semi-annual nationwide CD ROM distribution to meeting planners, incentive houses, and site selection/inspection companies for increased exposure of properties.

Embassy Suites La Jolla was the first property in San Diego to pioneer the use of virtual tours to promote their property. Talene Lanuza, Director of Sales at Embassy, believes it was money well spent. "We have always believed that any photos and images of the inside of our hotel never did it justice.  One of the most effective ways for us to book business was to have them 'come inside' and experience the beauty and comfort of our hotel. In fact, we always say 'Have a site inspection, book a meeting'.  Our virtual tour allows us to give our clients that experience when they are unable to travel or see it in person.  It creates great interest, and that in turn supports the brochures and sales kits that follow."  To view the virtual tour of Embassy Suites, visit www.superiorview.com.  Superior View's growing list of clients includes the Old Globe Theatre and San Diego Museum of Contemporary Art.

For more information about Superior View, email Jose Rosa: CLICK HERE, or phone: (619) 692-9439.