07 April 2009

Barrhead bypasses viewdata with new booking system

Glasgow-based travel agent Barrhead Travel has launched a web booking engine powered by Amadeus owned TravelTainment.

The system provides direct connectivity with the package operator and bypasses the viewdata networks.

Barrhead director Julie Taylor said it was the first travel agent website in the UK to have direct connectivity to book with Thomas Cook and other operators.

"We believe that the consumers’ choice of booking package product online has been, to date, restricted due to the old standard viewdata connections and until now there has not been an online solution available which can provide the level of functionality we needed," she said.

"Now with TravelTainment we have a system that can provide a quick and easy route to booking packages online."

TravelTainment sales director Colin Mckee said viewdata connectivity makes the booking experience "slower, more cumbersome and in our view unfriendly to the customers".

"The direct connectivity we now have in place with operators systems along with our sub-second search technology is what makes TravelTainment unique in the market resulting in a quick, easy and more pleasurable route to booking a holiday online which should ultimately increase conversions," he said.

"Currently we have over 70 million package offers available for booking in our system from 35 operators. This will continue to grow as our strategy is clearly and firmly focused on further increasing product connectivity and distribution channels."

By Bev Fearis