| Journal: TWUK | Section: |
| Title: | Issue Date: 05/06/00 |
| Author: | Page Number: 25 |
| Copyright: Other |
Total distribution
MIC set to launch electronic system for leisure bookings
Report by TANYAJEFFERIES
MIRROR Image Communications is rolling out a new electronic-booking system this month aimed at eliminating the need for agents to reserve leisure accommodation by fax.The Total Distribution System links up every business in the distribution chain – from the hotel or guest house, the operator that books an allocation, the overseas operator that packages it up to the travel agent who eventually sells it.
MIC managing director Heath Kane said: “This system enables everybody in the chain to communicate on one system. We are removing the need for faxing.
“The idea is that our system will save on communication costs. The savings will come from the elimination of manual labour and the cost of the fax.”
He estimates that at present 65% of all accommodation bookings are carried out by fax and nearly all of these are leisure reservations. The 35% of bookings currently carried out electronically are mainly business bookings handled by the global distribution system suppliers.
TDS has been undergoing trials since December but will get a full roll-out to the travel industry later this month.
Meanwhile, hotel reservations specialists such as Wizcom and Pegasus are lending support by promoting TDS to their clients.
“At the moment leisure business is not going through them. TDS will increase the amount of business going through their networks,” explained Kane.
He claims that all businesses need to use TDS is a modern PC, access to the Internet and a free bit of software that is available from MIC on CD-ROM.
MIC will make its money from accommodation providers and tour operators, which will be charged a fee for every booking that is made.
Time saver:agents will no longer need to spend time faxing confirmations