Metafour are launching a new online booking system, Empower, at the Travel Technology Show.

Following recent ATOL figures showing 60% increase in internet bookings for the top online travel companies, Rob Udwin, Metafour’s Business Development Director, said “It is now critical for travel businesses of every size to have live online and availability and booking. With our latest Empower technology, fast online bookings are now within the reach of every tour operators regardless of size and number of datasources.”

Empower has been developed from Metafour’s 12 years experience of travel technology, the last few spent enabling many of their current clients to develop their own products online, offering both live and ‘nearly live’ availability. The new Empower system simultaneously draws availability from datasources such as GDSs, low cost carriers, bedbanks and own inventory assembling either pre-determined packages or assembling the packages dynamically. Bookings are then written directly back into the travel company’s reservation system, ensuring real time information on all relevant systems.

Metafour clients, Tapestry Holidays recently took the decision to go to full online booking. Justin Stanton, Head of Marketing at Tapestry, said “Having online bookings is critical for the future of our business. We use Metafour’s Embarque system already and they have really helped us get this online project launched. Their professionalism, delivery commitments and problem solving have been invaluable.”

Metafour clients with live online capabilities include The Imaginative Traveller, Tucan Travel, Intourist, Exclusive Escapes, and Arrow Tours who have recently won a Business Excellence Award for Best E-Business. Their director, Ben Green, commented “We have worked closely with Metafour to launch our website which allows online booking, and the end product has far exceeded our expectations. Their expertise and our industry knowledge have helped us keep ahead of our competitors. Our website now accounts for 85% of our overall business. “

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