Travel Agent- March 30, 2009 - (Page 44) TECHNOLOGY Avanti’s Pro-F.I.T. Booking Engine New online system streamlines process AVANTI DESTINATIONS (www. avantidestinations.com) has come up with a streamlined solution to F .I.T. bookings with its new Pro-F .I.T. booking engine, which puts every aspect of an F .I.T. into one website. In a matter of minutes, an agent can easily create an F .I.T. with everything priced and confirmed, including taxes. As well as offering traditional components like airfare and hotels, the program could add point-topoint rail tickets, car rentals and sightseeing excursions. “Other systems in the market could handle major travel components, but not the complete itinerary in most cases,” says Harry Dalgaard, president of Avanti. “Also, they tended to be somewhat difficult for travel agents to use and took a good deal of time to execute.” Pro-F s software is built upon .I.T.’ Avanti’s earlier online booking systems, and mirrors the services agents would receive if they contacted the company by phone. “The system is not only for booking trips, but also for pre-planning them,” Dalgaard continues. “In just a few minutes, an agent can create an itinerary for a prospective client and e-mail it to that client as an idea for a trip.” Using information about previous trips taken by the client, agents can suggest a destination that has not yet been visited and plan every detail in real time. A 24-hour courtesy hold is placed on each trip, just in case a client wants to change a detail, and service fees can be added as necessary. “It is a truly personalized vehicle that can easily stimulate a conversation with the agent’s valued clients,” Dalgaard says. “Also, since it is so easy to plan a trip, the agent can do dozens of prospective journeys every day with no trouble, and a good percentage of them are likely to create sales.” By putting everything on one page, Dalgaard says, “the Avanti Pro-F .I.T. system 44 | TravelAgent March 30, 2009 Avanti Destinations’ Pro-F.I.T. booking engine puts every aspect of an F.I.T. into one website and is good for booking trips as well as pre-planning them provides the complete itinerary for an authentic vacation experience. For example, European itineraries can have intercontinental and intra-continental airfare; pointto-point rail tickets with seat reservations; fun things to do at a destination, such as wine tastings, special events and interesting excursions from the city; and a wide choice of hotels from large metropolitan properties to charming boutique hotels. “Really, every agent can put the system to good use, especially those who previously might have shied away from creating complex F .I.T. itineraries,” Dalgaard says. “Also, since it is personalized and unique, the agent can expect to get her/his full commission, and provide their clients a level of service not available at another travel agency or online travel store.” —JENA TESSE FOX http://www.avantidestinations.com http://www.avantidestinations.com
For optimal viewing of this digital publication, please enable JavaScript and then refresh the page. If you would like to try to load the digital publication without using Flash Player detection, please click here.