Active Hotels – One of East Anglia’s fastest growing technology companies

Cambridge-based accommodation specialist Active Hotels is one of East Anglia’s fastest growing technology companies. The company was ranked fifth in the highly competitive Eastern region of the Deloitte & Touche Technology Fast 50 Awards at a ceremony held at Tattersalls in Newmarket on Wednesday 20 November 2002. Active Hotels achieved a 771% boost in turnover over the past three years, a figure surpassed by few in the region.

While being a high-tech leader has never been easy, today’s climb to market recognition is steeper and more difficult. Those that succeed will be the main drivers of Europe’s future economic growth. Hence the significance of winning 5th place in the D&T Fast 50. Active Hotels Ltd.‘s CEO, Andrew Phillips, credits growth in the demand for online accommodation services for the company’s 771% growth over the past three years. He comments, “We are delighted to receive such a high ranking in the highly competitive Eastern region. We have seen demand for our system grow and grow as the Internet begins to establish itself as the strongest avenue of travel bookings. This demand combined with the robust, innovative technology that sustains our online reservation system has created the perfect platform for such strong growth.” The company realizes the importance of research and development and investment is ongoing in order to anticipate and prepare for the demands of an ever-expanding consumer base.

Active Hotels, launched in 1999, is creating mutually beneficial partnerships that enable both hoteliers and distribution partners to capture the highly lucrative market for online hotel reservations. With over 2,300 hotels under contract, Active Hotels has the largest and arguably the most unique collection of properties in the UK. Active Hotels’ properties have visibility on over 1,500 websites across the Internet and electronic networks, earning annual bookings worth £30 million. AHs’ hotel network is continually growing as approximately 50 new hotels register each month. With hotels in France and Ireland now coming on board, Active Hotels is setting its sights on establishing its presence in the European reservation market.

Richard Knights, Technology, Media and Telecommunications partner at Deloitte’s Cambridge office, said: “While 2002 was a period of retrenchment and soul searching for technology companies, during which many elected to rethink their core business strategies, these finalists have continued to reinvent themselves in difficult circumstances.

“The technology sector is now a buyers’ market in terms of human capital,” continued Mr. Knights. “As staff turnover is no longer an issue, these companies can concentrate on upgrading the quality of their people. While there are no immediate signs that a recovery is underway, we are seeing these companies position themselves to take advantage of opportunities as and when they arise.” Active Hotels has a strong team of technical and market expertise working to secure its market position. In fact, one of Active Hotels’ most important attributes is the enthusiasm and dynamism of its employees who are prepared to invest their expertise in securing the company’s market position.

While being a high-tech leader has never been easy, today’s climb to market recognition is steeper and more difficult. Those that succeed will be the main drivers of Europe’s future economic growth. In addition to ranking in the D&T Eastern Region’s Fast 50, Active Hotels recently won a SMART award from the Department of Trade and Industry. Adrian Critchlow, business development director, comments “Winning the award provides independent recognition for the technology we have developed and its market potential in the hotel sector, as well as vital funding during the critical development phase.”

-NOTES TO THE EDITOR-

About Deloitte & Touche’s Fast 50

Deloitte & Touche is committed to the UK technology industry and is looking for this year’s fastest growing technology companies in seven regions throughout the UK & Ireland. Now entering its sixth year in the UK, the Fast 50 programme is unique in championing the cause of growing technology companies.
The Fast 50 programme was started in San Jose, the centre of Silicon Valley, California in 1995 and has expanded to over 20 major cities world-wide, having quickly became the growth benchmark of success in the USA. The Deloitte & Touche Technology Fast 50 UK programme is a ranking of the fastest growing technology companies in seven UK regions: Eastern, London & South East, Midlands, South West & Wales, The North, Scotland and Ireland. The ranking is based on percentage growth in turnover from 1999 to 2001 (a three year period).

For more information, go to http://www.fast50.co.uk or alternatively contact Amy Thompson at Deloitte & Touche on +44 (0)207 303 3861 or [email protected].

About Active Hotels

Active Hotels is creating mutually beneficial partnerships that enable both hoteliers and distribution partners to capture the highly lucrative market for online hotel reservations. Active Hotels is currently the fastest growing providers of confirmed online reservations to the European hotel industry. The company is successfully delivering increased reservations and revenue to (thousands) (a growing number) of hotels across the UK and Europe by exposing them to a global audience through its extensive distribution network. With over 2,300 hotels under contract, Active Hotels has the largest and arguably the most unique collection of properties in the UK. Active Hotels’ properties have visibility on over 1,500 websites across the Internet and electronic networks, earning annual bookings worth £30 million. With approximately 50 new hotels registering every month, AHs’ hotel network is continually growing.

For more information, go to www.activehotels.com or contact Maria Murphy at Active Hotels on +44 (0)1223 578134 or email- [email protected]