Tiscover
has acquired 26% of leading online reservations platform NetHotels.com, a move which strengthens the company’s position at the head of the e-tourism marketplace.The deal, which is subject to monopolies and mergers authority approval, will see Tiscover harness NetHotels’ expertise as a leading provider of business-to-business booking solutions for destinations and hotels, and so develop its own business to consumer leisure platform.

NetHotels distributes over 35,000 hotels online, through hundreds of affiliate sites and call centres and through its own website. Following the deal, NetHotels will remain an independent company and will continue to market its solutions under its own name.

Tiscover serves tourism boards including in countries including Austria, Germany, Italy, Switzerland, the UK and South Africa, including the Austria’s national tourist office, and the East of England Tourist Board. Tiscover also operates its own portals internationally (www.tiscover.co.uk; www.tiscover.de, www.tiscover.com etc).

The system behind each Tiscover portal is a powerful tool for destination marketing organisations and accommodation providers to market products and services online, both through their own websites and through Tiscover’s brands.

By combining their strengths the companies aim to create an unparalleled solution both for hotels and tourism organisations, so best online offers for end consumers.

Karsten Kärcher, executive director of sales, marketing and finance at Tiscover commented: “We’re delighted with this deal, and believe we’re now in perfect position to become Europe’s number one online bookings brand.

“To strengthen our position at the head of the tourism solutions marketplace it made commercial sense to take a stake in NetHotels.com.

“Our common strengths, synergies and pioneering solutions mean we can make deeper inroads into the tourism and hotels sectors together, and the extensive know-how of both companies will allow us to set new standards in the online sector.”

Hans J. Pfisterer, chief executive of NetHotels.com: “This is an important deal for accommodation providers, tourist destinations and the end internet user. Together Tiscover and NetHotels.com can offer a comprehensive solution for online tourism. Together, we’re poised for growth worldwide.”
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