Carlson Hospitality Worldwide Reservations Services today announced it has completed its enhanced “Next Generation” seamless interface with three Global Distribution Systems (GDS), providing travel agents and those booking through the GDS direct access to real-time rates and availability at Carlson hotel brands. Regent International Hotels; Radisson Hotels & Resorts; Park Plaza Hotels & Resorts; Country Inns & Suites By Carlson; and Park Inn, now offer hotel shopping via the company’s central reservations system, Curtis-C, through Sabre (Direct Connect Shop), Galileo (Inside Shopper), and Amadeus (Dynamic Access). The company is scheduled to complete its seamless connectivity with Worldspan in January 2004.

According to Christine Brosnahan, vice president of distribution and reservations services for Carlson Hospitality Worldwide, these new interfaces will help expand market share, as well as increase customer satisfaction and utilization of Carlson hotels. “We truly value travel agents and consider them a strategic partner which is why we chose to invest further in our relationship with them. Our new connectivity will not only strengthen and enhance our customer relationships, but it will also improve our database credibility and reliability with those booking through the GDS,” said Brosnahan.

Among the travel agent community, the number one complaint is data quality and the inaccuracies between shopping and booking screens. “Because it is impossible to have 100 percent synchronization between the GDS and Computer Reservation Systems, it was important for us to improve our connectivity to this audience,” added Brosnahan.

Several travel agencies have strong opinions on the “Next Generation” connectivity and have indicated that hotel brands that move to this level will be given top consideration.
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