Launch of New Travel Service

Online Travel Corporation PLC 26 June 2000 Unison to launch new travel service in Ireland with OTC offering comprehensive online travel service Online Travel Corporation plc (OTC) (www.otc-uk.com) and Unison (www.unison.ie) have launched a unique new travel service Unison Travel (www.unison.ie/travel). Unison is the ISP and portal for Internet Ireland Limited which is owned by Independent News & Media PLC and its 50% associate Princes Holdings (PHL). OTC is an online one-stop travel service and will offer Unison users and participating newspapers, a range of discounted travel products including savings of up to 60% on air fares, car hire, holidays and hotels. Unison Travel's leading-edge service provision technology will be provided by OTC and supported by a traditional telephone sales and support service. This enables users to exclusively access a broad range of travel information from one Internet source, plus the all important discount and added value travel offers - 24 hours a days, seven days a week. This announcement underpins the build-out strategy of Unison.ie, which already has news and information content from over 43 participating titles makes it the biggest on-line source for Irish content in the country. The new business will also leverage highly successful in-paper reader travel services managed by Independent Digital, the new media arm of Independent News & Media PLC. Unison Travel users can also use OTC's call centre support for advice on all aspects of foreign travel. This 'Phone & Go' service allows browsers to submit a phone number and be called back moments later by an adviser, reducing the time needed to book holidays and business trips. It also gives the option of completing transactions over the telephone rather than the Internet, ensuring the service is accessible to both experienced and novice Web users. Garret Doyle, Managing Director of Independent Digital comments 'There is a gap in the market in Ireland for a dedicated travel service which offers instant access to search and book the best deals online, but supported by the personal service of a focused travel call centre. We will now be able to offer traditional newspaper readers and Unison.ie subscribers a unique travel service, leveraging the best flight and accommodation deals available in the market place today. Mark Jones, Managing Director of OTC comments 'This is an ideal platform for OTC. The Independent and Unison brands have been build on putting the needs of their readers and users first and the new look travel channel on Unison has been designed specifically with these customers in mind.' Contacts: Mark Jones, Managing Director of OTC: 020 8607 9281 Robert Falkner, Finance Director: 020 8744 9494 Nicola How, Buchanan Communications: 020 7466 5000