Top gay holiday operator Respect Holidays
has announced it will offer travel agents commissionable online bookings following the launch of a fully-bookable website powered by Traveloptions
.

Respect`s decision to create an agents` extranet follows the unveiling last month of real-time web bookings for consumers on its TravelOptions-powered site,
( www.respect-holidays.co.uk)
which already account for 15% of its business. The site offers Respect`s web customers live online reservations on packages to the company`s top four destinations Gran Canaria, Mykonos, Ibiza and Sitges.

Respect is the latest operator to offer live web bookings using TravelOptions` solution and follows providers including TravelExtras, the Holiday Store and Teletickets Flights.

Respect`s managing director Rob Harkavy commented: “Web bookings are forming an increasingly important part of our business. By offering customers a reliable and enjoyable online experience, TravelOptions` solution is allowing us to expand our e-commerce offering and gain a clear competitive edge in the fast-growing online gay travel market.”

TravelOptions` marketing director Tim Argent commented: “Online bookings offer operators a quick, low-maintenance and affordable route to significantly increased sales. With our customers seeing as much as 60% of their business coming from online bookings, Respect`s initial success is a sign of even greater things to come.”

TravelOptions` web-enabling solution delivers operators a total online bookings package for a single payment and a negotiable fee for each booking made, rather than a costly annual licence.

The flexibility of TravelOptions` breakthrough allows operators to convert their existing website into a fully bookable online travel store with bookings passed into their TravelOptions back-office system, without the need for costly server hardware. As a result, operators can offer both direct and commissionable agency bookings online at a fraction of the cost of a bespoke web solution.

Related stories on ITN:

(02/07/2002) TravelOptions Behind Web Bookings Surge for Travel Extras

(26/06/2002) Orbitz Delivers Micro-Site for Gay & Lesbian Travellers

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