HGX Announces Mergers With Data Marketing Software Company VNS International

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Ft. Lauderdale, FL – October, 2004 – HGX Creative, a full-service design, marketing and promotions company, is proud to introduce their new ‘Power Alliance’ as two industry leaders get set to co-exhibit at an upcoming industry trade show. The merger represents the first offer of a one-stop option for Guest Relationship Management (GRM) Tools.

“In the world of leisure, it’s not enough to simply build a great entertainment or amusement destination and hope that the visitors will come,” says HGX President, Debbie Nierman. “Attracting customers, compelling them to spend and convincing them to come back requires concrete knowledge of who they are and a targeted message that tells them what they want to hear.”

Now, for the first time, these two crucial components of GRM — data and marketing — are being offered in one exciting package.

“In today’s competitive, technology-driven market, the most profitable and long-lasting relationships are those built on a combination of hard data and targeted promotions,” explained Benjamin J. Keeley, founder, CEO and president of VNS International, a provider of software and other business solutions for tracking and managing guests and visitors in a variety of entertainment and leisure settings.

The two companies — both leaders in their respective fields — plan to co-offer comprehensive programs that combine hard numbers with the more subjective business of marketing and promotions.

“It’s not enough to collect and analyze the data,” notes Nierman. “No matter how accurate and comprehensive your numbers, they are of little value without the right marketing and promotional programs. Then again, a program whose targeting isn’t ‘right on,’ probably isn’t worth doing. That’s why this alliance is so crucial to anyone in this industry looking to increase the value and longevity of each and every customer.”

The alliance provides the ability to identify guests and how they are spending their time and revenue, and then introduce appropriate and attractive ways to encourage them to continue their patronage, all the while elevating your image. This one-two punch of numbers and advertising has never before been approached or offered in such a way.

South Florida-based VNS International is a leader in enterprise software development and business support solutions that efficiently, accurately and profitably track the value of guests in the recreation, hospitality, family entertainment and marine industries. By focusing on hard data rather than on vague observations, VNS has successfully deployed the most comprehensive Guest Relationship Management (GRM) system in the marketplace.

HGX Creative is a leading marketing, design and promotions house. Serving the East Coast with locations in Boston and Fort Lauderdale, HGX Creative is proud to have clients ranging from small businesses to Fortune 500 companies.

Through a one-of-a-kind strategic alliance, VNS and HGX Creative assist clients in evaluating, planning and executing marketing and promotional solutions based on the specific and comprehensive data captured at the point of service (POS) and at various stages throughout the entire guest lifecycle.

VNS and HGX Creative will exhibit in Booth 1582 at the upcoming 2004 IAAPA (International Association of Amusement Parks & Attractions) Annual Convention and Tradeshow in Orlando.

Contact: Ceri Usmar
508-405-4506 (p); 508-405-4509 (f)
[email protected] (e)