News out today:
newswire.ca
HARS Systems Signs with MIC of the U.K. for Another Internet Based Link
CALGARY, May 18 /CNW/ - Hars Systems, Inc. through its wholly owned
subsidiary, VIP International, Corporation (VIP), has signed an agreement with Mirror Image Communications Limited (MIC) of London, U.K., to electronically distribute its hotel and car rental portfolio to tour operators and direct to corporate clientele utilizing the MIC Internet based booking system throughout Europe. MIC, through its ''Total Distribution System'', is automating the booking process between tour operators, corporate clientele and the hotel and car rental supplier. In effect, MIC has created an Internet based Global
Distribution System specifically for tour operators and corporate travel departments. The highly manual environment in which tour and leisure operators have functioned in the past will be fully automated by MIC's ''Realtime'' product. MIC, founded by former Forte & Le Meridien Hotel executives, has partnered with Sema Group of the U.K., one of the world's largest international IT and business services companies, through a seven year development contract. VIP will be linking its central reservation system (CRS) to the MIC total distribution system, which will allow for the on-line booking of its 3,000 hotel properties and car rental locations. VIP's CRS, which was
developed by WizCom International a division of Cendant Corporation, owner of Ramada and Days Inn, is extremely flexible and will readily link to Internet channels like the MIC distribution system. VIP has completed links to Microsoft's Expedia (www.expedia.com), Travelocity (www.travelocity.com), WorldRes (www.placestostay.com), LeisurePlanet (www.leisureplanet.com), United Connections (www.united.com), Internet Travel Network (www.itn.com), Excite (www.excite.com) and numerous other onward distribution channels. Today nearly 6% of VIP's business is derived from Internet channels and it is expected to nearly double by the first quarter of next year.
The United Kingdom tour operator lodging market is estimated at $4
billion CAD annually. VIP will be increasing its exposure to potential hotel and car rental bookers by more than an estimated 25%. As a result, VIP expects significant increases in booking volume from the large tour operator segment and the lucrative corporate travel market in Europe. VIP is the first hotel and car rental representation company to enter into an agreement with MIC. This move is in line with VIP's strategy of becoming the central point of distribution for all viable Internet and travel agency electronic distribution channels. VIP provides reservation and marketing services through the Internet and travel agent/airline global distribution systems, to the hospitality and car rental segment of the travel industry. The company serves clients in 65 countries and has been operating since 1979.
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For further information: Kelly Blake, VIP International Corporation,
(403) 269-3566, Fax: (403) 266-5228, E-mail: kblake@vipintcorp.com,
website: www.vipintcorp.com
Regards, t. |
