PhoCusWright Launches Advisory Services Practice; Former Sapient Executive Appointed Vice President

Business Wire, March 15, 2005

SHERMAN, Conn. -- PhoCusWright Inc., an independent research firm covering the travel, tourism and hospitality industry, today announced the launch of its Advisory Services Practice, which will provide strategic consulting and custom research services tailored to customer needs and business issues. John Bray, former vice president of Sapient's Travel and Hospitality Practice, has been appointed vice president of the new practice. This business unit supplements The PhoCusWright Channel, the company's subscription-based, syndicated service featuring business, market, and competitive intelligence, as well as an expansive portfolio of research reports. PhoCusWright is also known for TRAVDEX, a unique conference for the travel technology community, and for highly focused executive events.

PhoCusWright's Advisory Services Practice offers a wide range of services in three primary areas: business and management development, electronic commerce and distribution, and channel evolution. PhoCusWright analysts can be deployed to help companies with strategic direction development, trend and impact analyses, organizational transformation, IT planning, e-business development, usability studies, and customer satisfaction surveys.

"This new practice is based on our long-standing research heritage and the in-depth knowledge of our analyst team," said Philip C. Wolf, president and CEO of PhoCusWright. "Based on our client demands, we know these services are needed in the market. With John's broad technology background, combined with his strategic consulting experience in working with today's major industry players such as JetBlue and Harrah's, he will undoubtedly bring strong leadership to the practice and high value to our clients." According to Wolf, prospective clients for advisory services include international hotel chains, new technology entrants to the travel market, travel fulfillment centers, traditional tour operators, and travel management companies.

"We're at a critical junction in the travel industry. The economy is improving and companies are moving from a cost-saving mentality to one that's ready for investment," said Bray. "The market landscape has also changed, with some companies dropping from the field during the downturn and new entrants currently emerging. I look forward to working with the PhoCusWright team to help our clients make informed decisions, accurately forecast what's ahead, and capitalize on the huge opportunities."

Bray brings to PhoCusWright 17 years of experience in analyzing technology trends in travel distribution, devising strategies for new market entry, marketing and sales improvement, IT planning, guest services, and managed travel procurement. From 2001 to 2004, Bray led the Travel and Hospitality Practice at Sapient, where his engagements included consumer impact analyses, implementing eCRM solutions, business planning related to dynamic packing technologies, design of strategic enterprise architectures, and guidance in technology adoption.

More information about PhoCusWright's Advisory Services Practice is available at www.phocuswright.com.

About PhoCusWright

PhoCusWright Inc. is an independent research firm covering the travel, tourism, and hospitality industry. Specializing in consumer, business, and competitive intelligence, PhoCusWright conducts and publishes primary work focused on strategic assessment and segment forecasting. The company also produces a series of high-profile conferences for executives in the travel industry. A pioneer in sizing the market's notable online sector, PhoCusWright provides clients across all facets of the travel industry's value chain with information and insight for competitive advantage.

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