5 minute read
If you’re in the process of launching a travel website or have recently joined a travel company, chances are you’ve encountered the terms Internet Booking Engine (IBE) or Online Booking Engine (OBE). These are essentially the search engines found on travel websites that enable users to search for hotels, vacation rentals, flights, cruises and more. Once a service is selected, an IBE or OBE facilitates the booking process using the user’s preferred payment method. In the hotel or vacation industry, it essentially functions as an online shop for accommodations. Price, rates, and availability are managed within the reservation systems of suppliers, such as hotel companies. These systems determine the cost of a room per night or day, outline policies, and specify occupancy limits. Additionally, various other details are stored either in the reservation system or within the content management system (CMS) of the Internet Booking Engine (IBE). Some content may also be stored within the CMS of the website on which the IBE operates. An IBE must aggregate all this information and present it to the user. It is responsible for showcasing the hotel’s information, facilities, and amenities, as well as displaying availability, calculating prices, and providing a booking process. Through this process, users can select a room and make a booking by providing their details.
Whatever travel product you’re selling, your business could benefit greatly by incorporating an internet booking engine. Let’s see the advantages that the implementation of an online distribution and booking solution would bring to your company.
Or, to find out more about how our internet booking engine could help your business grow, click for info on our award-winning platform, iSell.
24/7 Opportunities
Travellers who decide to rent a car or book a room, an excursion or an activity, don’t want to wait until you’re in the office to help them. They’re looking for an immediate response and confirmation. The use of an online booking engine means that your company is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week; an easy way to satisfy the customer from the outset.
Faster And Easier Payments
With an online booking system, any worries related to safe online payment methods are assuaged. The use of secure payment gateways with data encryption builds trust in customers. If you work in a B2B environment, you can also apply different conditions to your sales. There are also booking engines that offer multi-currency modules, which enable you to operate in different currencies, without requiring a sales channel for each one.
Hang Up The Phone
Online booking minimises the dropout rate of potential customers, thanks to the fact that all information and booking details are always available. Customers who need to call a company to make a booking often lose patience if they are assisted by answering machines or subjected to awful hold music. In many cases these time-wasting activities become missed business opportunities.
Automation Is King
Many travel processes are often dependent on manual intervention which can translate into errors, inaccuracies and duplication of efforts; all of which put pressure on top line sales and business costs. Automating the administrative processes currently performed by your travel agency staff will free them up to do higher-value work, ultimately maximising sales and conversion rates. Internet booking engine systems automatically receive both the booking and all the required customer information. Also, they send the guests automatic emails to confirm the booking and can issue reservation reminders. Finally, such systems can check availability quickly and easily, responding immediately to customer enquiries.
Upselling Opportunities
Using a web-based system offers the possibility of including additional services or products during the online booking process and payment. This way, you get additional ancillary revenue while offering your customers a breadth of choice.
If you’re in the business for a new internet booking engine, it’s important to choose a provider who understands both the market and your business objectives. Traveltek’s flagship booking engine, iSell, offers users the opportunity to sell travel products in the most efficient way possible.
Unlike many travel technology platforms, with iSell there’s no need to jump between systems. The cloud-based platform connects the industry’s largest network of buyers and sellers worldwide with links to over 300 suppliers, including all the major GDS. All travel components are available within B2B, B2C and B2B2C environments. Thanks to a series of XML connections, iSell is automated and fully-integrated, making manual data inputs a thing of the past. Plus, with live pricing and availability, advanced search filters and dynamic packaging tools just some of the numerous benefits of the platform, the system provides travel professionals with the most innovative booking solution on the market.
Empowering Travel Agents with AgentConnect Booking Solutions
In summary, the landscape of booking systems for travel agents has undergone a huge transformation in recent years. With the rise of sophisticated online booking engines and Internet Booking Engines (IBEs), travel agents now have access to powerful tools that streamline the reservation process and enhance efficiency. These booking systems integrate with reservation systems, property management systems, and channel management platforms, providing real-time availability and pricing information.
Our booking engine solution AgentConnect offers travel agents a comprehensive suite of tools to meet their clients’ needs effectively. Our systems are designed to seamlessly integrate with existing workflows, allowing travel agents to easily access and book accommodations, flights, and activities on behalf of their customers. Furthermore, our cloud-based platforms offer scalability and flexibility, ensuring that travel agents can adapt to changing market demands and scale their operations as needed.
In addition to providing access to a wide range of inventory, our booking systems also offer advanced features such as social media integration and customisable booking portals. This allows travel agents to leverage the power of social media platforms to reach new customers and engage with existing ones. Moreover, our systems are designed to provide a user-friendly experience, making it easy for travel agents to navigate and use the platform efficiently.
