There's an App for Everything

Take a good look around and chances are you will see someone looking at their Smartphone. Today's handheld devices have been designed to be so addictive to use and have become an integral part of today's culture. Nearly 65% of adult Americans own a Smartphone and many younger adults and those with a lower-income, depend solely on their Smartphone for access to the internet.

There are currently mobile Apps for just about anything with new apps being developed every day! This phenomenon is driven by the fact that mobile phone use is much higher than personal computers and people tend to use Mobile Apps six times more than a website. People have become so attached to their handheld devices that many check their device an average of once every six minutes. Handheld devices have become an integral part of the way people get their news, shop for just about anything and interact with each other.

With the amount of time that people spend using their mobile devices, it's no wonder that mobile Apps have become such a popular way for businesses to interact with their customers. Nearly 80% of the people with smart-phones use them to make purchasing decisions and over half of them use their mobile device to make a purchase within one hour, compared to one month for desktop users. It's not just consumers benefiting however, over 70% of business owners use mobile Apps daily to run their business and interact with customers and travel booking solutions are no exception.

Booking a Flight? There are hundreds of apps for air booking engines and many of them are much easier to use than calling the airline directly. Many airlines have developed their own mobile apps for customers to book a flight, select a seat, even use as a boarding passes at airports. There are even some airlines complimenting their onboard entertainment by offering passengers the ability to stream video or music directly to their handheld device.

Renting a car? No problem, most car rental companies have launched Mobile Apps that let you reserve a Car rental, but many have developed apps that also allow you to bypass the rental counter and go right to your vehicle and be on your way.

Need a hotel? Most hotel chains have mobile apps for hotel booking engines that allow you to book a room and some even allow you to check in and use your Smartphone to unlock your hotel room door. And once you arrive at your destination, there are plenty of apps that offer maps and points of interest around town. There are even Mobile Apps for cruise booking engines or to help find the closest coffee shop, restaurant or movie theatre.

Travel Agencies were quick to join the “App Revolution” and have been launching their own mobile APPs for customers. Today's travel agent software that include an air booking engine, cruise booking engine, hotel booking engine and more are all available via a mobile devices. There is an App for everything!

Is It Time To Retire Your Legacy Technology?

It is no secret that the travel industry has been focusing more of its resources on e-commerce solutions as more people rely on the internet for booking their flights, hotels and even cruises online. However, many travel companies have had their own, unique challenges developing online booking solutions. A lot of companies are still using travel booking solutions built on legacy technology, which does not allow them to easily add new content or make simple changes to their User Interface.

This is because the architecture used by Legacy systems is not at all like the architecture of today's distributed and layered applications. Business policies and decisions are hardcoded using inflexible, predefined process flows in most legacy systems which makes any integration with Customer Relationship Management systems and Internet-based business applications difficult and sometimes just impossible. On top of that, it is just basically old technology that has become increasingly difficult for anyone to find developers who want to work with applications written in languages that are not widely used in today's technology.

As a result, the Internet revolution is usually the driving force behind a company's decision to switch away from a legacy system. E-commerce sales can save a business time and money making it the most cost effective method for many to deliver products to customers. The “state of the art” technology available today helps software solution providers design, develop and deliver flexible & fully scalable applications that easily grow with any size business. Some even provide the ability to customize the application to maintain a company's own unique brand identity.

Experience has shown that some of the best travel agent software solutions are the result of collaboration. Software Developers, Suppliers and Travel Agents can all provide valuable input to help design and develop the ultimate travel booking engine. Each of these entities play an important role in the process and any solution should meet each of their individual needs.

To serve today's growing number of consumers who use their mobile device to purchase travel products as well as those that switch between devices during the research and booking process, many companies are building applications that use responsive technology. Now, regardless of the type of device a customer uses to access a website, applications built using responsive technology can automatically adjust the screen layout based on the type of device being used.

