Farecast Hires Online Travel Executive Krista Pappas As VP Business Development
Travel Industry Association also awards Farecast TravelCom Res-Expo New Innovator Award
SEATTLE– April 9, 2007 — Farecast, the airfare prediction website, announced today that it hired online travel industry executive Krista Pappas as vice president of business development. Pappas is a recognized expert in online travel and was most recently the Senior Vice President and Chief Strategist for Smarter Travel Media. Farecast also announced that the Travel Industry Association (TIA) awarded Farecast with the 2007 TravelCom Res-Expo New Innovator Award.
"Krista brings a wealth of business and travel experience to the team and we are excited to have her on board," said Hugh Crean, Farecast's president and CEO. "Krista will be instrumental in driving Farecast's distribution strategy and growing our existing relationships with suppliers."
Ms. Pappas is a highly regarded online travel strategist and is recognized for her deep knowledge of the travel technology industry and for her ability to identify and aid the development of trends. She was the first professional analyst to cover Internet travel in 1996-97, and was a key player in the launch of online travel services.
"My roots are firmly planted in this industry and am thrilled to join a team pioneering the next generation of online travel," stated Krista Pappas, vice president of business development, Farecast. "Farecast's team is outstanding and its technology and products fill tremendous gaps in empowering and improving the shopping experience for online travel consumers."
Prior to Farecast, Ms. Pappas was senior vice president and chief strategist for Smarter Travel Media. She was responsible for all commercial business operations and strategy for the company. Her extensive experience in travel includes the Head of Travel for The New York Times Web division, senior executive positions at FareChase, an advisor on the development of T2/Orbitz, and was one of the first analysts to cover online travel at Gomez Advisors.
Farecast is Recognized as 2007 New Innovator and Consumer Product of the Year
Farecast recently received recognition by the following leading industry associations:
TravelCom Res-Expo New Innovator Award (April 2007)
The Travel Industry Association (TIA) awarded Farecast with the inaugural 2007 TravelCom Res-Expo New Innovator Award. ITA Software, Farecast's shopping and data partner, received the Established Innovator Award. The TravelCom Res-Expo Innovator Awards recognize those special companies whose outstanding innovations in the areas of technology, e-commerce and distribution have transformed their business and had a broad impact across the travel industry. "We are honored to be recognized by the TIA and in such great company with ITA Software," added Hugh Crean. "ITA Software is the world's best airfare pricing and shopping system, and has been a wonderful partner to Farecast as we innovate to make customers smarter when shopping for travel."
WSA 2007 Consumer Product of the Year (March 2007)
Last month, Farecast was recognized as 2007 Consumer Product of the Year by the WSA, the state's oldest and largest technology trade organization. The award was presented at the 12th annual Industry Achievement Awards (IAA), the annual technology awards gala that recognizes the state's most outstanding technology achievements in a variety of categories.
About Farecast, Inc.
Farecast.com is the first and only airfare prediction website. Farecast.com helps airfare shoppers across the country save money by answering the question: should you buy now or wait? In addition to being the first to provide airfare predictions, Farecast.com displays the lowest fares from the major airline sites and offers industry leading travel planning tools. Farecast.com was recognized as one of PC World's 20 Most Innovative Products of 2007, Best of What's New for 2006 by Popular Science, one of TIME Magazine's 50 Coolest Websites for 2006 and one of the "Best Trip Planning Tools" by Business Week readers. The company is located in Seattle, Washington, and is funded by Sutter Hill Ventures, Greylock Partners, Madrona Venture Group, WRF Capital and PAR Capital Management. To get a free airfare prediction from your city, or to learn more visit www.farecast.com.
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