SAN RAFAEL, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 9, 2002--

International Hotel Chain Extends Autodesk Buzzsaw to Nearly 300 Sites; Significantly Reduces Paperwork and Realizes Sizeable Return On

Investment

Autodesk, Inc. (Nasdaq:ADSK), the world's leading design and digital content creation company, today announced that Wyndham International, Inc. has broadened its use of the Autodesk Buzzsaw collaboration service beyond construction project collaboration to support corporate communication and capital planning. Wyndham, which offers upscale and luxury hotel and resort accommodations throughout the United States, Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean and Europe, began using Buzzsaw in 2000 and has deployed the service to nearly 300 sites worldwide.

Using Buzzsaw as a document repository and intra-enterprise communications medium, Wyndham has been able to automate its annual capital planning process, eliminating nearly all accompanying paperwork and shortening the initial distribution process of preparing and issuing capital planning instructions from approximately three weeks to three days.

Rather than printing and physically distributing monthly status reports that highlight the execution of each hotel's capital plan -- each report comprising hundreds of pages -- Wyndham now simply post the documents to its Buzzsaw site where they can be accessed by the more than 800 users within the company.

In addition, using customized forms created at corporate headquarters in Dallas, facility managers in the field are able to submit information on budgets, work scope and schedules directly through Buzzsaw back to management. This paperless process has provided the hotel chain with up-to-the-minute visibility into the progress of projects throughout the enterprise. Wyndham plans and executes between 2,400 and 3,000 individual capital projects annually, from basic physical improvements to carpeting, HVAC systems repair, painting and room remodels.

"At Wyndham International we look at technology as a way to optimize the guest experience and improve the way we do business," said Richard Senechal, AIA, Wyndham's senior vice president of design and construction. "With the Autodesk Buzzsaw service not only has project collaboration and management improved, but we have also seen a drastic reduction in costs. Since implementing Buzzsaw our outlays for just photocopying status reports have declined by $36,000 let alone the additional savings in travel and delivery services. What's more, initiating the annual capital planning process now takes three days, where it used to take three full weeks. Buzzsaw has provided outstanding value and return on investment that is sizable after just a few years of use." Added John Campbell, Wyndham's regional director of capital projects: "There's a whole forest of trees that wasn't cut down in the last year and a half because of Autodesk Buzzsaw."

Wyndham's commitment to improving performance through technology is borne out by its winning of the CIO-100 Award in both 2001 and 2002. Presented by CIO magazine, the award identifies companies that exemplify the integrated enterprise. Among the criteria are the capability to move and use data from any point within the value chain at any time, and an infrastructure that enables the sharing of information throughout the enterprise.

"Wyndham International is widely recognized as the technology leader in the hospitality industry, which is why it is very gratifying that Autodesk collaboration services is playing a key role in the company's operations," said Chris Bradshaw, vice president, Autodesk Building Collaboration Services. "Wyndham's use of Buzzsaw to improve its capital planning is a logical extension of the service's core project collaboration capabilities. We believe in the years to come that many more organizations will recognize the advantages of leveraging digital building information across the entire enterprise, from the earliest design phases through to property management and onward."

About Wyndham International

Wyndham International, Inc. offers upscale and luxury hotel and resort accommodations through proprietary lodging brands and a management services division. Based in Dallas, Wyndham owns, leases, manages and franchises hotels and resorts in the United States, Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean and Europe. For more information, visit www.wyndham.com. For reservations, call 800-WYNDHAM.

About Autodesk

Founded in 1982, Autodesk, Inc., is the world's leading design software and digital content company. Autodesk offers solutions for professionals in building design, geographic information systems, manufacturing, digital media, and wireless data services. By delivering progressive products and services, Autodesk helps customers create, manage, use and maximize the value of their digital data throughout the lifecycle of their projects. For more information about the company, see www.autodesk.com. For information about the Buzzsaw service, visit the product site at www.autodesk.com/collaborate.

Autodesk, Buzzsaw and ProjectPoint are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Autodesk, Inc. in the USA and/or other countries. All other brand names, product names, or trademarks belong to their respective holders.

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