24/09/2009
Tourism Exchange is steadily gathering momentum with more than 450 New Zealand tourism providers now available for booking ‘real-time’.
Tourism Exchange (TX) is New Zealand’s new real-time marketplace for supplying and distributing tourism products, including accommodation, tours, attractions and events. For tourism operators with no inventory management system, Tourism Exchange also offers a simple, cost effective solution that is connected directly into the Exchange.
“Since the business launched at the end of April we’ve had considerable interest,” says Chris Hunter, Tourism Exchange CEO. “It’s been a tough winter for operators, which has meant they’re looking for ways to extend their distribution, increase revenue opportunities and make their own direct channels more effective. Tourism Exchange is uniquely placed to offer all this.
“In the last 60 days we have had more than 120 operators sign up to Tourism Exchange’s booking management system (BMS). This is testament to the simplicity and ease of use of the system. The highly attractive merchant facility available via Tourism Exchange has also been a strong draw card for customers, especially as it means that they are receiving funds immediately into their bank accounts,” Mr Hunter says.
Users of the Tourism Exchange BMS have shown some excellent results. One customer finding that within a month of going live with Tourism Exchange, their online sales had grown to represent almost 50 percent of their bookings. “Operators are pleasantly surprised by the times of day they’re getting online bookings...frequently when they’re tucked up in bed!”
TX has been actively focussing on boutique tourism businesses in the past 60 days, in large part due to the demand for this product by offshore and New Zealand based distributors.
“The eight Regional Development Managers across the country have been humbled by the quality and diversity of New Zealand tourism product available. Our distributors can start accessing everything from luxury lodges, boutique B and B’s, food and wine tours, golfing tours, Maori cultural experiences, even haunted house experiences! And their booking confirmations are instantaneous.”
Integrations with the most common reservation systems across New Zealand are progressing well, with integration pilot partners including Rydges, Quest and Scenic Circle.
