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eCommerce - Friday, November 18, 2005

Wandrian - Profile

HQ: White Plains, NY

Founded: 1999

Management: The company recently announced that Tomasso Zanzotto had become its Chairman. He is Former President of International for American Express, and Former Chairman and CEO of Hilton International. At the same time, it brought on Bernard Frelat as its new CEO. He was Chairman of the Eurailpass North American Committee, President and CEO of the Rail Europe Group, President and CEO of Eurovacations.com and Chairman of Euronet Computer Services.

Investors: In November 2005, the company raised an undisclosed amount of Series A from Brook Venture Partner, Boston Capital Ventures, and private investors.

Business Model: The company powers the UK's RailPass, Italy's ItaliaRail and RailAgent.com for travel agents. To date, Wandrian's private label service has drawn attention from European rail organization looking to market to a North American tourist audience.

Prego. We Just Booked a Trip from Milano Centrali to Reggi di Calabri, Wandrian Powered. Arrivaderci!

Competitors: None that we can locate. Build your own seems to be the main competition - a route that Amtrak.com took.

Dirt: At first blush, rail eCommerce seems like an ugly stepsister to the air, hotel and rental car reservations that Expedia and others provide. However, Wandrian seems to have found one of the last underserved niches in the online travel sector. While rail is small potatoes in the US, it is huge in Europe. We expect to see them partner up with Expedia, Orbitz and others.