MARRIOTT JOINS WITH WORLDSPAN TO OFFER SIMPLIFIED BOOKING FOR TRAVEL AGENTS

Worldspan launches Integrated Hotel Source Availability providing agents with real-time status information from Marriott’s reservation systems

Marriott International today becomes the first participant in Worldspan’s Integrated Hotel Source Availability, a groundbreaking new feature designed to provide travel agents with real-time availability directly from a participating hotel company’s internal reservation system to the shopping display.

New indicators will be sent by Marriott International to Worldspan and then integrated into the results of a hotel list request, providing travel agents with accurate, up-to-the-minute availability. This will replace the current industry standard of displaying hotel availability based on status information stored in each GDS.

The Worldspan system, the first global distribution system to offer this new enhancement, will display real-time availability for all 2000 Marriott International properties, including Marriott Hotels, Resorts & Suites; Renaissance Hotels, Resorts & Suites; Marriott Conference Centers; Courtyard by Marriott; Residence Inn; Fairfield Inn; SpringHill Suites; and TownePlace Suites as well as Marriott partner hotels Ramada International and Ritz-Carlton Hotels & Resorts.

“We are very excited about our involvement in Worldspan’s Integrated Hotel Source Availability. By showing travel agents a hotel’s availability, obtained in all cases from our own reservations system, we’re providing them with the most timely and accurate information to make better and more educated decisions. Additionally, this furthers our goal of single-image inventory,” said Bruce Wolff, Marriott’s senior vice president for distribution, sales and marketing.

Worldspan provides global electronic distribution of travel information; Internet products and connectivity; and electronic commerce capabilities for travel agencies, travel service providers and corporations worldwide.