A faster and more accurate booking process is the bottom line of a new Direct Connect link announced by Amadeus and Carlson Hotels Worldwide (CHW). CHW is a global hotel company with more than 1,000 properties in 74 countries and has enabled a Direct Connect between the hotel company’s five hotel brands and the Amadeus distribution system. The move provides Carlson Hotels with a faster, more flexible, efficient and reliable interface, Amadeus says. It also enables Carlson Hotels to provide a more accurate booking process for the 99,000 travel agencies worldwide connected to Amadeus.
“Carlson Hotels has always valued its relationship with the travel agent community,” said Christine Brosnahan, vice president of distribution and reservation services for Carlson Hotels Worldwide. “Having a direct connection will enable us to add content on a timelier basis and provide functionality that travel agents seek to enable an easier selling process. In addition, we have recently implemented a centrally funded commission payment process that will ensure our travel agency partners are paid commissions in full in a timely basis.”
The connection, based on the OpenTravel Alliance’s XML standards, uses advanced, open technology. The new connection will enable Amadeus and Carlson to implement new features and enhancements more quickly, saving time and improving the quality of their content in the Amadeus’ system. The Direct Connect allows both companies to proactively develop new offers that keep pace with the demands of travelers.
Visit www.carlson.com or www.amadeus.com/hotels.