NEWS – OPEN DESTINATIONS EXPANDS WORLDWIDE RAIL TECHNOLOGY

Australian-based Great Southern Rail is the latest travel operator to select the Travel Studio technology platform to expand their rail offering. 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.The addition of Great Southern Rail builds on the Open Destinations portfolio of specialist rail operators around the world, which includes Rocky Mountaineer Vacations, Alaska Railroad Company and luxury travel company Belmond, who began selling their unique rail, cruise and hotel product through Travel Studio in 2015.

‘We offer a dynamic and experiential product and this technology is tailor-made for our business,’ says Steve Kernaghan, Chief Revenue Officer at Great Southern Rail.  ‘The platform will help us provide a seamless guest service experience, and grow our e-commerce business for both trade and consumer channels.’

Kernaghan explains that the Travel Studio API and rail operations module were a key element of their decision making process.  The software will allow Great Southern Rail to easily manage their annual passenger load of more than 50,000 people, as well as their complex train inventory, down to the details of the types of carriages and classes of service.  The flexible API within the application will also provide access to more channels for selling their unique off train excursions, such as the scenic flight to Uluru, where guests can take an air and land tour of the iconic Uluru as a day trip off The Ghan.

Open Destinations’ CEO Kevin O’Sullivan believes that the rail functionality will help Great Southern Rail improve their overall customer experience.  ‘Consumers have particular preferences when it comes to specialist rail travel and this information is vital to experiential rail operators like Great Southern Rail.  At Open Destinations, we have developed functionality to allow this information to be used, not only for marketing and sales forecasting, but also for superior customer service and operational delivery.’

Open Destinations will be showcasing the latest updates to Travel Studio at the upcoming ITB Berlin in Hall 5.1, Stand 108.