Groople Appoints Louise Hurlbut as VP of Marketing

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. October 14, 2008

DENVER, CO, September 18, 2006. Groople, the leading online group travel booking resource, is pleased to announce the appointment of Louise Hurlbut as Vice President of Marketing.

Louise brings over 20 years of executive experience to her post at Groople, with success in direct marketing, marketing programs for online start-ups and brand repositioning. The strategic timing of Louise's appointment coincides with a projected period of rapid growth for Groople including the pending launch of several technological innovations.

"Louise's broad experience and proven success in strategic direct marketing and brand positioning across a variety of industries make her an invaluable asset in leading Groople into its next stage of growth and development," said Groople CEO Mike Stacy. "Her entrepreneurship, creativity and expertise with start-up companies will be a welcome addition to the Groople management team."

Prior to her appointment at Groople, Louise held the position of Managing Director at Merkle|Quris, a database marketing company with media and tourism clients including DirecTV, Dex Media and Vail Resorts. Before joining Merkle|Quris, Louise spent seven years as a partner at ViewPoint Marketing, a marketing consulting firm where she was responsible for the development of strategic marketing plans, consumer market research studies and product branding.

Louise has worked with household names in the fast moving consumer goods and retail industries, including Kraft (General Foods), Safeway Stores, Quaker, Coors, Boston Market and Ralston Purina. She is also the co-founder of Boppy Inc., whose award-winning Boppy pillow was voted "Best Product of the Year" for six years by American Baby.

Louise is active in the Denver community and has served as a member of the Board of Directors for numerous not-for-profit and charitable organizations including the Denver Public Library, Girls Inc., Central City Opera House Association Guild, Denver International Film Society, Mesa Verde Foundation, Governor's Council for Physical Fitness and the Acoma Center.

She holds a bachelor's degree in Socio Economics from Mills College (California), attended Stanford University in Tours, France and received her MBA from Cornell University.

"Groople is exceptionally well positioned to take advantage of the growing group travel market and provide an innovative group travel reservations platform," said Louise. "Group travel planners are seeking an easier way to book group travel and Groople has empowered them with a solution that reduces time and complications." She added, "I am excited to have the opportunity to work with the pioneering team of travel professionals to revolutionize group travel."

Groople provides innovative online booking capabilities for group travelers and matches the needs of specific groups with appropriate products, prices and support. While facilitating bookings and generating new revenue, Groople allows travel suppliers to retain control of their inventory and rates. Groople provides the tools for non-managed group leaders to request a block of hotel rooms or cruise cabins while permitting the individual group members to make changes to reservations and pay individually.