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INTRODUCTION
Due to the Global shift towards ‘live’ on-line bookings, which are now the operational norm in airline and car-hire reservations, HandMade Connection and GOHH (Global Online Hospitality Holdings) have embarked on a Joint Venture to bring one of the most advanced on-line strategies to the accommodation providers in the Garden Route. This will allow the Inbound and Domestic Consumer to benefit from a series of “live” Booking Engines through a matrix of more than 20 Websites, including our flagship portal, www.gardenroute.com
This venture allows all businesses to participate in this ground-breaking Project, with minimal financial outlay both in the short term and long term, ensuring that not only the consumer, but you as the Accommodation Provider may reap the true benefit from ‘live’ bookings on the World Wide Web.
Please click here for more info on Global Online Hospitality Holdings
WHY ‘REAL-TIME’ BOOKING IS ESSENTIAL
As the demand for instant gratification within the travel industry increases, so does the expectation of the general consumer, which has resulted in the need for an effective accommodation reservation platform offering a ‘live’ booking facility. The Hotel industry has created a similar platform which allows travelers to book rooms in "real-time” along with their airline and car-hire reservations.
With the arrival of the Global Marketplace, a system to compensate for the vast time differences and cultural diversities of our In-bound marketplace, who have come to expect the availability of a “Real-Time” service, has now been developed, and in order to secure our place on the Global Tourism Arena, this product provides the ultimate solution.
YOUR PARTICIPATION
f you are not already using an online booking software providing live access to your inventory / accommodation, a user-friendly, highly effective Property Management System may be installed at your facility (subject to terms and conditions); at no cost for either installation or usage of the software. We have secured a Lifetime License for the usage of the Software within the Garden Route Project. No monthly or once off fees!
The Software, named IRIS – www.irisworld.co.za, is a leading property management system which allows you to automate the day-to-day functions of your business, as well as effectively manage your inventory, providing an all-in-one Management Tool.
HandMade Connections, having evaluated numerous products in the marketplace, recognised the capabilities of IRIS as a leading software solution. With the backing of its holding company, Global Online Hospitality Holdings, and a collective marketing and distribution strategy campaign across the entire Garden Route, it provides the economy as a whole with the opportunity to participate freely in this programme.
MAY I PARTICIPATE IF I ALREADY HAVE A PROPERTY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM IN PLACE?
n order to truly create an effective online marketing strategy for the entire Garden Route, a co-operative agreement with Res-alliance has been put in place with all the leading Property Management Service Providers in South Africa. This means that you can retain your current software and participate immediately in the Online Marketing and Distribution Programme.
Software included are:
WHAT IF MY SOFTWARE APPLICATION IS NOT LISTED?
If your software application is not listed GOHH will be approached regards interfacing the booking engine to your application. No guarantees can be made for packages not listed, however each package will be assessed and every effort will be made to ensure participation is available to all providers. The contact form (see link below) includes entry for the type of booking software in use as well as a comment / question section.
ARE THERE ANY COMMISSIONS PAYABLE?
If it’s not an online booking then NO Commissions are payable!
If your business is already associated with a service like Nightsbridge etc. commission structures remain unaltered. This means no additional costs are necessary. Res-alliance facilitates a single all inclusive commission.
In addition to the Res-alliance standard, the aim of the programme is not only to increase your occupancies, but to facilitate a streamlined management tool and provide online users with a platform where all accommodation providers are allowed to participate, and where commissions are only payable when “on-line” bookings are generated.
The Programme works quite simply - an all inclusive commission is paid to South African Online Travel Solutions for on-line bookings generated either through our own (HandMade Connections) websites or Partner websites such as Car Rental, Airlines portals and other mainstream websites.
If required a personalised ‘live booking' link may also be inserted on your Business Website, allowing a consumer to book directly through your personal site, i.e. www.edenstouch.co.za.
No commission is payable on any ‘walk-in’ or manually generated reservations, which allows your conventional business to be ‘commission-free', allowing for a true win-win relationship.
THE "ROLL-OUT" STRATEGY
The first area to be developed has been the Garden of Eden, a re-branded Harkerville District, which is accessible for the first time, and in fact, the first live destination portal with on-line bookings in the Garden Route. This is accessible on www.gardenofeden.co.za.
This website with its live booking engine in the Garden Route, is one of 20 Booking Engines that form part of a “roll-out” strategy currently underway. It will create one of the most effective marketing platforms in South Africa which will allow domestic travelers and inbound tourists the ability to interface with products and services in a specific area. It will also, for the first time, facilitate live bookings not only for holidays and business travel, but also for festivals and sporting events.
WHERE WILL I BE MARKETED?
Firstly – all participants featured on www.gardenroute.com, www.george.co.za, www.knysna.co.za , .com, .net, www.plett.co.za , www.mosselbay.co.za, www.oudtshoorn.co.za, www.sedgefield.co.za, www.glentana.co.za, www.greatbrak.co.za, www.littlebrak.co.za and more, receive a live link button which is inserted as part of Listing Details, which will allow for ‘real-time’ bookings directly from our website.
Further to this, a series of 9 destination portals, including Garden of Eden mentioned above, are being launched over the next 6 months. This series will include www.plettlive.co.za, www.knysnalive.co.za, www.sedgefieldlive.co.za , www.wildernesslive.co.za, www.georgelive.co.za and www.mosselbaylive.co.za and will also result in live booking engines on www.gardenroutelive.co.za
All participating accommodation suppliers will also be listed live on www.kulula.com, www.capetownroutesunlimited.com, www.mtbeds.com as well as the Western Cape’s official Tourism Website plus www.westerncapelive.co.za, a destination portal specialising in the Western Cape.
In addition to this, you will be featured on the booking engines on www.southafrica.net, South African Tourism’s official website as well as numerous local Garden Route tourism office websites.
A further series of websites, including www.simplysouthafrica.co.za, www.southafricaonline.co.za will also carry the “live” booking engine marketing your property to the global marketplace .
In order to market the Garden Route outside the region there are also numerous links to other Tourist Hot Spots within South Africa, ensuring that your business is exposed on as many websites as possible, both domestically and internationally.
The diagram below represents the Matrix of websites that will put The Garden Route at the fore-front of online marketing.
DOES THIS AFFECT ANY EXISTING WEBSITE MARKETING AGREEMENTS?
No, your inclusion into this online marketing matrix simply enhances your existing exposure and in no way affects any existing relationships that you might have.
HOW DO I PARTICIPATE?
It's simple – just complete the following enquiry form or use the alternative contact information below:
e-Mail inquiries:
iris@gardenroute.com
installation@irisworld.co.za
Contact Phone numbers:
HandMade Connections George Office: 044-874-2586
Kerry Nesbitt: 082 331-1620
Greg Roodt: 082-455-8198
Support structures are in place to assist with enquiries, however considering the potential impact of this announcement we request you please be patient. Every effort will be made to assist and every inquiry will be answered. More information will be posted to our website to deal with general questions and provide information on Res-alliance, Res-Butler, GOHH SAOTS, and more.
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