A rich media distribution solution providing unprecedented control to hotels, VFM Interactive, the leader of rich media production and distribution for the travel industry, announced today its launch – a sophisticated online tool for distributing hotel still images and rich media such as videos and virtual tours across the Internet.

With Vscape, hotels can distribute their online media with one simple point of contact to thousands of travel sites, search engines and, shortly, GDSs – while having complete selective control over the electronic channel and exactly which sites their images appear on.

Up till now, still image distribution has been hampered by several problems. It's been a fragmented, inconvenient process requiring multiple points of contact for hotels. It's also been patchy and inconsistent, sometimes with a good deal of lag time between the time new media becomes available and the point at which it's eventually displayed online to consumers. Outdated images appear in unlikely places. And the management, control and leveraging of media assets is inefficient and difficult, particularly in large corporate structures with hundreds or thousands of properties. Vscape addresses all these problems.

What's more, Vscape is currently available to hotels at no charge. This includes no-cost distribution of up to 20 still images per property.

"Vscape answers several frustrations we've heard about repeatedly from our hotel clients," explains Paolo Boni, President and CEO of VFM. "We took their cue to develop a system that is efficient and time-saving while giving hotels more control over the online channel and how they market themselves in that space."

Several leading hotel brands have not only expressed interest in Vscape at this early stage, but have already signed agreements with VFM. "In the next few weeks, we'll be announcing several partnerships with leading hotel brands," adds Boni. "We're very enthusiastic about how this service is being embraced."

VFM's network consists of more than 5,000 travel and travel-related sites where consumers are researching and purchasing travel products including 8 of the top 10 travel websites, and shortly, key meta-search engines, search portals, and GDSs. The Selective Distribution Dashboard in Vscape provides hotels with the ability to control exactly where they want their images and rich media distributed. And because of VFM's ongoing technology-driven relationships with its distribution partners, Vscape ensures prompt updating of images anytime a hotel has new photos available.

Vscape easily interfaces with a hotel's internal content management system using a simple XML feed to distribute stills and rich media with one contact point. For hotels and management companies that do not yet utilize a media or content management tool for rich media, or would like to transition to the convenience of a single platform, Vscape includes the web-based Online Media Manager – a tool that enables hotels to upload, store, update, manage, categorize, search, distribute and track the usage of all their digital assets and rich media — from still images, 360s and videos to logos and PDF brochures. The sophisticated, intuitive interface has a number of easy-to-use tools that enable hotels to efficiently browse, add and update all media through a single access point.

Inquiries about Vscape can be made to VFM Interactive toll-free at 1-877-593-6634.

About VFM Interactive
VFM Interactive is the leading distributor and producer of rich media content for the lodging and travel industry. Operating the largest and fastest-growing distribution network, VFM enables hotels to maximize their presence online using the power of rich media on more than 5,000 travel and travel-related sites where consumers are researching and purchasing travel products. In addition to sites such as Travelocity, Orbitz, Priceline and TripAdvisor, VFM's distribution network also includes major search engines and will shortly include both meta-search and GDSs.  VFM also produces a variety of rich media marketing content including videos, 360° virtual tours and Flash productions. VFM's clients include over 3,000 hotels and resorts from brands and management companies such as Best Western, Choice, Crowne Plaza, Hilton, Holiday Inn, Interstate, Marriott, MGM, Outrigger, Radisson, Regent, Sheraton, W, Westin, and Wyndham properties.

For additional information, please contact:

VFM Interactive
Debra Sharp
Director of Communications
416-593-6634
debra.sharp@vfmii.com