SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. 18, 2004 (PRIMEZONE) -- The Golden Gate Council of Hostelling International-USA announced today that it has successfully deployed software and developments provided by DigiLava, Inc. (Pink Sheets:DGLV) to restructure and launch highly interactive, profitable and content-rich websites (www.norcalhostels.org), among other online enhancements. The online technology provided by DigiLava, a recognized pioneer in Application Service Provider of rich-media direct response marketing for businesses and enterprises, was used to rebrand the Hostelling International-USA Golden Gate Council (including three San Francisco gateway hostels and seven regional hostels: www.sfhostel.org, www.sfcitycenterhostel.org, www.sfdowntownhostel.org).
DigiLava's Internet solutions will be used to manage the HI-USA Golden Gate Council Newsletter and related public relation programs, including events and fundraising endeavors year-round. Technology developed by DigiLava will offer the internationally-recognized nonprofit organization more effective functionality and capabilities for worldwide registrations, guest tracking and event marketing. The HI-USA Golden Gate Council and DigiLava agreement also includes data-mining and database conversion and management.
"The Golden Gate Council of Hostelling International-USA is very pleased with our new website developed by DigiLava, which provides personalized content for our many online visitors and tools for our staff to easily update specials," said Barbara Wein, Director of Golden Gate Council HI-USA. "DigiLava successfully met the challenges of launching the site, including our renaming of the organization during the build and the adoption of a new logo. We are thankful to the DigiLava professionals for completing the project quickly, thus ensuring our rebranding success and our efforts in 'helping all, especially the young, gain a greater understanding of the world and its people through hostelling'".
"DigiLava has been providing Internet strategy and infrastructure to the Golden Gate Council of Hostelling International-USA for two years, and we look forward to many more years working together to help this important organization fulfill its mission," said Baldwin Yung, CEO of DigiLava. "We believe that leveraging the power of the Internet, from robust websites with personalized content to targeted permission-based email campaigns, will be a key to success for nonprofits in the 21st century."
About Golden Gate Council of Hostelling International-USA
The Golden Gate Council of Hostelling International-USA, is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to providing budget accommodations and promoting experiential education through ecologically and culturally sensitive travel. Since its establishment in 1958, the Golden Gate Council has grown to become one of the leading networks of hostels and related travel and educational programming in the nation. Annually, the Golden Gate Council's nine hostels in some of the most spectacular locations in Northern California serve nearly 200,000 guests from around the world. Additional information about Golden Gate Council at http://www.norcalhostels.org.
About DigiLava, Inc.
Founded in 1998, DigiLava, Inc. is a leading San Francisco-based Application Service Provider (ASP) of permission-based digital direct response marketing and communications that offers empowering technology to direct marketers, web publishers and advertisers. The Company's core products and services enable clients to optimize their marketing and advertising campaigns by effectively delivering and tracking online video enhanced rich-media promotions, newsletters, PR & IR releases, and distance learning, including purchases, pass-along and new customer acquisition.
For additional information about DigiLava, please visit http://www.digilava.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
In addition to historical information, this press release contains forward-looking statements (including, without limitation, express or implied statements regarding the adoption of website technology and Internet fundraising software by certain nonprofit organizations) that involve risks and uncertainties. These forward-looking statements represent our estimates and assumptions only as of the date hereof. These statements reflect our current views with respect to future events and are based on assumptions and subject to risks and uncertainties. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performances or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, without limitation: our limited operating history; our history of losses; our dependence on increased acceptance by nonprofit organizations of online fundraising; lengthy sales cycles for major customers; our need to manage growth; risks associated with accounting for and processing large amounts of donations; the rapidly changing technologies and market demands; and other risks identified in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Given these uncertainties, you should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements.