Hotel Online Special Report State of Texas, British Tourist Authority Among New Destinations to Join WorldRes Destination Marketing Program SAN MATEO, CA, January 7 – WorldRes, Inc.™, the Internet-based hotel reservation network, today announced its latest destination marketing organization (DMO) partners.
The following are currently accepting confirmed online reservations through the WorldRes 
system: the state of Texas (www.texaslodging.com); the British Tourist Authority (BTA) USA gateway (www.usagateway.visitbritain.com); the California Association of Bed and Breakfast Inns (www.innaccess.com); the California cities of San Jose (www.sanjose.org), Santa Monica (www.santamonica.com) and Catalina (www.catalina.com); and Columbus, Ohio (www.columbuscvb.org).
Other DMOs that have signed agreements but not yet launched are the states of Wisconsin and Illinois, and the cities of Traverse City, Mich.; Panama City Beach, Fla.; and Colorado Springs, CO.
They join the ranks of the many success stories currently on the WorldRes system, including Ohio; California; San Diego and Monterey, CA; Lake Placid and Sullivan County, NY; Mt. Washington Valley, NH; and the Hong Kong Hotels Association’s walkup hotel reservation center at the new Hong Kong International Airport.
WorldRes offers destination partners worldwide a comprehensive solution for adding lodging reservations to a web site and handling phone reservations at a visitor or call center. Using a secure server, the system provides instant confirmations online, eliminating the need for handling reservations through time-consuming phone, fax and e-mail requests. Benefits include free web pages for lodging properties, seamless web integration, an easy to use call center application that requires no inventory management, reporting, free training, customer and hotel support and a share of revenue generated through confirmed reservations.
The WorldRes system serves as a central reservation platform that is open to all properties in a destination, including those not currently on the airline-based GDS (Global Distribution System). Unlike existing GDSs, the WorldRes reservation system was designed specifically for online use and is built on the latest Internet and database technology. This system is designed to give equal representation to all types of properties including independent hotels, small inns, bed and breakfasts, ranches and larger chain hotels.
Lodging properties can join the WorldRes system for free-there are no up-front or monthly costs, only a low transaction fee per net reservation. All properties receive free customized web pages, which include detailed property and room descriptions, with photographs. The information is managed by the property through an easy to use password-protected web site and can be updated at any time. Properties also receive distribution through WorldRes’ extensive network of partners, including web portals, regional online guides, activity and special interest partners, travel-specific sites and travel agents.
“This is truly an impressive list of destinations to add to our growing network, and this is just the beginning,” said Scott Potter, vice president of business development of WorldRes. “Our destination partner program has generated interest from organizations around the world. “
About WorldRes
WorldRes, Inc., founded in 1995, provides Internet sales and marketing services to lodging properties worldwide, as well as online 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 at http:/www.worldres.com or contact WorldRes Sales either by phone at (650) 372-1700, or by e-mail to [email protected]. Potential destination partners interested in joining the WorldRes network can contact Scott Potter at (650) 372-1714 or through e-mail to [email protected].
Contact: Elizabeth Ripley WorldRes, Inc. (650) 372-1700 [email protected] Rick Keating/Deirdre Campbell Keating Communications (212) 760-2400 [email protected] Also See: San Diego’s CVB Is First to Implement Internet Reservations through WorldRes / Sept 1997 Bed & Breakfast Channel Web Site Adds WorldRes Online Reservations Capability / Aug 1998 Choice Hotels International Chooses Worldres for Online Distribution / May 1998