Online Travel Corporation
(OTC) today announces that it has been awarded the contract to power Thomas Cook’s UK online operation, which is set for a substantial overhaul.OTC technology will empower Thomascook.com users to self-package holidays for the first time, through the adoption of OTC’s groundbreaking ‘Build Your Own’ (BYO) technology. The addition of this powerful tool will allow Thomas Cook to capitalise on the potential of the DIY holidays market1.

OTC will provide a customised version of its software for flights, hotels, car hire and insurance, together with its pioneering BYO self-packaging technology. The extensive deal also incorporates the supply of a complete portfolio of mid- to back-end support solutions covering sales, ticketing, call centre and marketing/CRM tools.  Thomas Cook will use the tools both online and in its call centres.

Thomascook.com‘s flight search engine will cover both scheduled and charter fares and allow Thomas Cook to upload and prioritise its own net fares into a blended search.

The site will offer up to 97,000 of OTC’s hotels, using the gateway of its subsidiary All-Hotels.com, together with Thomas Cook’s global portfolio of accommodation inventory.

Katherine Gershon, Director of Multimedia Sales at Thomas Cook, said:  “OTC are helping us make Thomascook.com the customers’ number one choice for booking travel online. Through our deal with OTC we will be able to offer customers both online booking for package holidays and online booking for customers looking to build their own short breaks and holidays.”

Mark Jones, CEO of OTC, said: “This is a landmark contract for OTC. Our agreement with Thomas Cook underlines OTC’s strength as one of the leading technology licensing providers in the global travel industry. 

“We have the ability to rapidly and effectively web-enable companies, allowing them to capitalise on the burgeoning online market.”

Additional functionality includes an XML interface between Thomas Cook’s car hire suppliers Avis and Alamo, and an XML interface with AXA insurance.

OTC will also provide Thomas Cook with real-time, browser-based access to management information tools, allowing the operator to monitor its online performance, and make instant changes to react to changing market conditions.

Related stories on ITN:

(11/09/2003) OTC Reports Self-Packaging Boom

(18/08/2003) OTC Signs Car Rental Deal with Hertz

(18/08/2003) Exclusive Interview with Mark Jones, Founder and CEO, OTC

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