First Choice Independent Travel heralds dynamic packaging move
A speedier new flights selling system from First Choice Independent Travel will be offered to third party agents from this month.
The system is designed to pave the wave for dynamic packaging from next April with the addition of hotels through online sister firm hotelbeds.com followed by car hire and attraction tickets by the end of 2006.
The company has worked with Amadeus on new technology that is claimed to be twice a fast as the previous system in response to demand from agents for a faster flights access.
The move follows a pilot in 28 First Choice travel shops, where staff used the system to sell more than 100 scheduled airlines and 25 European low cost and charter airlines, with live availability and fares from most UK airports. The system, which also offers multi-destination flights and stopovers, is now being introduced across First Choice Retail.
A single search offers availability on any carrier operating the requested route, allowing agents to make their own comparison of fares and airline without having to leave the site.
First Choice is offering a lowest price guarantee on flights booked through the site throughout the trial.
An integrated service offering the flights system linked with more than 20,000 hotels, mainly in Europe and the Med, USA, parts of Asia, South Africa and Australia, will be introduced by next April.
Managing director Kyle Haughton said: “By linking with our sister company hotelbeds.com, we have a vast range of package options available – there are very few sites that can offer the range that we have access to.”
Meanwhile, First Choice launches a £4 million brand building advertising campaign on Boxing Day to coincide with a promotion offering price cuts on more than 300 holidays to over 50 summer destinations.
The operator has also released third edition summer 2006 brochures and has introduced Jordan as a twin centre break with Taba in Egypt to a first edition winter sun 2006-07 programme.
Report by Phil Davies
Phil Davies
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
Airbnb eyes a loyalty program but details remain under wraps
Airlines suspend Madagascar services following unrest and army revolt
Qatar Airways offers flexible payment options for European travellers
Air Mauritius reduces frequencies to Europe and Asia for the holiday season
Major rail disruptions around and in Berlin until early 2026