The luxury hotel group,  Le Meridien

, and Visa International

, the world`s leading payment system, have combined forces to drive online transactions in the region.

In a joint promotion, the companies have created a microsite,  www.lemeridien-getaways.com

, to offer the convenience of booking and paying for hotel rooms online.
In addition, the microsite offers discounts to travellers from the region as well as the added incentive of a fourth night free when paying by Visa for three consecutive nights` accommodation at any of 23 Le Meridien properties in the Middle East and West Asia.
Russel Sharpe, senior vice president sales & marketing, Le Meridien Middle East and West Asia, explains: “The special ‘Four for Three` offer is exclusive to Visa cardholders in the Middle East - and while it can be booked through Le Meridien toll-free numbers or travel agents, the sites are all interlinked to enable the customer to book almost instantly with the minimum of fuss.”
Premal Patel, regional marketing manager for Visa, added: “To support the launch the region-wide programme, we launched the special interactive microsite, www.lemeridien-gateways.com. The site gives news of Le Meridien and Visa in the region and allows room reservations online, with immediate confirmation for Visa card holders.”
The partnership looks a promising one: Le Meridien`s online bookings are continuing to increase, with online bookings standing at about 4 per cent of total revenue. According to the global marketing information services firm JD Power, Le Meridien customers are more than twice as likely to book online as for any of the company`s competitors.
Meanwhile, the final quarter of last year saw e-commerce transactions on a global scale continued to grow with Visa payments via the Internet up 82 per cent in terms of transaction volume and 105 per cent in terms of dollar volume.
Le Meridien Getaways programme specifies up to 50 per cent discount off hotel rack rates, valid until the end of March, and covering properties in Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Syria and the United Arab Emirates, as well as India.
The special ‘Four for Three` offer is exclusive to Visa cardholders in the Middle East and can be booked by contacting Le Meridien toll-free numbers in the GCC or via travel agents.
Related stories on ITN:

(28/03/2003) `Cyber Hotel` from Le Meridien

(23/04/2003) Le Meridien High Speed Connections

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