Optims And Amadeus Create A Direct Connection Between Their Electronic Hotel Distribution And Reservation Systems
Evry and Madrid, Otedis (Optims Technology for Distribution), a subsidiary of the Optims group, specialised in e-business solutions for the hotel and tourist industry, and Amadeus, the leading Global Distribution System (GDS) and travel industry technology provider, are to increase their reservation capacity and provide hotel chains and independent hotels with access to a distribution network totalling some 60,000 travel agencies and 10,000...
- Otedis, the Optims e-business subsidiary, strengthens its position and extends its reach as a key player in hotel distribution
- Amadeus offers a significant increase in hotel content to its worldwide travel agency and airline ticket office users
Evry and Madrid, Otedis (Optims Technology for Distribution), a subsidiary of the Optims group, specialised in e-business solutions for the hotel and tourist industry, and Amadeus, the leading Global Distribution System (GDS) and travel industry technology provider, are to increase their reservation capacity and provide hotel chains and independent hotels with access to a distribution network totalling some 60,000 travel agencies and 10,000 airline sales offices worldwide.
Hotel rooms made available through Otedis distribution systems (offering an inventory of approximately 4,000 hotels throughout France, Spain and Italy, including 2,000 hotels which use its real time online reservation technology) will now be offered through all Amadeus global distribution channels, including travel agencies, online travel agencies, corporate web sites, airline ticket offices and online sites.
This new link-up will provide travel agents with quick and direct access to substantial accommodation capacity that is currently not available on any GDS, without needing to go through intermediaries such as switches or representation companies. Travel agents will have access to quality rooms at preferential rates in Otedis client hotels that opt for this technical solution. Using a single tool to manage the different distribution channels is an important advantage for hotels. The fact that the systems are directly interconnected will substantially reduce GDS registration costs for hotels. Amadeus will be able to increase its hotel offering for its users while Otedis will broaden its distribution capacity, providing its customers with new sales opportunities.
Commenting on the deal, Antoine Medawar, Chairman and CEO of Optims, said, "The connection will be operational in May 2004 and will make it easier for hotels to sell capacity without having to pay commission fees to traditional intermediaries. Travel agents connected to the Amadeus system will in turn benefit from increased accuracy, reliability and volume in hotel reservations".
Philippe Chérèque, Senior Vice President for Corporate Strategy at Amadeus commented, "Thanks to this direct connection, not only will we be able to offer thousands of rooms in hotel chains and independent hotels that were previously inaccessible to Amadeus customers all over the world; we will also be facilitating 100 per cent accuracy for room availability and real-time prices. Such a broad offer that also includes independent hotels is an exciting challenge for our GDS. The direct connection with Otedis is a significant step forward. Now we can offer independent hotels the very best in distribution solutions. Our customers expect us to offer services on their behalf that in turn meet the expectations and requirements of their ow customers."
Otedis, Optims' subsidiary dedicated to e-business for the Hospitality industry, is in charge of the CRS offer. This solution is made of three products : Otedis.Webres (the real time/online booking engine for web sites), Otedis.Call Center (the electronic central reservation system) and Otedis.Switch (the electronic distribution of hotel rooms on the Internet). Initially created as an online catalogue for hotels in France, Italy and Spain, Otedis is today a virtual hotel chain made of 4,000 hotels (2,000 using the real time reservation technology). Châteaux & Hôtels de France, Agil Hôtels, Sofibra, Barceló Hotels & Resorts and many independent properties are already using the Otedis technology. Otedis today proposes a unique e-distribution network.
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Through the Amadeus GDS, travel agencies and airline offices are able to make bookings on more than 95 per cent of the world's scheduled airline seats. The system also provides access to 63,000 hotel properties, 50 car rental companies serving some 25,600 locations, and other provider groups including: ferry; rail; cruise; insurance and tour operators.
Amadeus is a leading application service provider (ASP) to the airline industry. 140 airlines use the Amadeus Sales System in their offices to provide passengers with superior and seamless service at optimal cost. Amadeus's new generation of Passenger Service Systems, which include all IT systems associated with inventory management and departure control, will be implemented by British Airways, Qantas and Finnair.
e-Travel, Amadeus's e-commerce business unit, is global leader in online travel technology and corporate travel management solutions. It services travel agencies in 90 countries, and powers the websites of over 260 corporations and more than 60 airlines and hotels.
Amadeus is headquartered in Madrid, Spain and quoted on the Madrid, Paris and Frankfurt stock exchanges. For the year ended 31 December 2003, the company reported revenues of EUR 1,929m and net income, excluding special items, of EUR 158.4m. The Amadeus data centre is in Erding (near Munich), Germany and its principal development offices are located in Sophia Antipolis (near Nice), France. The company has some 5,000 employees worldwide.
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