OFF-LINE AGENTS MOVE ON-LINE
It’s not just OTAs who are looking to grab a share of the web bookings out there. Some of the region’s biggest travel companies are now investing in the latest technology and gearing up to launch their own web booking portals.

Kanoo Travel is currently in the process of “fine tuning” its first fully-fledged online bookings portal, complete with payment gateways offering air, car and hotel products.

The investment into online is “in keeping with the wishes and needs of our major corporate accounts and the changing face of the traveller’s needs,” explains D’souza.

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“We recognise there is a growing number of consumers who are frequent internet users and who are comfortable making bookings online. This is the case for younger aspiring consumers. For these the future is to provide a full array of attractive, value-for-money services in a portal that is easy to use, friendly and safe.”

D’souza says Kanoo will roll out a number of new online products and services over the next few months including “B2B, B2C and B2B2C” solutions.

“One development we have pioneered in Dubai is an online booking platform. Once we add the payment gateway, then our clients will be able to make bookings and recieve all their services online.”

D’Souza estimates that once the web products are launched, Kanoo’s online business will grow to represent a “double digit” proportion of the company’s total travel business in the next three to five years.”

Another major player, Orient Travel is also making major investment into the online sector. Asim Arshad, CEO said the company has not yet “finalised its online strategies — but broadly speaking the website will have all airline content, special fares, hotel rates, package tours.”

Orient Travel has made an initial investment of around US$ 108,906 (AED 400,000).

“It’s time for us to have an online booking tool for our organisation, because that has become an essential requirement in today’s marketplace, especially for our retail, leisure as well as corporate clients, and furthermore to increase our market reach,” says Arshad.

“Initially I don’t expect a huge influx of bookings on the online portal, it should be gradual and steady. I do not foresee it taking over the offline division in the near future.”