For those looking to have a dedicated Mobile App, there are several companies designing and developing custom Apps. Some offer mobile applications as an optional “add-on” to an existing Booking Engine while some develop them independently. Either approach offers Consumers the ease and mobility of using a smart phone or tablet. Mobile Apps and mobile responsive technology are no longer for big brand names either. Travel software companies can now provide any size travel agency affordable applications built on the latest technology with the powerful tools to they need to compete with any size online travel business.

So whether your travel business needs an Airline Booking Engine, a Cruise Booking Engine or a Hotel Booking Engine, is sure your travel booking solution is built using the latest responsive technology.

Innovative Cruise Booking Engine for Travel Agents

Years ago, searching for the right cruise and confirming reservation would require a series of phone calls before knowing which cruise lines had which sailings available. Not to mention the different types of cruises available or numerous choices in ships and cabin categories. Today's cruise booking software makes it easy for just about anyone to research and book their cruise vacation online. Cruise line websites may provide customers the ability to research and book their cruise vacations 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, but are consumers getting the best deal? With so many suppliers offering so many different deals, keeping track of price adjustments and special promotional offers can be overwhelming for many customers and a full time job for many travel agencies.

Travel Agents have always been a great resource to sort through the different options and select the right cruise for their customers. Quite often, a travel agent will have access to special deals with cruise lines and they can often ensure V.I.P. treatment when you get on board. Their help and expertise can certainly can make your trip easier to plan as well as more enjoyable overall.

However with the increasing popularity of the Internet and improvement in technology, many consumers now prefer to research and book their cruise vacations online. This allows them to research and book a cruise when they want from the comfort of their own home. However, there are so many websites that offer cruise vacations and with such a variety of cruise booking software to choose from today, many are just not sure where to go. While technology has made it easier for consumers to book directly with cruise lines, many consumers are missing out on the benefits and perks that using a travel agent can bring. Savvy travel agents recognized the value of combining their expertise with the ease of internet bookings and jumped into the world of online booking engines years ago.

Today's travel agent software makes adding a cruise booking engine to an agency's website easy. Many include a vast amount cruise line, cruise ship and cabin descriptions linked to media files & rich content such as cabin photos, ship images and deck plans to assist in the shopping process. Consumers can go online and view pictures of a particular ship including sample guest cabins, shipboard restaurants and gyms. In some cases they can quickly view where a specific cabin is located on the ship and determine whether it is in the right location.

The cruise booking software available today makes it easy for any size agency to compete with the largest online players. Many cruise booking engines are easily customizable to match an agency's brand identity and provide the features and tools to manage business online.

Online travel booking solutions lead to more profits, but only after careful planning and successful implementation. Launching an online cruise booking engine alone will not guarantee you receive cruise bookings from your own website, you'll need to also implement a solid online business strategy.

Hotel Booking Engines Have Revolutionized Hotel Reservations

Whether you are travelling for vacation or for business, one of the most important part of your travel arrangements are your Hotel accommodations. Selecting the wrong airline seat can be a bad start or end to any journey, but the choosing the wrong hotel room can ruin an entire trip. A hotel serves as your "home base” while travelling and it should provide the atmosphere, amenities and services you'll look for to make your stay as enjoyable as possible. Do you need a downtown location close to restaurants with a business center? Do you prefer to have a room close to the beach with a place to get an exotic tropical drink? Or do you prefer a family hotel near a particular theme park or attraction? Finding the right hotel for a specific trip at the right price can be overwhelming.

The wide variety of different hotel options available combined with the various methods to research and book hotels today provide endless options for travelers. Travel Agents have always been a great resource to sort through the different options and select the right hotel for their customers. Quite often, a travel agent will have access to special deals with hotel properties and they can often ensure you are treated like a V.I.P. when you arrive. Their help and expertise can certainly make your trip more enjoyable and easier to plan.

