iXL and Thistle Hotels Introduce Mobile Commerce Service
UK Hotel Group Delivers New Customer Services Over WAP-enabled Mobile Internet Telephones
LONDON, April 25 / Thistle Hotels Plc has today become one of the first hotel groups in the UK to make its hotel reservation information accessible via the new range of mobile Internet phones using the Wireless Application Protocol (WAP). The new service, developed by iXL Enterprises IIXL, allows consumers to search for details on the nearest hotels, access directions, browse the latest special offers or 'e-Deals', and check information on the...
"We wanted to be at the forefront of the mobile-commerce market evolution to provide convenient access to any Thistle property from a device as ubiquitous as the mobile telephone," explained Ian Burke, chief executive of Thistle Hotels. "By also WAP-enabling our online reservations systems, we have increased our ability to assist customers in making easy, well informed buying decisions."
As well as offering a new range of customer services to a growing number of mobile Internet users, this move is also designed to consolidate Thistle's position as a progressive and technology driven group, following last year's launch of its online reservations Web site.
As its Internet strategy partner, iXL has been working closely with Thistle Hotels to develop its Web presence and, in particular, to create an online reservations system. As part of its approach to developing Internet solutions, iXL places particular emphasis on the underlying architecture to ensure that content remains separate from design. This way, new mobile Internet channels, such as WAP, can be quickly 'bolted-on' without the need for major overhauls.
"Thistle has made a conscious decision to put technology at the heart of its customer service operations and has invested in its Internet infrastructure accordingly," commented Doug Reynolds, Managing Director of iXL's London office. "As a result we have been able to develop a robust and scalable solution for them, which is already paying dividends by allowing them to lead the way in the adoption of new Internet technologies."
About iXL Enterprises, Inc.
iXL Enterprises, Inc. is the parent company of iXL, Inc., iXL Ventures and the Consumer Financial Network(TM). iXL helps businesses identify how the Internet can be used to their competitive advantage and uses its expertise in creative design and systems engineering to design, develop and deploy advanced Internet applications and solutions. iXL Enterprises, Inc. has more than 20 locations in the United States, Europe and Japan. For more information, visit
About Thistle Hotels plc
Thistle Hotels is one of UK's leading hotel companies with 56 properties (just under 11,000 bedrooms) in key city center and countryside locations. The Group is the largest hotel operator in London, with 23 hotels in prime locations throughout the capital. Web site:
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