To: Trooper who wrote (3157 ) 1/14/1999 1:11:00 PM From: Stevko F. Respond to of 15987
SRGEW NEWS!!! America Online Travel Channel Launches New Tourism Resource Site With Orbit Network Inc.'s TravelFile NOVATO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 14, 1999--In a roll-out January 7, AOL (NYSE:AOL) introduced Orbit's new Destination Tourism Source: TravelFile. Under development for some months, a joint effort between AOL and Orbit Network Inc., was unveiled as a new destination resource for AOL's Travel Channel. TravelFile's wealth of online information can be accessed within AOL's Travel Channel under the Destination and Reservations areas. In addition to AOL, Orbit Network Inc. currently offers TravelFile as a consumer service on the World Wide Web (www.travelfile.com) and as a travel agent service on all major airline reservation systems including AMADEUS, Galileo International, SABRE and WORLDSPAN. TravelFile is the only electronic marketing vehicle presenting travel product and destination information to both consumers and travel agents. A unique online marketing vehicle for travel suppliers and tourism marketing organizations, TravelFile contains a sophisticated destination search engine that also lets you search by type of activity, a calendar of events and the most comprehensive worldwide ski conditions service. Recently celebrating its 10-year anniversary in SABRE, TravelFile continues to provide value to millions of monthly viewers. Since Orbit Network Inc.'s acquisition of TravelFile in 1997, substantial enhancements to its look and feel, features and content have been undertaken resulting in renewed popularity and an online marketing vehicle of choice for many international destinations. In October, the Moscow City Tourist Office selected TravelFile as its global online marketing partner for Russia's capital city. "It's clear why AOL chose Orbit's TravelFile as its Destination Tourism resource," remarked Bill Guerin, Orbit's president and founder. "No other online resource in the world contains the depth and breadth of destination content we have amassed in TravelFile. You can spend weeks island hopping through TravelFile's Caribbean site alone." The re-launch of TravelFile within AOL's Travel Channel is a clear indication of Orbit's Commitment to strengthening strategic with AOL and more announcements are expected to follow this year. Orbit provides leisure and international travel suppliers and resellers the ability to market and distribute their products electronically to consumers, corporations and travel agents worldwide through one distribution vendor. Orbit is the only e-commerce company that provides proprietary connections to not just the Internet (World Wide Web) but also America Online Inc. (AOL) and all the major airline reservation systems - AMADEUS, Galileo International, SABRE and WORLDSPAN. Orbit Network Inc. is currently under a letter of intent to merger with Surge Components Inc., (NASDAQ: SRGE). The terms and conditions of said merger were released under a separate press release on Dec. 29, 1998. CONTACT: Orbit Network Inc., Novato Bill Guerin, 415/883-1100 x400 bguerin@orbitnetwork.com KEYWORD: CALIFORNIA