NEWS – OPEN DESTINATIONS APPOINTED BY LUXURY TRAVEL COMPANY, BELMOND LTD

The Travel Studio technology platform has been selected by luxury travel company, Belmond Ltd, to drive the future growth of their rail and cruise distribution to all customers.  The deal involves a long-term partnership with UK technology specialist, Open Destinations, who has successfully implemented Travel Studio into more than 30 countries worldwide.

Prior to selecting Travel Studio, Belmond engaged in an extensive global search that took over a year to complete.  ‘We have a wide range of unique, specialist products that demand very specific functionality from our technology,’ says Gary Franklin, Belmond’s Managing Director of Trains & Cruises.  ‘Travel Studio has been custom designed for operators like us, particularly in the area of rail and cruise.  It also provides us with a platform for growth.  We are able to utilise the flexible API to ramp up our online presence and increase our distribution to all of our customers, through our websites and trade channels.’

Belmond will be utilising various elements of Travel Studio, including the rail operations module of the application.  This module will provide flexible options for managing and packaging inventory across the entire portfolio, making it possible for Belmond’s customers to book unique experiences, such as the Eastern & Oriental Express train and Belmond Road to Mandalay in South East Asia.

Franklin confirms that the software will also provide customers with the option of packaging various other holiday components with the iconic rail and cruise products from Belmond.  This means that Belmond customers will have the option of customising their trips using a wide array of flights, hotels and excursions configured within Travel Studio.  ‘As we continue to grow, we want to ensure that our technology is adaptable and sustainable,’ says Franklin.  ‘Travel Studio will enable us to sell our experiences in the most flexible way possible, both now and in the future.’

Belmond will be working closely with the experienced team at Open Destinations, who have worked with large rail operators around the globe for over a decade.  ‘We are pleased to be adding Belmond to our portfolio of specialist tour operators,’ says Kevin O’Sullivan, CEO of Open Destinations.  ‘We look forward to helping them to expand the distribution of unique luxury experiences in the travel marketplace.’

For more information visit www.belmond.com.