Travel Leaders Group reports its Worldwide Hotel Program bookings increased 100 percent year-over-year through June 2014. Hoteliers participating in the hotel program have reported double-digit – and in some cases triple-digit – increases year-over-year, the group says. The newly-introduced microsites available to member agents are designed to increase travel agent support for participating hotels.
Participating hoteliers across all segments are enjoying dramatically increased bookings from Travel Leaders Group, noted Barry Liben, group CEO.
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"What has energized our nine brands around the globe is seeing triple digit growth from this program no matter the brand or where they are located,” stated Jeff Lanzarotta, managing director for global leisure and luxury sales at Starwood Hotels & Resorts.
Said Mai Meyaart, vice president of the Worldwide Hotel Program: “Through our new microsites, which are directly available to all of our travel agents through their respective brands’ portals, we place all the tools they need to effectively use the program right at their fingertips.”
The microsites unify all Travel Leaders Group brands and business units and provide a single source for hotel content and updates. The microsites include:
- E-directory of all 34,000 participating hotels worldwide
- Amenities offered by each participating hotel (Most offer complimentary breakfasts and free Wi-Fi, among other amenities)
- Booking instructions for GDS users (7TL for Amadeus, Apollo and Worldspan; TL7 for Sabre) and non-GDS user
- Instructions not only for bridging to Worldwide Hotel Program, but also removing old program codes
- Just-introduced group booking tool
- Partner hotel specials (often including added amenities beyond those outlined above)
- Special commissions offered
- Inserts for corporate client RFPs
- Agent education (ranging from “how-to” information for both GDS and non-GDS users to latest FAM news)
- Worldwide Hotel Program blog, including video updates
The group said the Worldwide Hotel Program will be participating in World Travel Market in London and other international travel shows.