Next gen Harvey World Travel website to support bricks and mortar shops
Harvey World Travel (HWT) has become the first major retail travel agent chain to sign up for an online airfare booking system that consolidates all major airfare databases for its customers.
According to Barry Mayo, manager of HWT Australia, its next generation site, which will go live in September, will involve a much more personalised presentation that will incorporate ARNOLD, (Airline Reservations On-Line Database), and will be developed by travel technology company Penzance.
ARNOLD, which was launched in April (PC Week April 17, page 1) consolidates flight information from private discounted fare databases with published fare databases and checks this information with flight and seat availability in the global Customer Reservation Systems (CRS), to give a live and accurate view of available flights.
Rather than trying to move its business online, Mayo said, the idea is to promote it as complementary to their existing network of franchisees. "We see the two elements supporting each other," Mayo said.
"The benefits with ARNOLD include a simpler, friendlier process," Mayo claimed. "But on occasions where people feel uncertain on how to proceed on a transaction, or have security concerns, they can nominate a local Harvey World Travel agent," he added.
Mayo believes that the travel industry has come to the same conclusion about the importance of a physical shop presence as most businesses. "The Internet is a source of information, but bookings are done in the travel agency," he said.
The site will also have the facility to create a customer profile so users interested in skiing, cruises or adventure travel, for example, would receive announcements about new products, Mayo said.
HWT is launching sites simultaneously in New Zealand, where it has 41 shops, and South Africa, where it has 60 shops.
Later this year, version 2 of ARNOLD will offer car rental and accommodation options and version 3, due out early next year, will include options to book travel packages, according to Bruce Boundy, managing director of Penzance Technology.
The feedback from franchisees is positive. Anna Ives, manager of HWT's Sydney city agency said she is looking forward to it. "It will be advantageous to our customers, and to us," she said.
