TUI Travel PLC has selected Open Destinations as its supplier of technology and associated services for a number of its North American based tour operator brands.

Open Destinations will be implementing the Travel Studio system throughout the TUI businesses during the next 12 to 18 months. Also included in the deal is the Travel Studio sister product Fare Studio, a scheduled flights and private fares database with GDS interfaces, the provision of B2C and B2B e-Commerce solutions, off-shore software development and business process outsourcing (BPO) services.

The agreement further strengthens Open Destinations’ international market position in the provision of solutions and services to wholesale leisure travel companies, which now operate in 26 countries worldwide.

Said Larry Frank, Vice President Technology, TUI Expeditions, “TUI has in recent years acquired a portfolio of successful specialist tour operators throughout North America. We needed a system that would allow the individual businesses the flexibility to fully automate the business processes that make them successful today, but also enable them to embrace future market driven opportunities that modern technology delivers”.

“We felt Travel Studio was particularly strong on its handling of Escorted Tours and FIT’s. It also offered a strong web services layer which allows us to build sophisticated e-commerce offerings to help drive the business forward. All the businesses that reviewed Travel Studio felt it was the best solution for our type of businesses”.

The TUI businesses in North America that are involved in the project include Student City, Intrav, Travcoa, Country Walkers, TCS, International Expeditions, Europe Express, YMT, Jumpstreet, Breakaway, School Voyageurs, Educaters and Educational Tours.

Said Open Destinations Managing Director Kevin O’Sullivan, “We are delighted to be selected by a company as highly respected as First Choice. This major deal not only represents a significant milestone in the endorsement of the Travel Studio product functionality, but also the services we provide from our own dedicated off-shore resource centre”.