Prince Edward Island’s tourism industry is poised to better serve its clientele in 2004 and beyond, thanks to a new online reservation system that will allow visitors to book accommodations on PEI year round.
The new PEI Online Reservation System will benefit accommodations operators by making vacancy information available to visitors in real-time.
The demand for booking accommodations on PEI online has escalated significantly over the past five years. As tourism is a key economic engine in this province, it is important for government to support industry in its efforts to meet and exceed visitor expectations. This project is being implemented in time for this tourism season, providing a cost-efficient and user-friendly reservation system that will benefit both visitors and accommodations operators.
“The Island’s tourism industry identified the establishment of a central reservation system as a priority to “close the sale” with customers wishing to plan a trip to Prince Edward Island. This past fall Tourism PEI, in partnership with TIAPEI, issued a Request for Proposals and we are now in a position to go forward with this initiative,” said the Honourable Philip Brown, Minister of Tourism for Prince Edward Island. “The new system is both affordable and simple for operators. In effect, it is custom made for PEI’s tourism industry and should result in better customer relations and better access to accommodations across the Island.”
The new system provides for year-round, real-time online reservations – a service offered by most other provinces. The new system will also assist operators in managing their inventory and assist them in keeping track of their business.
The new system will be very easy to use, beginning with an initial one-time setup which can be completed in a matter of minutes using the operator’s current computer system. Operators will be able to access their vacancy information year round, from any location worldwide that has an internet connection.
“The industry has long recognized that an efficient central reservation system is needed to allow visitors to book their accommodations,” said Gordon MacInnis, President of the Tourism Industry Association of Prince Edward Island (TIAPEI). “We are excited that a system specifically developed for the Island’s tourism industry is now being established, and encourage all licensed accommodations and campgrounds to take advantage of this cutting edge technology.”
In order to encourage as many operators as possible to participate in this new initiative, registration into the system will be free for 2004. An affordable fee for all participating operators will be required in subsequent years, with helpline support provided by InternetWorks, the Island company that developed the system.
Training sessions for operators will be held across the Island this spring. Operators are encouraged to watch for information bulletins from TIAPEI to its members, advertising in local media, and presentations to regional and sectoral tourism associations.
For more information about the training or other elements of this new initiative, please contact the Tourism Industry Association of Prince Edward Island (TIAPEI) at (902) 566-5008.