Operations and Structure Of the
Travel Industry
Technology
Lecture Outline
Links with tourism growth
Distribution systems
Information suppliers
Internet
Marketing
Growth of Industry
Increases in Technology has been the main
force behind the rapid growth of the travel
industry.
Needs to part of a long term strategic plan-
needs to be well managed and supported
Distribution
Technology as a means of distribution
Provides information to both middle men
and consumers
Very important with services as an
intangible product
Brochures
Role of the brochure was vital in informing
customers
CD- rom technology –Virgin ski-D-rom
Virtual reality-experience a virtual tour
CRS
Computer Reservation Systems CRS
Controls principal’s inventory for sales,
marketing and ticketing.
Controls fare and allocation -load control
systems
Agents are connected on-line to the central host
computer CRS
Distribution Systems
Global Distribution System GDS- contains
data for many companies it connects
several CRSs
Galileo, Amadeus,Sabre, Worldspan
Global Distribution Systems
Core focus to provide TA with a single
airline reservation system
Other services- car hire, hotel reservations,
ticketing and fare information, Client files
and general information.
Distribution Systems con
HDS-hotel distribution systems Connects hotel
own in-house res. system with GDSs
Thisco-Parent company Pegasus systems,
provides a standardise interface to GDSs
UTELL-provides service for smaller hotels, now the
world largest hotel marketing and reservation
company
Distribution Systems
Rail-differing system across countries
Eurostar -sold mostly through agents using
GDSs
ATOC Association of Train Companies- new
system AJENTS PC-based
Leisure distribution systems
Viewdata-launched in 1988 by Cosmos-
information by telecommunication lines.
Thomason now introducing Geni a web
based system
Leisure distribution systems
Videotex system- BT,s Prestel . Inexpensive
and easy to use
Teletext and interactive teletext-
successful form of advertising many
agents have special telephone service
centres.
Direct Access
Call centres-Multi-language call centres I.e
Airlines, National Tourist authorities, Large
travel organisations e.g RCI
Tour Operators encouraging direct
bookings
T.V.travel shop
Internet, Intranets, Extranets
Internet-facilitates the interactivity of an
enterprise/individual with the external world.
Intranets—closed,secured networks within
organisations, used to convey company data etc
Extranets-like intranets but link with external
computer networks to enhance interactivity
between business. I.e principal and T.A.
Internet
Marketing-level playing field
Widely used for simple bookings, flights,
hotels etc
Opportunities for travel agents
Internet
Expedia-Microsoft’s travel agency
Linked with Worldspan’s GDS
Expedia,s chat service with a Forum
Manager
Travelocity-Sabres web site
Internet
Large GDS’s offer web services to other
companies
Agents wishing to set up sites
Tour operators needing to distribute via the
web rather than videotext
Bibliography
Buhalis,D. Licata,M,C.(2002) The future of
etourism Intermediaries. Tourism
Management 23 pp207-220
Pender, L . (2001) Travel Trade and
Transport. Continuum, New York