DEDICATED B2B wholesaler Destinations of the World (DoTW) is set to roll out DOTWConnect, an online reservation system that promises to be more user-friendly and more sophisticated than the previous one, DotWorld, according to the company’s Werner Brosse, head of operations for the UAE.
“This new online reservation system will also allow XML connectivity and have an extranet for our suppliers. We are planning to have the first XML-customers connected in the second half of the year 2007,” he said.
XML will allow DoTW to multiply its customers worldwide as well as allowing supply to dynamic packaging systems of key customers, he said. “The extranet will allow our suppliers to load contracts online and to manage inventories, profiles and special promotes online as well. Since pricing has become dynamic, our system is dynamic as well. With DOTWConnect we are as well looking at online connection to a GDS in order to have access to the hotel chains ‘Best Available Rate’,” Brosse said.
Already, Brosse said, pre-launch response to the DOTWConnect system has been very positive. “We have already had contacts with major players from different source markets, and we have a ‘waiting list’ for XML which has to be prioritized as soon as we will hand out the XML Documentation.
“We will make a presentation of DOTWConnect to our customers and suppliers in order to familiarize them with the new features of the system. And we will have the whole DOTW Network on the stand, which will help again to strengthen the spirit of our global organization.”
The company’s long-term strategic plan is to be the undisputed leader in the global wholesale travel business, he said. “The yearly turnover of the DotW network will reach $1 billion in the year 2010.”
Destinations of the World has 21 offices in 16 countries worldwide. It features more than 80,000 services in more than 600 cities world wide on www.dotworld.com, and registered customers of DoTW can book these services online with instant/real time booking confirmation.
New markets for DoTW-UAE include the Far East (Hong Kong, China, South Korea, Taiwan, Japan, Philippines), East and South Africa, and the North African countries of Libya, Algeria, Tunisia, Morocco.
Talking about potential business markets, Brosse said group travel is a significant new area. “Our core business is still FIT, but DoTW-UAE alone did more than 200 groups in 2006 (leisure groups, conferences, incentives). We started our outbound MICE and groups division in 2007, and are planning to increase the volume of group travel dramatically.” DoTW’s MICE references include Pepsi International, Ashok Leyland, Stabilo and Wipro.