Instant Online Hotel Availability in Asia – Asia Online Group Changes the Travel Industry

Asia Online Group, an Asian based online travel network, specializing in low cost accommodations and travel resources in Asia Pacific, has created the first network of more than 2,500 hotels in Asia offering real time online availability. Travel Agents, customers, and businesses can now book directly to the hotel of their choice. The Asia Online Network offers three interfaces, one which links into travel agency systems, an online option for web consumers, and a portal for enterprise business travel solutions. Never again will travelers have to make a reservation request and wait 72 hours or more to receive confirmation on their booking.

Bangkok, Thailand – Asia Online Group has announced the first ever consumer targeted Asian Pacific hotel network which gives direct access to hotels in Asia for travelers. AsiaTiv.com now shows consumers instant availability for hotel rooms in Asia.

Dror Meytal, Asia Online Group’s CEO says: “Unlike in Europe and USA, none of the Asian online travel web sites offered direct access to dynamic room availability information in Asia. Until today, travelers would browse the web find a hotel, based on general agency inventory and seasonal price list, and based on that the traveler needed to make a reservation with their credit card information and wait up to a week for a response."

Previously hotel reservations were done with a system which estimated availability and had a very long turn response time. Mr. Meytal continued “There is a very poor trend where more than 50% of hotel reservations in Asia being made online were for rooms that were no longer available, and for rooms on holidays or peak seasons the rate jumped 70%! Customers were trapped by a scenario were their credit card was blocked for the amount of a purchase and they were not being rewarded for their patience. Our new network of over 2500 hotels gives them a real picture of room availability, price and simplifies the purchasing process.”

The Asia Online network offers other travel resources on top of low cost accommodations. Visitors to AsiaTiv.com , can reserve airport to hotels transfers, tours, boat trips, private cars with drivers and much more. Travel-hub.net, also part of the Asia Online Group, services travel agents and agencies. Travel agents can now offer real time hotel availability for their clients, saving them money and increasing satisfaction. Mr. Meytal commented “Travel Agents have known about this problem for years, and the feedback that we receive from them while building this network has been 100% positive.”

The Asia Online Network not only lets customers directly book their hotels, but offers a price match guarantee. Customers receive instant feedback and the lowest possible prices. Mr. Meytal concluded with “We wanted to improve the customer experience, whether online, on the phone or in our offices. We back up our network by having representation in 8 South Asia Pacific countries, so travelers can feel secure even after they have made a purchase.”