The travel industry’s leading e-commerce pioneer Anite Travel Systems is on course for a buoyant year in 2001, according to interim results announced today by parent company Anite Group plc, the European IT consultancy and solutions business.
Anite Travel Systems enjoyed continued growth following a strong performance in the six months to 31 October 2000, with sales increasing by one third to a record £10.1m. The company also returned excellent profits, up 43% on last year to £1.0m.
Importantly for future growth, Anite Travel System’s order intake grew by 66% during the trading period. The company claims the increase is due to strong demand for its e-commerce and managed service solutions, both sectors in which it enjoys clear market leadership. Anite Travel Systems is the only organisation capable of web-enabling all reservation systems - Anite and non-Anite alike - and has more travel providers selling online than any other company.
Anite Travel System’s performance follows a highly successful period of expansion in the European marketplace. In recent months the company has acquired European competitors as part of achieving its goal of becoming the leading ASP and e-commerce provider in the European travel marketplace.
In November 2000, Anite Travel Systems acquired Carus Ab, Scandinavia’s leading software provider for the ferry and cruise-ferry sectors, for up to £5.3m with earn out. Carus Ab is the pioneer of CarRes, a web-enabled bookings and reservation system for the cruise and ferry sectors. Another major acquisition was Opentur Srl., Italy’s leading tour operator software provider, bought in December 1999 for £2.1m, with earn out of up to £1.1m.
Commented Howard Frost, Anite Travel Systems’ director of marketing: “If these results are anything to go by, 2001 is going to be our best year yet. The figures prove our expansion strategy is well on course, with recent acquisitions playing a key part in our success.
“Furthermore, our excellent performance means we can both strengthen our position in Europe and enhance our customer offering in 2001, and we will soon announce further developments which will prove pivotal in helping us achieve these goals.”
Anite Travel Systems is the travel industry’s leading e-commerce pioneer, delivering web-enabled reservations systems to ferry operators, cruise lines and tour operators. Over 100 travel providers worldwide use Anite Travel System’s pioneering systems and e-commerce solutions. Customers include: First Choice Holidays, Virgin Holidays, P&O Cruises and Superfast Ferries. The company is an arm of Anite plc, the £160m-turnover systems integration and service giant with offices in the UK, Germany, Holland, France and Italy.
——-