In a joint promotion, the companies have created a microsite, www.lemeridien-getaways.com, to offer the convenience of booking and paying for hotel rooms online.
In addition, the microsite offers discounts to travellers from the region as well as the added incentive of a fourth night free when paying by Visa for three consecutive nights' accommodation at any of 23 Le Meridien properties in the Middle East and West Asia.
Russel Sharpe, senior vice president sales & marketing, Le Meridien Middle East and West Asia, explains: "The special 'Four for Three' offer is exclusive to Visa cardholders in the Middle East - and while it can be booked through Le Meridien toll-free numbers or travel agents, the sites are all interlinked to enable the customer to book almost instantly with the minimum of fuss."
Premal Patel, regional marketing manager for Visa, added: "To support the launch the region-wide programme, we launched the special interactive microsite, www.lemeridien-gateways.com. The site gives news of Le Meridien and Visa in the region and allows room reservations online, with immediate confirmation for Visa card holders."
The partnership looks a promising one: Le Meridien's online bookings are continuing to increase, with online bookings standing at about 4 per cent of total revenue. According to the global marketing information services firm JD Power, Le Meridien customers are more than twice as likely to book online as for any of the company's competitors.
Meanwhile, the final quarter of last year saw e-commerce transactions on a global scale continued to grow with Visa payments via the Internet up 82 per cent in terms of transaction volume and 105 per cent in terms of dollar volume.
Le Meridien Getaways programme specifies up to 50 per cent discount off hotel rack rates, valid until the end of March, and covering properties in Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Syria and the United Arab Emirates, as well as India.
The special 'Four for Three' offer is exclusive to Visa cardholders in the Middle East and can be booked by contacting Le Meridien toll-free numbers in the GCC or via travel agents.
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Le Meridien and Visa partner to stimulate online booking
- United Arab Emirates: Thursday, March 20 - 2003 at 15:54
- PRESS RELEASE
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The luxury hotel group, Le Meridien, and Visa International, the world's leading payment system, have combined forces to drive online transactions in the region.
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Posted by Anne-Birte Stensgaard, News EditorThursday, March 20 - 2003 at 15:54 UAE local time (GMT+4)
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This article was updated on Wed Sep 17 2003.
Notes and Media Contacts »
Due to a local government rate agreement, the 'Four for Three' offer is not available at Le Royal Meridien Bahrain. Reservations for all Le Meridien hotels worldwide can be made toll-free in Bahrain (800 541); Egypt (510 0200 800 288 4614, 02 from outside Cairo); Kuwait (244 0906); Qatar (0800 97110); Saudi Arabia (800 897 1412) and the UAE (800 4041).
Le Méridien is a global hotel group with a portfolio of more than 140 luxury and upscale hotels (38,000 rooms) in 55 countries worldwide. The majority of its properties are located in the world's top cities and resorts throughout Europe, the Americas, Asia Pacific, Africa and the Middle East. The company also enjoys a strategic alliance with JAL-owned Nikko Hotels, providing loyal guests access to an additional 42 properties around the world. Headquartered in London, Le Méridien Hotels & Resorts Ltd is owned by Nomura International Plc and managed by Terra Firma Capital Partners.
Details from www.lemeridien.com
Visa is the world's leading payments brand and the largest payment system worldwide. Visa-branded cards generate more than US$ 2 trillion in annual volume and are accepted at over 24 million locations around the world. The Visa organisation plays a pivotal role in advancing new payment products and technologies to benefit its 21,000 member financial institutions and their cardholders. Visa is a leader in Internet based payments and is pioneering the creation of u-commerce, or universal commerce - the ability to conduct commerce anytime, anywhere and on any type of device. The Visa web site is www.visa.com
Further information: Strategic Solutions for Le Meridien in the Middle East,
tel. 971-4 391 5390,
For reservations, telephone +971 4 3313555
Le Méridien is a global hotel group with a portfolio of more than 140 luxury and upscale hotels (38,000 rooms) in 55 countries worldwide. The majority of its properties are located in the world's top cities and resorts throughout Europe, the Americas, Asia Pacific, Africa and the Middle East. The company also enjoys a strategic alliance with JAL-owned Nikko Hotels, providing loyal guests access to an additional 42 properties around the world. Headquartered in London, Le Méridien Hotels & Resorts Ltd is owned by Nomura International Plc and managed by Terra Firma Capital Partners.
Details from www.lemeridien.com
Visa is the world's leading payments brand and the largest payment system worldwide. Visa-branded cards generate more than US$ 2 trillion in annual volume and are accepted at over 24 million locations around the world. The Visa organisation plays a pivotal role in advancing new payment products and technologies to benefit its 21,000 member financial institutions and their cardholders. Visa is a leader in Internet based payments and is pioneering the creation of u-commerce, or universal commerce - the ability to conduct commerce anytime, anywhere and on any type of device. The Visa web site is www.visa.com
Further information: Strategic Solutions for Le Meridien in the Middle East,
tel. 971-4 391 5390,
For reservations, telephone +971 4 3313555
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