| Journal: TWUK | Section: |
| Title: | Issue Date: 17/04/00 |
| Author: | Page Number: 47 |
| Copyright: Other |
Dallas CVBlaunches site to act as one-stop-shop service
E-commerce
Report by ALAN MOORE
Report by ALAN MOORE
THE Dallas Convention and Visitors Bureau has launched an e-commerce system for tour operators and travel agents wanting to plan both leisure and business trips for clients.It has been formed as a new subsidiary within the city’s tourism division called Dallas: One-Stop Shop and will be on show at the annual US Pow Wow event in Dallas from May 13 to 17.
Dallas Convention and Visitors Bureau president and chief executive officer Dave Whitney said: “One-Stop Shop is a unique concept in the world of CVBs. It will provide our international customers with an enhanced level of service in a virtual one-stop environment and we are guaranteeing a 48hr turnaround.
“The new Web site offers assistance with itineraries, hotels, ground transportation, sightseeing, our new technical tours and incentive programmes as well as being a means of booking travellers into the city for conferences.”
Delegates to Pow Wow will be shown the site – www.dallasonestopshop.com – and how they can mix and match the city’s tours, activities and other attractions for programmes or plan attendance at events.
The Dallas CVB said it was confident the new marketing approach will become a standard in the industry, with CVBs not competing but enhancing with existing services.
Gary Woods has been made director of product development-tourism to oversee the service. Previously he was director of tourism for Fort Worth.
The Dallas development follows the announcement by the Travel Industry Association of America that it is to create a virtual US marketplace on the Internet by expanding its own Web site (www.tia.org). It will enable international buyers and US suppliers who attend Pow Wow to conduct business 24hrs a day, with products made available to selected participants. This includes hotel rooms, car rental, attraction tickets and airline seats that are made available only to them. The site will be password-protected so that only companies at Pow Wow will have access.
On-line: Dallas CVB is to launch an e-commerce system that will offer hotels, sightseeing and tours, while the TIA is expanding its own Web site