ORLANDO, Fla., Nov. 6, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Alliance
Reservations Network, which was recently acquired by RCI, the
world's largest vacation exchange network as part of Wyndham
Destinations (NYSE:WYND), has added four new feature enhancements
to its popular group hotel booking platform Group Productivity
Solution (GPS). These new offerings provide attendees with
access to make reservation changes directly with the venue right
from their devices, while also providing meeting planners enhanced
inventory options and customizable cancellation policies.
Group Productivity Solution modernizes the sourcing and
contracting process for both small and large groups through
streamlining digital hotel requests for proposal (RFP) creation and
sending to match planners with the right hotel for their needs. It
also offers intuitive room block management access. For each event
managed, it also provides group housing managers with a unique link
to a customized hotel booking engine that distributes their group
block inventory. Through the booking engine, guests book rooms
within the group block as easily as they would on any retail travel
site.
"We are proud of the efficiencies we have created in the group
space," said Alliance President Peter
Strack. "As we leverage our new relationship with RCI
and Wyndham Destinations to continue to invest in Group
Productivity Solution, we look forward to bolstering our
competitive edge in the travel technology marketplace."
GPS has been gaining market share in group travel since its
launch in 2016, specifically in the sports event segment, with
large third-party housing companies and events rights holders using
the GPS application for a wide variety of professional and amateur
sports competitions and events. Beyond the sports segment, event
managers reply on GPS to source, distribute, and manage group
blocks across a wide variety of hotel brands and offerings.
The platform's new features help facilitate the booking,
communication and execution of large group housing management.
"The new features and diverse offerings within GPS strengthen
the group booking platform and, ultimately, allow for a much more
seamless travel experience for the end-customer," said RCI
President Olivier Chavy. "Alliance
remains at the forefront of customizable travel designs, and we are
excited about the increased value to clients."
New Features
Guest-Initiated Modifications
Event attendees enter their reservation modification requests
through a form that they can access through either the hotel
booking engine or their confirmation voucher email. The form
submits the request directly to the hotel, which is able to respond
directly to that email notification and update the reservation in
GPS. The guest then receives a notification of acceptance or
rejection directly. While the event administrator does not play a
role in this transaction, they can see the status of all
reservations in real-time within GPS.
Managed Waitlist
This new feature allows event attendees to add themselves to a
waitlist for a specific property when the contracted block is
completely sold out. The waitlist can be capped to a certain number
of guests, and the priority in which guests appear on that waitlist
can be changed by the event admin.
When a room at the property becomes available, the event
administrator can either set GPS to email guests on the waitlist
one at a time, or the event administrator can pick and choose who
to offer the available inventory to.
Custom Cancellation Policy
An event administrator can set their own cancellation policy over
and above a hotel's cancellation policy. The cancellation policy
text, penalty, and penalty start date can be customized by an event
administrator at the event level or at the property level.
Private Inventory
GPS now allows event administrators to set aside room types that
are not distributed on the public event hotel booking engine.
Private inventory can be set aside for various reasons, such as
special room types for VIP attendees, or entry category rooms for
event staff.
Available Now
These new features are available now to all new and existing GPS
users. Event managers interested in how GPS can scale their
businesses can visit www.alliancereservations.com to learn
more.
Media Contact
Kate
Kozyra
Alliance Reservations Network
407-718-5855
Kate.kozyra@allresnet.com
About Alliance Reservations Network
Since 1995,
Alliance Reservations Network has created cutting-edge
private-label travel booking engine technology services fulfilling
billions of dollars in travel revenue from travelers around the
world. As one of the first travel booking engine platform providers
on the Internet, Alliance has powered thousands of affiliate travel
sites and has created proprietary software to service individual
leisure, corporate, association, and group and event clients across
the globe. Learn more at www.alliancereservations.com.
About RCI
RCI is the worldwide leader in vacation
exchange, housing a unique portfolio of brands. RCI pioneered the
concept of vacation exchange in 1974, offering members increased
flexibility and versatility with their vacation ownership
experience. Today, through the RCI Weeks® program, the
week-for-week exchange system, and the RCI Points® program, the
industry's first global points-based exchange system, RCI offers
its approximately 3.8 million members access to more than 4,300
affiliated resorts in 110 countries. RCI's luxury exchange program,
The Registry Collection®program, is the world's largest program of
its kind with approximately 200 affiliated properties either
accessible for exchange or under development on six continents.
RCI's portfolio of brands also includes Love Home Swap, one of the
world's largest home exchange programs, DAE, a direct-to-member
exchange company, and @Work International, a leading provider of
property management systems. RCI is part of Wyndham Destinations
(NYSE:WYND). For additional information, visit our media center or
rciaffiliates.com. RCI also can be found on Facebook, YouTube and
Twitter.
About Wyndham Destinations
Wyndham Destinations, Inc.
(NYSE:WYND) believes in putting the world on vacation. As the
world's largest vacation ownership and exchange company, Wyndham
Destinations offers everyday travelers the opportunity to own,
exchange or rent their vacation experience while enjoying the
quality, flexibility and value that Wyndham delivers. The company's
global presence in approximately 110 countries means more vacation
choices for its four million members and owner families, with more
than 220 resorts which offer a contemporary take on the timeshare
model - including vacation club brands Club Wyndham®,WorldMark® by
Wyndham, and Margaritaville Vacation Club®by Wyndham- 4,300+
affiliated resorts throughRCI,the world's leader in vacation
exchange, and 9,000 rental properties from coast to coast
throughWyndham Vacation Rentals,a professional manager of vacation
rental properties. Year after year, a worldwide team of 25,000
associates delivers exceptional vacation experiences to families
around the globe as they make memories to last a lifetime. At
Wyndham Destinations, our world is your destination. Learn more at
WyndhamDestinations.com. Connect with us on Twitter:
@WynDestinations; Facebook: @WyndhamDestinations; Instagram:
@WyndhamDestinations; YouTube: @WyndhamDestinations; and LinkedIn:
@WyndhamDestinations.
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SOURCE Alliance Reservations Network