Cendant Travel Distribution Services (TDS) has announced agreements with Topaz Hotel Services and Five Star Alliance.  Both clients will use TDS’ JumpStart Connectivity technology for their consumer Web sites.

JumpStart is designed to provide online travel retailers and tour operators with highly flexible connectivity and transactional capabilities.  It is fast becoming the accepted ‘direct-connect’ solution between distributors and hotel inventory. Through one easy connection, JumpStart provides connectivity to one of the most comprehensive portfolios of travel inventory in the industry. JumpStart uses the latest Web services technologies to significantly reduce the cost of distribution by integrating existing distribution and CRS systems, and eliminating the need for substantial programming, telecommunications and manual processing expenses.

“To be a successful luxury online travel agency, we needed to interface to one of the most comprehensive portfolios of hotel inventory with the best available technology.  It also had to be easy to implement and operate,” said Cal Simmons, Chairman, Five Star Alliance.  “Other products were considered, but we decided on Jumpstart Web Services since we knew of its dependability for data and service responsiveness.”

“The agreements with HotelRes.com and FiveStarAlliance.com further proves our commitment to offering highly flexible solutions that help online travel companies and tour operators better manage their businesses,” said Richard Wiegmann, COO, TRUST International, Cendant TDS.  “JumpStart offers customers access to the best distribution technology available today and helps to manage distribution challenges they may face tomorrow.”
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