Hotel Reservation Trends

The percentage of Internet-based hotel reservations is expected to triple to 15.4 percent by 2004 from the current 4.9 percent, according to Andersen LLP, and volume is expected to reach $5.7 billion in 2004, according to Forrester Research.

More than 162 million Americans are active Internet users, according to Nielsen/NetRatings, and 37 million of them already have purchased travel online.

These are the customers that you cannot afford to ignore. Yet Independent properties have been left out of GDS (Global Distribution Systems) such as Sabre and Galileo due to high booking fees and the need for dedicated telecommunications. And new booking networks like WorldRes require a property to maintain rates and inventory in a web-based system that is difficult to manage. Because of this, there was no way to list independent property inventory on the GDS’ or popular travel websites such as PlacesToStay.com, AOL Travel, Yahoo!, Travelocity, TravelWeb, etc.

Now just like large chains, as the owner of a hotel/Motel/B&B you will be able to provide online bookings (and booking management)

With the IMScart Hotel Reservation System and IMScart Tour Reservation Desk these travelers plus travel agents and booking agents will be able to log on to your website or webpage and enter real-time reservations directly into your reservation system. In addition, the system will automatically check and charge deposits on credit cards without any hotel staff intervention. Think of it as a 24-hour/7 day a week reservations clerk that never calls in sick.