World's most global hotel group launches new central reservations system

Cairo, Egypt
Over 140 InterContinental hotels and resorts have migrated to the new system this month, with the remainder of Six Continents Hotels' brands set to join the HOLIDEX®Plus system by 2003. HOLIDEX®Plus will allow hotels greater operational efficiencies and guests more flexibility and a greater choice in selecting personalised rate programmes.

The introduction of HOLIDEX®Plus means hotels can now provide more detailed descriptions of their properties, rates and promotions to the various Global Distribution Systems (GDS) and travel websites, enabling them to provide guests with precise information about the product offerings. HOLIDEX®Plus allows the mix and match of rates and room types to provide guests with a more personalised service, whilst offering greater flexibility to hotels in designing and distributing promotional packages though targeted channels to meet customer needs.

To date, Six Continents Hotels has invested 75 million Euros in the 'next generations systems' project, which includes two other core business systems, the property management system and the revenue management system. Six Continents hotels' reservations network annually produces over 28 million room nights.

Tom Oliver, chairman and chief executive officer for Six Continents Hotels commented "The introduction of HOLIDEX®Plus is part of our on-going campaign to meet and exceed customer requirements across the globe. The system will host over 3,200 of our hotels on a single platform, benefiting both travel agents and guests. The new system will help our properties tailor and drive promotions through electronic channels, resulting in increased revenue for hotels and a wider choice of personalised packages for guests."

He added, " In today's challenging environment, technology is playing an ever more important role in creating more sophisticated inventory management tools to market and sell services intelligently to a wider audience."

Other brands under the Six Continents Hotels' portfolio - Crowne Plaza, Holiday Inn, and Express by Holiday Inn - will commence migration to HOLIDEX®Plus system in October 2002 with the transition completed by Summer 2003.

Business and leisure travellers, and travel agents, can make instant hotel bookings by using the Middle East Central Reservation Office (MECRO) new toll-free phone lines in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain and Kuwait. The toll free numbers are: UAE 800 4642, Saudi 800 8 971 465 , Qatar 0800 971 234, Bahrain 800 880, Kuwait 473 2100 ext. 6233.