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