The TUI Group, and Worldspan have jointly announced at the ITB in Berlin that they intend to enter
into a partnership, by which TUI hotel content will become available through the Worldspan global distribution
system.The intended new relationship will mark the first time that
TUI properties will be marketed through a GDS, and will provide Worldspan
travel agencies access to substantial new leisure and destination content.
  As part of the intended partnership, TUI will gain access to more than
70,000 properties currently available through the Worldspan GDS, for
distribution by TUI. In addition, Worldspan will gain use of TUI’s
Web-based Hotel Manager product to give additional hoteliers access to this
advanced, quick-to-market solution for distributing their properties
through both Worldspan and the TUI booking platform.
  “The distribution of TUI’s celebrated brands through Worldspan,
combined with our use of TUI’s Hotel Manager product, will result in a
win-win-win scenario for travel agencies, hoteliers, and leisure travelers
worldwide,” said Kathy Fitzpatrick, Worldspan vice president—North
America Sales and Worldwide Travel Supplier Solutions. “We are pleased to
forge this milestone partnership with TUI, and eager to throw open the
doors to a new world of exclusive and niche leisure content for our travel
agency customers.”
  “TUI is focused on innovative use of Web-based technologies with the
goal of making our hotel and resort offerings more easily accessible to the
end consumer,” said Andreas Nau, head of Web Platforms—Tourism for TUI
AG. “Our Worldspan partnership will enable TUI to market hotels through one
of the travel industry’s most advanced distribution channels, achieve
real-time connectivity with travel agents, and lend electronic marketing
opportunities to more hoteliers through Worldspan’s use of TUI Hotel
Manager.”
  TUI Hotel Manager is an extranet hotel contracting and administration
solution that enables hoteliers, including chains and independent
properties of any size, to build hotel information and add their content,
rates and inventory via the Internet into TUI’s hotel database, and soon,
Worldspan’s.
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