Netbook added Utell Ltd., to its exclusive roster of preferred hotel suppliers…
Netbook added Utell Ltd., to its exclusive roster of preferred hotel suppliers. Under terms of an agreement recently signed by the two companies, Utell hotels receive preferred screen presence on the Netbook system. London-based Utell is a subsidiary of Pegasus Solutions, Inc., a leading worldwide provider of hotel reservations-related services and technology.
As a result of this preferred supplier agreement, we anticipate that our member hotels will significantly increase their visibility among Scandinavian corporate travelers, said Graham Richards, vice president of global sales for Utell. In particular, Utell hotels can now submit corporate-negotiated rate bids to Netbook’s roster of corporate clients. As use of corporate online booking proliferates in Europe, we believe Netbook is well positioned to acquire more users every month, bringing ongoing value to our members.
Netbook has more than 300 clients, including major corporations such as Ericsson, Ford Europe, Saab and Nordea. A number of Netbook clients, most prominently Volvo, mandate use of the Netbook tool for all corporate travel. Several leading regional travel agencies, including ITP, MZ Travel, Bennett BTI Nordic, and Nyman & Schultz/American Express, also employ the Netbook booking system for their corporate clients. More than $56 million in hotel revenue was booked via Netbook in 2001.
The addition of Utell’s diverse portfolio of properties to our corporate reservation service considerably enhances the options we provide to our client base, said Anders Forsberg, managing director for Netbook. Utell’s member hotels in key European business centers such as Brussels, London, Madrid, Paris and Rome appreciably upgrade our hotel offerings on the continent. The presence of Utell properties in Netbook bolsters our sales efforts to corporations, assuring travel managers that their travelers can find all the accommodations they need online.
Hotels under the Utell flag get preferred screen presence when travelers search for hotels on Netbook. The Netbook application is equipped with functionality that matches corporate travel policy with room rates, displaying only rates that conform to a company’s travel requirements.
Utell’s preferred supplier program works to increase Utell member properties’ exposure at the point-of-sale in specific high-volume agencies and online travel providers such as Netbook. Utell is a preferred hotel supplier for more than 25 travel agencies, including global leaders Carlson Wagonlit and TQ3, and large regional agencies such as P&O Travel in England, Ultramar Express in Sweden, and the Japan Travel Bureau. With more than 930,000 available rooms, including more luxury, resort and boutique properties than any other single representation firm, Utell gives these agencies and their clients a wide range of choices for travelers seeking the ideal hotel room.
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