Hotel Online Special Report
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Ohio Hotel & Lodging Association  Reports on First Months Activity for it's Internet Hotel Reservation Service 
 
COLUMBUS, OH, Aug. 10 - One month after going online, Ohio's Internet-based hotel reservation system is generating favorable reaction from consumers and hotel properties around the State as more than 100 properties have expressed interest in participating in the system. 

The system has been active since July 7. Based on the initial results, the average length of stay per reservation is 1.92 nights, with an average nightly rate of $93.15, reports the Ohio Hotel & Lodging Association (OH&LA). As of August 3, over 40 member hotels are live on the reservation service, more than 60 others are in the process of being added and new requests for activation are coming in daily.

Serving as a central reservation platform for use by all properties throughout Ohio, the system is available to travelers and travel agents through both a web site (www.ohiotourism.com) and call center (1-800-BUCKEYE). 

"We are very pleased with the numbers for the OH&LA Reservation Service's first month of business," said Howard Nusbaum, Executive Vice President, Ohio Reservations, Inc., adding that "reservations through the call center and the Internet show that the reservation service is something travel agents and visitors to and within Ohio will use when making their travel arrangements."

All properties are eligible to participate, including those that are not currently represented on the GDS (Global Distribution System), the airline central reservation system used by travel agents and most major travel web sites.

WorldRes, Inc. developed the Internet-based hotel reservation system. The San Mateo, California-based company designed and operates similar central reservation systems for Lake Placid, NY, San Diego and Monterey, CA.
 
Ohio Reservations, Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Ohio Hotel & Lodging Association representing the interests of The Ohio lodging industry. The OH&LA has a membership of approximately 570 hotels, resorts and bed and breakfasts, representing more than 54,000 sleeping rooms.

WorldRes, Inc. (http://www.worldres.com), founded in 1995, provides Internet sales and marketing services to lodging properties worldwide, as well as online hotel booking capability to travel and destination web sites, convention and visitor bureaus, tourism authorities, online city guides, call centers and travel agents. Properties interested in joining the WorldRes system can enroll online or contact WorldRes Sales either by phone at (650) 372-1700 or by e-mail to [email protected].
 

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Contact:
Elizabeth Ripley 
WorldRes, Inc. 
(650)-372-1700 
[email protected] 
Shandelle Wertz
OH&LA
(800)-589-6462
[email protected]
Rick Keating/Deirdre Campbell
Keating Communications
(212)-760-2400
[email protected]
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Also See:
San Diego's CVB Is First to Implement Internet Reservations through WorldRes / Sept 1997 
California Uses Web Technology to Help Visitors Find and Book Lodging / Nov. 1997 

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