Orbitz names three key executives - Michael Sites, Michael Sands and Gerhard E. Romanescu

Gerhard E. Romanescu Joins Orbitz as Vice President of Customer Care - Former Swissair Executive Adds Vast Customer Care Expertise to Management Team

CHICAGO / Dec. 4, 2000--Orbitz (www.orbitz.com), the travel web site founded by American, Continental, Delta, Northwest and United Airlines, today announced that it has named Gerhard "Gerry" Romanescu as Vice President of Customer Care. With nearly 20 years of customer care management experience, he will be responsible for developing and maintaining the Orbitz' traveler care initiatives.

"I am excited to be a part of this innovative project," said Romanescu. "With cutting-edge technology, leading travel partners, and a major commitment to customer service, Orbitz is uniquely positioned to change the way consumers travel. Travelers currently are treated to operational customer service that merely reacts to their problems or concerns, Orbitz will strive to surpass the traditional service model and create a customer care center that will proactively respond to consumers wants and needs."

Most recently, Romanescu was Vice President of Customer Care Management in Zurich and Brussels for Swissair/Sabena AMP, which is renowned for its outstanding customer service. A leader in customer service at Swissair, he was responsible for implementing the airline's e>check-in system, the first ever customer-focused technology solution that helps speed up the check-in process and shave precious minutes by allowing travelers to check in via the Web or mobile phone.

Romanescu's expertise in the area of customer care helped Swissair earn several of the top travel and airline industry awards, including Europe's Best Airline Web Site (eMarketer, 2000), Best Airline in Europe (World Travel Awards, 1999) and the Five Star Diamond Award (American Academy of Hospitality Sciences, 1998), just to name a few.

"Commitment to customer service is something that is so often overlooked in the online travel space," said Jeff Katz, Chairman, President and CEO of Orbitz. "Given Gerry's proven track record and work experience, Orbitz is positioned to assume the leadership role in travel planning through predictive problem-solving and improved customer care."

Romanescu holds two federal diplomas in his native Switzerland, which qualify him as a marketing planner and sales manager. He is currently completing a series of professional development courses by the SAir-Group Management Development Pool. He will be relocating to Chicago from Zurich, Switzerland.

Orbitz will become the first web site to offer travelers a comprehensive, unbiased view of travel fares, schedules and rates for destinations around the world. The site will use a host of new technologies to greatly improve consumer travel planning and buying on the web, including an advanced low-fare search engine that offers travelers direct access to flight and fare options at the best available prices. The company was founded through a partnership of United, Delta, Continental, American and Northwest Airlines.

On Orbitz, consumers will be able to purchase from hundreds of airlines, thousands of hotel properties, dozens of rental car companies as well as cruise lines, vacation packages and other travel suppliers worldwide. Orbitz will launch the full service travel site in June 2001. For more information on Orbitz, log on to www.orbitz.com The website is headquartered in Chicago, IL.

Orbitz Selects Michael Sands as Vice President of Marketing. Former General Motors Executive Heads Up Travel Site's Marketing Team

CHICAGO / Dec. 4, 2000--Orbitz (www.orbitz.com), the travel web site founded by American, Continental, Delta, Northwest and United Airlines, today announced it has appointed Michael Sands as Vice President of Marketing.

Selected as "Marketer of the Next Generation" by BrandWeek Magazine, Sands is known for his pioneering work in e-commerce and integrated marketing as part of Oldsmobile's turnaround team of the late 1990's. As one of the newest members of the Orbitz executive team, Sands will draw on his extensive brand building and retail experience to lead the Orbitz marketing effort. Sands will be responsible for all marketing strategy, online and offline marketing tactics, brand stewardship and CRM.

"I'm thrilled to be joining the Orbitz team on the ground floor," said Sands. "Orbitz is a company that clearly embraces innovation and has a passion for the consumer. I look forward to bringing a similar focus to their marketing efforts. Orbitz represents a new era in travel planning and I'm excited to share that story with our customers."

"Michael will play an important role within Orbitz both in driving our marketing efforts as well as being and integral member of our strategic planning team. Michael will lead our efforts to differentiate Orbitz in the marketplace and establish the Orbitz brand," said Jeff Katz, Chairman, President and CEO of Orbitz.

After leaving General Motors in April 2000, and prior to joining Orbitz, Sands was Vice President of Customer Acquisition Marketing at Giant Step, an e-solutions provider to Fortune 100 companies, where he provided e-commerce strategy and implementation for many business-to-business and business-to-consumer corporations. Sands' background also includes experience in telecommunications as the Director of Corporate Marketing Communication and Brand Strategy at Ameritech, as well as seven years agency experience with Leo Burnett company.

Sands earned a Bachelor of Sciences degree in communications from Northwestern University, in Evanston, Illinois and a Masters in Management degree from Northwestern's Kellogg Graduate School of Management.

Michael Sites Named Orbitz Vice President of Product Marketing. Former SABRE Executive Brings e-Commerce Marketing Expertise to Travel Site

CHICAGO / Dec. 4, 2000--Orbitz (www.orbitz.com), the travel web site founded by American, Continental, Delta, Northwest and United Airlines, today announced the appointment of Michael Sites as Vice President of Product Marketing.

An expert in developing innovative software solutions, Sites brings more than 10 years of product marketing and travel industry experience to his new position at Orbitz. Sites's primary responsibility will be the creation of the Orbitz web site, focusing on unbiased customer offerings and satisfaction. Known for designing powerful user-centric interfaces, Sites will assure Orbitz's industry leadership through cutting-edge technologies and content development.

"Consumers have stated that they still do not trust the existing retail travel sites. They feel that the data displays are biased and that the shopping process is too complicated," said Sites. "Through the use of new search technologies and better software design, Orbitz will give the power back to the consumer by offering comprehensive unbiased travel information at the click of a button. What's the biggest thing in business? The Internet. What's the biggest thing on the Internet? Travel. What's the biggest thing in travel? Orbitz. And I'm proud to be a part of it."

Most recently, Sites served as Vice President of e-commerce at Sabre, where he assessed, created and communicated Sabre's global e-commerce strategy and managed e-commerce relationships with customers, suppliers, and the media. In addition, Sites successfully led 50 people in managing six product lines and created innovative product offerings for travel agencies to retain technical leadership and competitive superiority.

"Michael's successful leadership at Sabre and deep knowledge of the travel industry will help propel Orbitz into the most comprehensive and unbiased travel web site available," said Jeff Katz, Chairman, President and CEO of Orbitz.

Sites earned a Bachelor of Sciences degree in mechanical engineering and a Master of Business Administration/Finance degree from Rice University in Texas. He has relocated from Dallas, Texas to Chicago.

Carol Jouzaitis
312/632-1574

Your content on Hospitality Net?