Amadeus has appointed Jean de Durfort to head of hotel distribution for Amadeus. Previously, de Durfort managed Amadeus? relationships with third party technology providers and with travel management companies selling e-Travel management, Amadeus? online booking tool. In new his role, de Durfort will work with travel agencies to boost hotel bookings through Amadeus and to promote Amadeus distribution products and services to hotels around the world. He also will drive Amadeus? continually increasing hotel content; currently agents can book more than 75,000 hotels through Amadeus. Hotel distribution is increasingly an important order of business for the technology company, which this week released a new hotel platform that defines hotels by 100 attributes. In 2008, the technology company also will release a new user interface, which will include a best available rate program. Visit www.amadeus.com. (JM)