Welcome Tourism Services unveils new online booking facility

Johannesburg – Welcome Tourism Services, a member of Tourvest Inbound Operations, has developed a new online reservations platform that will allow its travel partners to connect to Welcome Tourism Services’ systems for B2B (business-to-business) transactions.Called Welcome Connect, the system is entirely browser-based, and does not require any additional software. It is password protected and is restricted exclusively to travel trade users. Once the user is logged into the system, they will have access to a dynamic packaging tool that will allow them to perform product searches as well as checking availability and booking customised itineraries, which are confirmed immediately.

Welcome Connect provides users with more than 1 200 room types in 800 accommodation establishments, as well as scheduled escorted tours totalling more than 200 fixed departures a week. Users can also check for vehicle rentals and transfers.

Welcome Tourism Services managing director Martin Botha says demand for B2B travel solutions is high but only a handful of operators are offering suitable platforms. “We expect the system will significantly enhance reservation turnaround times, which in turn will optimise our clients’ consumer retention, while increasing reservation volumes,” he says.

The system is offered free of charge to the travel trade and all users will be supplied with a complete user manual. “We will also offer volume clients the opportunity to connect to Welcome Connect with their reservation system through a Host 2 Host connection, using an XML interface. This will allow the two systems to integrate seamlessly,” says Botha.

“The past few years have seen the travel industry transforming with a strong focus on technology to drive future processes and partnerships. We identified this change in the market early on and, today, we are perfectly positioned to offer our clients an easier and more efficient way of doing business,” he says.

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