Utell has recently added a number of properties to its catalogue of boutique properties in the past 15 months. In addition to the décor that defines today’s lifestyle properties, Utell boutique member hotels are known for delivering exceptional service. 

With more than 100 boutique hotels in the Utell portfolio, these elite properties recognize that Utell’s long-standing relationships with the world’s leading travel agencies helps build awareness of their properties and ultimately drive new bookings.

  Through Utell’s global distribution system (GDS) connections, and fully commissionable online booking capabilities provided on www.utell.com, agents can book both corporate and leisure clients in these exclusive hotels.

 

Utell’s connection to Pegasus’ Electronic Distribution System allows member properties to be accessible via the four major GDSs (Amadeus, Galileo, Sabre and Worldspan), the leading sources for travel agent bookings.  According to PhoCusWright, GDS bookings via traditional offline travel agents are the second-largest channel for hotel reservations, accounting for 21 percent of bookings in 20012.  (Hotel call centers handled 63 percent of bookings in 2001. (2)) 

Travel agents can count on the Utell worldwide sales force to keep them abreast of the latest Utell hotel offerings in this growing category.  Through the Utell “roadshow tour” for member properties, multiple hotel representatives travel with the Utell sales force into cities where they can meet large numbers of agents, showcase their properties, and share pertinent information.  Many boutique hotels also participate in Utell marketing programs, such as the new year-long GREATRATE promotion, which features discounts ranging from 15 to 50 percent at properties and booking incentives for travel agents.

Utell.com
provides agents with an excellent channel to access information about Utell’s boutique hotels.  Boutique hotels can be easily viewed at Utell.com and on GDS terminals under the Style category of Utell’s Selections program. Utell Selections segments hotels into well-defined categories that both novice and veteran agents can use to quickly find the most appropriate Utell property.  Many properties showcase photos of room types and outdoor settings on the Web site, as well as information on meeting facilities, nearby attractions, and room amenities. 
“Our vast range of hotel options gives agencies around the world a single, best source to better serve their client base,” said Graham Richards, vice president of Utell Global Sales for Pegasus Solutions.  “We are uniquely positioned to link boutique hotels, many of which have limited resources to promote their properties via electronic and traditional channels on their own, with agents that have the power to recommend a hotel at the point of sale.  Through our electronic distribution outlets and everyday contacts with agents, we will continue doing our part to build awareness of the extraordinary experience a traveler can expect from staying at a Utell boutique hotel.”

 

Related stories on ITN:

(05/11/2003) Netbook Selects Utell as Preferred Corporate Hotel Supplier

(11/09/2003) Utell Increases Presence in Asia-Pacific Region

(16/07/2003) Utell Implements Lanyon Tools

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