However with the increasing popularity of the Internet and improvement in technology, many consumers now prefer to research and book their hotel rooms themselves online. This helps them to avoid the hassle of visiting a travel agent's office and allows them to research and book a hotel room when they want from the comfort of their own home. Many hotel booking engines include links to media files & rich content to assist with selecting the right hotel property during the shopping process. Most provide the details, pictures and information about a hotel property to help a consumer research which is the best hotel for their needs. Consumers can go online and view pictures of a hotel lobby, sample guest rooms and even hotel restaurants and gyms. They can quickly view where the hotel is located on a local map and determine whether it is in the right location.

There are so many websites that aggregate hotel content and a variety of hotel reservation software to choose from today that many consumers are not sure where to go. While technology has made it easier for consumers to book directly with travel suppliers, many consumers are missing out on the benefits and perks that using a travel agent can bring. Savvy travel agents recognized the value of combining their expertise with the ease of internet bookings and jumped into the world of online booking engines years ago.

The hotel reservation software available today makes it easy for any size agency to compete with the largest online players. Many hotel booking engines are easily customizable to match an agency's brand identity and provide the features and tools to manage your online business.

Cruise Booking Software has become an important aspect of any travel agency's business

As the various methods that a consumer researches and books travel continues to evolve, today's successful travel business must keep pace with the continuous developments in technology. The right online booking engine can help any size travel agency simplify their business processes and tap into new revenue opportunities such as booking cruises. The Cruise industry has been an area in travel which has undergone explosive growth over the past few decades as more and more consumers discover the benefits of a cruise vacation. Cruise lines have been quick to respond building larger ships and opening up new itineraries.

Some consumers look for “Family” cruises where there are activities for both children and adults. Many successful professionals look for upscale vacations combined with adventure or activity. Experienced travelers want to explore new destinations and do something different. There are even “Singles” theme cruises for those looking to meet other singles. No matter what a consumer is looking for, chances are there is a cruise for them. With so many options to choose from, finding the right cruise can be overwhelming for some. Using a professional travel agent can help save time as well as money when researching and booking a cruise vacation.

As a result of the growing popularity of cruising worldwide, cruise booking software has become an important aspect of any leisure oriented travel agency's business plan. An innovative cruise booking engine can provide users with live connectivity with cruise lines for the latest availability and pricing as well as detailed ship and cabin information connected to media rich content to assist customers shopping for a cruise. Many cruise booking solutions are B2B, B2C and B2B2C web based applications that are designed to automate processes, increase revenues and reduce time and effort required to complete a cruise booking. A good cruise booking solution should include a cruise line information to assist in the shopping process and Live access to Cruise Line content to ensure the most up to date availability and pricing is used.

There are several options available in the market today, including the innovative cruise booking software ready for you to use “out of the box”. Or if you are looking to build your own solution, some companies can provide the critical components used with the booking engine such as a cruise data cache which is ideal for those looking for the latest updates on cruise line pricing and sailing availability in a standardized file format. For those looking just for detailed descriptions and images to assist during the research and shopping process, cruise line static content is also available. This content typically includes detailed descriptions of cruise lines, cruise ships, cabin categories as well as itinerary information. The cruise line static content can be fully integrated with a cruise booking engine or it can sometimes be purchased separately.

Today's technology can provide solutions to allow any size agency to compete with even the largest online players. It's just a matter of finding the solution that fits your business and getting started!

Flight Booking Software - An Effective Airline Booking Engines

One of the most important parts of your travel arrangements are your flight reservations. With so many airlines serving so many different routes it is difficult for the average consumer to know which airline to call. Sometimes it’s an airline’s particular flight schedule that determines which airline a consumer ultimately chooses. Sometimes price is the determining factor. Airline loyalty programs, airline alliance partners and geographic locations can also often play a role.

The wide variety of different airline options available combined with the various methods to research and book airlines today provide endless options for travelers. Travel Agents have always been a great resource to sort through the different options and select the right flight on the right airline to make a trip more enjoyable. Quite often, travel agents can help travelers receive V.I.P. treatment and access to special deals and services. A Travel Agent’s help and expertise can certainly make any trip more enjoyable and easier to plan.

