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RNS Number:3016V
World Travel Holdings PLC
6 December 2000


                          World Travel Holdings plc

                        Acquisition of uTravel website

             WTH gains access to database of 46,000 new customers

London, UK - Wednesday 6 December 2000 - World Travel Holdings plc, ("WTH"),
the global travel technology and services business, announces that it has
reached an agreement with Xilerate Limited, the dynamic new media division of
United News & Media plc, to acquire the website and access the customer
database of Xilerate's consumer travel site, uTravel.

Under the terms of the agreement, WTH will acquire the uTravel URL,
www.utravel.co.uk, and gain access to uTravel's database of 46,000 registered
customers. These customers are of particular interest to WTH since they are
not only proven users of the web but also have a demonstrable interest in
travel. uTravel has agreed to email these customers, to make them aware of the
transaction and to direct them to WTH's consumer site, WorldTravelDirect.com.

Xilerate announced the closure of the uTravel site last month, after
concluding that further investment could not be justified given the
competitive nature of the B2C travel market.

Jonathan Biles, Chief Executive of WTH, said: "During the last quarter we
doubled the registered customers of our consumer site, WworldTtravelDdirect
and increased 's gross annual travel sales by over 50% on a flat marketing
spend, which demonstrates thereby proving our ability to convert B2C customer
numbers into all-important revenues. By gaining access to uTravel's large
customer database, we should significantly increase our sales stream in the
current and forthcoming quarters."

"We believe that the uTravel registered users will be keen to remain as loyal
customers of WorldTravelDirect because of our differentiating features. We
have one of the best flight booking engines, the best value insurance
available and a unique valet parking service, to name but three of the
superior services that WorldTravelDirect delivers to its customers. This is
why we have a level of customer loyalty well in excess of the sector
competition."

"Having announced strong results on 24 November, with sales and customers
growing month on month, with control over all our own fulfilment and, in our
opinion, with the best technology, we look forward to continued success in the
consolidating online travel sector."

WTH derives its revenues from businesses - such as travel agents and corporate
customers via its fare 1 service, as well as from direct booking consumers by
both telephone and the internet via WorldTravelDirect. It delivers its
products and services using Powerflyer - a proprietary technology platform
that gives it a competitive advantage across the board, in both B2B and B2C.

Contact:

Jonathan Biles - World Travel Holdings plc      020 7456 1352

James Melville-Ross or Emma Rutherford - Financial Dynamics      020 7831 3113


NOTES TO EDITORS:

World Travel Holdings plc

WTH distributes travel products and services, predominantly through the
Internet and mainly to travel agents, using the Group's proven technology
platform Powerflyer. WTH supplies scheduled and negotiated fares, car rental,
hotel bookings, travel information and travel insurance over the Internet.
These products and services are supplied through distinct channels: Fare 1 for
travel agents, WworldTtravelDdirect for consumers and Trident for corporate
customers.


The travel market:


  * Global travel market estimated at over US$500 billion in air travel
    alone each year

  * Only 20 per cent. of those who research travel online then book online

  * It is currently estimated that approximately 12 per cent. of the global
    travel market will be booked directly on the Internet by consumers by 2003

  * It is currently estimated that 88 per cent. of travel commerce will be
    booked by other means - principally travel agents - by 2003

  * Over 40,000 travel agency offices in the US with estimated 250,000
    personnel

  * Each US agency location processes on average 350 tickets per month

  * 8,500 travel agency locations in the UK with 23,000 travel agency
    managers


For more information, log onto www.worldtravelholdings.com

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