CNG Travel Group plc (CNG) announced today that it has
been selected by the WIN Travel group as preferred supplier of competitive rate hotel inventory to its members through CNG’s Travel Lodging Connector (TLC) solution. The
network includes 1,000 Advantage agents in the UK, where the solution will
be rolled out first.
In a separate deal, CNG will also be the exclusive provider of TLC-based
hotel inventory and booking capabilities to up to 5,000 desktop systems
used by 1,200 Benelux agency customers of Gateway, the biggest provider of
agency desktop solutions and private airfares in Belgium and Holland.

CNG’s inventory of over 25,000 hotel properties, offering some of the most
competitive hotel rates available, will be distributed through its
innovative TLC booking solution which provides a seamless, real-time
booking channel.  Already in use by thousands of agents, TLC seamlessly
integrates CNG’s private hotel inventory and GDS hotel inventory into a
single interface on agents’ GDS screens, thus providing them superior
choice and rate value. As well as offering above-average commission, CNG
also handles commission collection and payment, removing an administrative
burden for both agents and hotels.

The WIN Travel agreement will see its members (some 6,000 independent
agencies with around 30,000 desktops providing leisure, business,
incentive and group travel services in Australia, Canada, Austria,
Germany, Italy, South Africa, Malaysia, Mexico, Spain and the UK) being
offered a TLC link on their GDS screens. Through TLC, WIN agents will be
able to view and book corporate rate hotel inventory as well as CNG’s
private rate inventory, so extending choice and value for customers.

CNG CEO Finbarr Power commented: “The WIN Travel and Gateway agreements
show that our business model delivers what agents want and need in today’s
competitive market - choice, value and no-hassle technology. That means
everyone wins - the agent, the hotel, the customer and, of course, CNG.”

WIN Travel CEO Neil Armorgie stated: “Our network is built on providing
the highest standards of service for our end customers. CNG adds a further
dimension to our value delivery by making it very easy for our member
agents to offer more choice and value to customers and so reap new
benefits.”

Commenting on the CNG deal, Gateway CEO Valere Vandecruys said: “Gateway’s
reputation for efficiently linking agents and others to its negotiated
airfares database would be significantly reinforced with offering CNG’s
hotel inventory.  CNG offers choice and value in abundance with its ease
of booking, exclusive rates and attractive commission.”
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