Safari bookings made easy on-line

Web site launches

Safari bookings made easy on-line

Agents no longer need to refer clients to a specialist

Few aspects of travel have escaped the impact of the Internet and safari holidays are no exception. Agents will soon be able to research and book safaris on-line, with the launch of the first ever commissionable safari Web sites.

The two main players (see below) say the sites will be particularly useful for agents who have previously shied away from safari holidays as they will give them the background information needed to book such a sophisticated product.

Other safari sites:

&#42 www.safarilink.com

Launched two years ago, this is a comprehensive site providing information on safari destinations, operators and trade information. With the latest news on developments and details of camps and ground handlers throughout Africa, it is a useful resource for agents.

&#42 www.safarisearch.com

This is the only comprehensive search engine for safari-related sites. With links to 4,000 safari-related Web sites it’s helpful for agents as a research tool. Drop-down menus help users narrow their search by choosing ‘wildlife’, ‘national park’ or ‘country’.

how agents will use the sites

&#8226 Research destination or type of safari clients want, having established party composition and criteria (for example, when they want to go, special interests, regional preferences and budget).

&#8226 Show clients the choice on screen. They will be able to see the camp and video footage of game in the area etc, and so establish an accurate idea of what to expect.

&#8226 Agree itinerary, including all local transfers, specific requirements, specialist guiding, excursions and special interests.

&#8226 Check availability of chosen itinerary, flights and transfers on-line. Establish cost.

&#8226 Book on-line.

&#8226 Confirm booking on-line

Safari.net

Safari.net, which launches this month, will offer a comprehensive range of bookable safaris from all sectors of the market.

The first version, focusing on eastern and southern Africa, will be followed by a second expanded transactional site in spring 2001.

Safari.net chairman Alan Bernstein said: “The site will connect travellers, agents and operators, and suppliers of hospitality products and safaris in Africa and act as a coherent marketing and sales platform for the industry with transactional capability.”

Bookings will initially be by phone or e-mail with a subsequent on-line facility.

Working primarily with AfriCam (the world’s first 24-hour live wildlife Internet site) South African National Parks, Wilderness Safaris and specialist operator Worldwide Journeys and Expeditions, Safari.net will allow agents to access expert information and book established, quality products.

Agents will be able to register free to research a safari and create individual itineraries.

Although the exact rate of commission was not revealed, Bernstein said: “They will definitely be satisfied, we will meet current industry practice.”

Bernstein said agents needn’t worry that clients will bypass them to book safaris directly, because a detailed understanding of the complexities of the product is needed. “Safari.net is primarily intended as an on-line booking engine for the travel trade in its first versions. It will be a highly informative tool for customers to get an understanding of what’s on offer and to make informed decisions before conveying that to an agent.”

Operated by Unexplored Inc, an on-line developer of travel technologies and travel-related experiential Web sites, Safari.net is the first of a series of travel sites.

Helpful: the site offers information about lodges and camps

safaribookers.com

Following its success over the past two years, safarilink.com is launching safaribookers.com, a new commissionable safari Web site, at World Travel Market.

Agents – and the public – will be able to research, check availability and book entire trips on-line.

Safarilink.com managing editor Claire McHugh said:”This will be a fantastic tool, especially for more general travel agents who may have shied away from booking safaris before and referred clients on to specialists so they miss a sale. Now they will be able to book with confidence and will obviously get commission.”

The site will launch with a limited number of reputable lodges and camps but will quickly expand and there will be direct links to individual camp’s Web sites. Transport between chosen camps and countries can also be arranged through the site.

“Our research has shown that people don’t want to be in one place on safari and safaribookers.com allows users to hook all the separate elements up together,” added McHugh.

Camps involved in the project will reserve a certain number of bed nights for the Web site to ensure double booking is impossible and they will be able to sell any last minute cancellations over the Net.

Demonstrations of safaribookers.com will take place throughout World Travel Market.

Variety: the site will letusers see what differentlocations offers