Two of Ireland`s top travel industry companies have joined forces in creating what is believed to be a world first in the supply of travel information and booking ability to a single country destination.
Datalex, a world leader in the development of IT solutions for the travel industry, is supplying the technology for Irish Continental Group`s exciting new initiative, www.wannabeinireland.com. This Web site is a breakthrough in Internet travel distribution, providing for the first time, a full on-line travel booking service for air, car, ferry, and accommodation for people wishing to visit Ireland.
Commenting on the launch, Eamonn Rothwell, Managing Director, Irish Continental Group Plc, said, “We have been watching the growth explosion in Internet travel booking and saw a clear gap in the market in Ireland for an Internet travel store that would enable visitors to plan and book all aspects of their trip to Ireland from a single Web site. The site is initially targeted at tourist and business travel between the UK and Ireland, but we plan to cater for the US and European markets in the near the future.”
The site is a showcase for Datalex technology as it demonstrates innovation and flexibility of the company`s leading-edge Internet booking software. It is also the first deployment of Datalex`s Internet-based multi-ferry enquiry and booking system, which is deemed to be the first system of its kind in the world. The new travel site is currently targeting the UK market, which is one of Ireland`s most important tourist markets. In 2000, 3.4 million people traveled to Ireland from the UK, and this market is estimated to be worth over IR£796 million (US$927 million).
wannabeinireland.com offers visitors the ability to plan their own itinerary, look up schedules, search for availability in real time, check out current fares and prices, browse through tourist information and book all aspects of their holiday on-line with a single secure credit card transaction. Bookings can be made for any combination of flights (600 daily), car ferries (60 sailings daily), car rental (10 car rental groups), all types of accommodation (3,000 properties), and insurance. Visitors may make an immediate purchase and get on-the-spot confirmation of all bookings with no waiting or deferred follow up phone calls or e-mails.
According to Neil Wilson, CEO of Datalex, “We are delighted to be the technology partner of choice for this venture, which has resulted in pioneering achievements for both our companies. We will continue to stretch the boundaries of travel technology development and, in so doing, enable our current and future clients to face and surmount the ongoing challenges in the highly competitive world of Internet travel.”
——-