Illusions Online secures tech deals with three key agents
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Three trailblazing GCC travel agents have been the first to sign up to a brand new first-of-its-kind technology solution by Illusions Online.Kuwait’s Rezervations International and Kapico Travels and Tours and Qatar’s Falcon Travel have all penned agreements with the Dubai-based travel technology company for its Illusions OnDemand (OD) product.The solutions they have selected are scaled-down ‘off-the-shelf’ versions of Illusions Online’s core product – customised systems for tour operators and Destination Management Companies (DMCs).The ‘Illusions OnDemand ‘Standard’ edition Falcon Travel has opted for is being implemented totally free of charge while the ‘Professional’ edition Rezervations International and Kapico have selected is relatively low cost compared to other systems on the market.OD features within the Standard version include the automation and integration online of client management (trade and consumer); tariff and mark-up management; employee management; currency management; a hotel booking engine; client documentation; accounts; finance and management reports; and the option for an Internet booking engine for customers.Additional features of the Professional version span supplier management; the inclusion of the agent/operator’s own hotel and supplier contracts; allocation/inventory management; commission rules; tax management; content management; multi-language content support; and much more.All editions of the software provide access to Illusions Online’s new World Travel eXchange (iWTX) system.Illusions Online CEO Faisal Memon said iWTX allows all Illusions users – both travel agents and tour operators – to access and sell one another’s products and services in real time.”We have set up a distribution agreement with our clients so they can share product rates, inventory and content, and we are the conduit,” explained Memon.”So if you are an agent in the Middle East you can access all the products provided by clients such as New World Travel in the US, Sunset Faraway Holidays in the UK, Al Rais in the UAE and Go Vacation in Thailand.”All rates are updated automatically by the Illusions system of each client taking exchange rates and mark-ups into account in real time.Illusions is providing iWTX free-of-charge to all clients adding a “minute mark-up” as facilitator but resulting in rates that are highly competitive.”We are acting as a wholesaler in the 21st Century sense,” said Memon.”There are no costs involved so our mark-ups are the bare minimum making us cheaper than most, if not all wholesalers out there.”Illusions Online’s OnDemand solutions also have the edge on other products in that the iWTX system eliminates the need to jump onto several different wholesaler systems when booking ground arrangements.It automates front- mid- and back-office solutions by allowing agents to be able to load their own products and contracts; define their customer-base and set-up flexible mark-up rules depending on the client to whom they are selling; and manage all their bookings, documentation, accounts receivables and payables. There is also a plethora of out-of-the-box reporting tools available.”So it’s very different to most wholesaler systems and software technology out there which offers a booking engine platform only,” said Memon. “And because Illusions OnDemand sits on a cloud, this information is available from anywhere in the world by just having access to a browser and Internet connection.”He added: “Preferential rates with hotels or suppliers that agents have negotiated themselves can also be integrated and the bookings can be done all on one system instead of jumping around to book with different wholesalers.”
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