SOTA simplifies online challenge for agents and hotels

Posted: Wed 10 Mar, 2010 12:00 AM

PATA member SOTA is showing the travel trade at ITB Berlin how to simplify its online business and quickly maximise earning opportunities. SOTA (Standard Online Tourism Architecture), which is free, allows agents to have a single view of their entire business. The latest SOTA XD (eXecutive Desktop) platform integrates travel operators worldwide. Its easy-to-use interface means that B2B and B2C travel service providers, even those without a website, can start tapping the global online tourism market. SOTA XD runs a secure payment system and works on all popular internet browsers.

"What we do is take the complexity of technology out of the travel equation so that agents, tour operators and hoteliers can concentrate on running their business," said Rohizam Md Yusoff, CEO of Creative Advances Technology (creators of SOTA in Malaysia). SOTA is also an integral part of ASEAN Tourism Association's new B2C website, www.southeastasia.org. SOTA will soon announce a major partnership with a leading travel trade entity in China.

Vincent Kok, COO for SOTA, said: "SOTA is effectively free to use. We are using a pre-paid module in which the travel agents need only pay USD100. This is earned back almost immediately as the transactions start. SOTA then charges one dollar per successful customer transaction."

Mr Kok said there were three steps to get on to SOTA. First, register at http://www.sotanetwork.com. Second, upload your inventory details into SOTA. Third, start receiving bookings from travel trade buyers worldwide. Latest industry statistics show that the value of online travel transactions is about USD200 billion per year.

SOTA XD will formally launch at the SOTA International Conference at Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia in May 2010. PATA is a supporter of the SOTA initiative and is promoting the SOTA platform to its members and through its global PATA Chapter network. At ITB Berlin, the travel trade can visit SOTA at the PATA and "Southeast Asia: feel the warmth" booth in Hall 26A, Stand 139. Or visit www.sotanetwork.com

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