However with the increasing popularity of the Internet and improvements in flight booking software, consumers have embraced technology and increasingly prefer to research and book their airline reservations online. This allows them to research different flight schedules and pricing options available whenever and wherever they wish. Flight reservation systems often include links to detailed flight information as well as access to airline seat maps so seat requests can be made at the time of booking. Today’s applications provide all the information a traveler needs to choose the best flight option.

However, it can sometimes be overwhelming to determine which website to use to find the best deal. Many advertise the lowest price, but the volatility of airfares often makes this a moving target. Some websites provide a “best price guarantee” and some even search multiple websites and show you the different prices for each.

There are so many websites that aggregate airline content and a variety of flight reservation systems to choose from today that many consumers are not sure where to go. While technology has made it easier for consumers to book directly with travel suppliers, too many available options cause confusion and uncertainty where to go. Many consumers are also missing out on the benefits and perks that using a travel agent can bring. Savvy travel agents recognized the value of combining their expertise with the ease of internet bookings and many jumped into the world of online booking engines years ago. Many travel agencies now have travel websites of their own which provide their customers with the ability to research and book travel online, while still receiving the benefits of using a travel agent.

The flight booking software available today makes it easy for any size agency to compete with the largest online players. Many flight reservation systems are easily customizable to match an agency’s brand identity and provide the features and tools to manage your online business. Many include robust reporting capabilities to track your business as well as tools to easily adjust a products selling price and include value add offers. So find the online booking engine that is right for your business and start taking advantage of the multiple benefits it can bring your business.

Online Travel Booking Software benefits for Travel Industry

Online travel booking solutions are one of the biggest benefits that the internet has provided the travel industry. These online booking solutions have revolutionized the way the entire travel industry interacts and conducts business with customers. The travel booking solutions available today have automated and customized the entire booking process while providing comprehensive and innovative travel solutions to different segments of travel industry including online booking engines for Airlines, Hotels and even Cruise Lines.

Many airlines started years ago by automating the process for travel agents to sell flights by launching their own travel booking engine. By using an air booking engine, travel agents were able to greatly improve their productivity when selling airline tickets and provide better service to their customers. Travel agent software has been evolving ever since, constantly adding new features & functionality as well as adding new product lines such as Hotels and even Cruise vacations.

With so many different hotel booking software solutions in the market today, it’s difficult to know where to find the right solution for your business. Most applications are designed to automate processes and reduce the time and effort required to complete a booking. Many include detailed descriptions and pictures of hotel properties to assist with choosing the right hotel.

The online cruise booking engine is one of the latest innovations that allows a travel agent to quickly research and book cruise vacations without waiting on the phone to speak with a cruise line sales representative. These booking engines for travel agents provide up to schedules, availability and pricing to make sure the most up to date information is used during the process. Many booking engines provide “Live” booking capability with a majority of the world’s most popular cruise lines, eliminating any concerns over last minute availability or lost reservations.

Adding a cruise booking engine is a great way for any size agency to quickly expand the type of travel products they can offer to their clients. Built to automate processes, increase revenues and reduce the amount of time it takes to book a cruise, many cruise booking engines are so easy to use that they can have agents selling cruises in no time with minimal training.

The best Travel Booking Solutions software has been developed using state of the art technology, allowing them to deliver fully scalable travel booking solutions that provide the business controls that a client needs to manage their business while maintaining their own unique brand identity.Travel agents are provided powerful business tools to adjust a products selling price or offer a special promotion to their customers. Robust reporting tools tell agents not only what is being booked, but many reporting tools include the ability to check search criteria to see what customers are searching for on your travel booking engine.

So whether you want to add a Travel Booking Solutions to your website or you are looking to expand into the world of selling cruises, there is an online solution that is right for your business. Check out the Odysseus Solutions options and get started today!