Press Releases

VIPdesk TAPS HOME-BASED WORKFORCE FOR RAPID EXPANSION OF ITS WEB CONCIERGE SERVICES

Internet personal services company to hire concierges nationwide to help busy people get things done

Alexandria, VA, May 3, 2000 – VIPdesk, the nation's fastest growing Web-enabled concierge services company, announced today an aggressive expansion into 25 additional markets and plans to hire local concierge agents to ensure accurate and current in-market expertise. The recent agreement with America Online's Digital City, www.digitalcity.com, launching "Ask the Concierge," a free online concierge service powered by VIPdesk that offers personal, real-time assistance from live, local concierge agents coincides with the localized market rollout throughout the country.

VIPdesk is a Web-enabled concierge service providing personal, real-time assistance from live, local concierge agents. Currently, 2.9 million customers have access to the company's services.

"This is an excellent opportunity for stay-at-home professionals – mothers, retirees and other people who want to work part-time – to earn a great salary while working at home," said Mary Naylor, CEO and founder of VIPdesk. "We're looking for people who are creative, motivated, knowledgeable about their community, and know how to get things done."

VIPdesk hires and trains remote, home-based concierge agents to process requests via e-mail and live one-on-one chat. These concierge agents are highly skilled professionals that provide additional, unparalleled local knowledge. The remote concierge agents also provide real-time updates of local recommendations that are published and accessible online.

The home-based concierge agents can work hours suitable to their schedule and can receive a unique and compelling compensation. It is estimated that a home-based concierge can make up to $40,000 per year for working part time.

Each city will have one "lead" concierge who will serve as a city expert resource for the home-based remote concierges. VIPdesk is currently developing a distance learning program to train at-home concierges.

About VIPdesk (www.vipdesk.com)

VIPdesk is leveraging 12 years of concierge experience to provide its blue chip clients with a personal assistant infrastructure platform. This innovative B2B2C model is the ultimate customer and employee loyalty strategy – VIPdesk enables its clients to extend their brands into the daily lives of their customers and employees by offering a 24x7 service to streamline busy lives. Fueled by $3.75 million in venture capital funding, VIPdesk was launched in 1996 as a spin-off of Capitol Concierge, a corporate concierge company that was formed in 1987 by founder Mary Naylor. For more information or to apply for a home-based concierge position, visit www.vipdesk.com.

# # #