Banyan Tree Hotels and Resorts is to introduce global toll-free booking and enquiry lines.

The company will run 18 free-phone lines across 17 countries including the UK from August 1.

Callers will be able to speak to a representative in their own time zone, 24 hours a day. This complements existing booking channels including website and travel agent resources, the company said.

The move follows Banyan Tree Group introducing an independent GDS “BY” code last September.

It comes as the group enters a new stage of expansion with almost 50 hotels and resorts opening over the next three years in locations such as Mexico, Greece and Ras Al Khaimah.

The launch of the international toll free lines in tandem with the independent GDS code will streamline the booking process for consumers as well as travel agents, the company said.

Banyan Tree will plant a tree for every 10 phone bookings received through the international numbers. The trees will be planted in the heritage Daintree Rainforest, Cairns in partnership with the Australian Rainforest Foundation.

The UK number is: 00800 300 200 00.         



by Phil Davies