The following Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) may be helpful in understanding how the Online Booking System operates.
Frequently asked questions (670 kb).
In Australia, online booking of tourism products has, until recently, relied primarily on isolated booking networks that contain static (allocated) availability and pricing information. This requires tourism providers to maintain multiple listings and availability pools. It also requires consumers to search multiple sites and generally determine availability "on request" rather than in real-time online.
In contrast, the Open Booking Exchange acts like a stock exchange and brings together buyers and sellers of tourism product. It enables tourism providers to sell their products online, directly from an integrated system and / or via integrated intermediaries, enabling them to access a much greater audience.
The Open Booking Exchange technology allows consumers to transact (make and pay) for a booking online in 'real time'.
To participate, a tourism provider requires and integrated business management system. The integrated system constantly 'talks' with the Open Booking Exchange to provide up to date / live inventory and pricing.
Integrated reservations systems are:
- frontdesk.
- Greyhound.
- Jewel Res System (JRS).
- MyFidelio.
- Respax.
- RMS.
- Seatem.
Currently integrating systems are:
- Bookeasy Gold
- Levart
- Roamfree
Tourism providers who use an integrated system are able to sell to the consumer direct. These same providers can also use and integrated intermediary to present inventory to the Exchange, if they wish to.
Where the tourism provider chooses to sell their product through an integrated intermediary an agreement is established between the parties, which establishes all terms and conditions of business.
All the information collated within the Exchange is made available for use within distribution websites, such as westernaustralia.com.
Westernaustralia.com displays what is available to book in real time and through whom it can be booked. Bookings may be made with intermediaries or direct with the tourism provider, dependent on availability. The booking is made with the consumer's chosen point of booking and is not made on westernaustralia.com. Tourism WA collects no commission.
In addition to westernaustralia.com the list of distribution channels available through the Exchange includes lastminute.com, Need It Now, Check-in, Rates To Go, Total Travel, About Australia and many more. If you have an integrated system you can choose to sell your product through these distributors via the Exchange. You do this by 'opting in' to a channel, once you have reviewed and agreed to their distribution terms and conditions. Importantly, you can also 'opt out' for a channel at the touch of a button. This means you, the tourism provider, have control over who you are sold through and at what price.
The Open Booking Exchange caters for nearly all sectors of the Australian tourism industry, including accommodation, tours, attractions, events and festivals.
The first phase of distribution through westernaustralia.com will focus on accommodation products with the remainder to follow.
Importantly, the Open Booking Exchange is available to all sizes of tourism businesses, from the largest resort to the smallest operator, thereby creating an 'equal playing field' for the entire industry to participate.
If you are currently using an established business / property management system and it is not currently integrated to the Open Booking Exchange, you can contact your system supplier and request that they integrate.
There are a number of other systems in the process of integrating to the Exchange. It is important to communicate with your reservations system supplier to establish if the system you use is in this process.
If your system is not / or will not integrate to the Open Booking Exchange, a solution for your business may be to provide inventory through an integrated intermediary who is participating in the Exchange. This will enable your business to have online bookable product, however this will be via that particular partner.
There are two options available to your business:
- A solution for your business may be to provide inventory through an integrated intermediary. This will enable your business to have online bookable product, however this will be via that partner.
- There are electronic reservations systems that you can implement, that are integrated to the Open Booking Exchange. All of these have different fee structures. Choosing an appropriate electronic system, which is appropriate for your business, is a very important business decision. Take your time, understand your business needs, talk to your business peers, and review the systems available and their functionality. Shop around and compare as it is a competitive marketplace.
The Tourism e-kit is a free online series of simple and easy-to-use tutorials that guide you through a number of online marketing concepts ranging from website design to the use of online booking systems.
Produced by the Australian Tourism Data Warehouse (ATDW) and supported by Tourism Western Australia, the e-kit has been specifically developed for the tourism industry to assist businesses in attracting and maximising visitors to their site.
Tutorial 34 Online Booking Systems 101 is a very useful document. It covers - what is online booking, how to sell your product online, and how to choose a booking system. It can be found at the following link:
http://www.tourism.wa.gov.au/Growing_Your_Business/Pages/Tourism_e-Kit.aspx.
There are no upfront fees, locked in contracts or exit fees to participate in the Open Booking Exchange.
There is a 2.8% (inc GST) booking fee plus a transaction fee of 80 cents per booking for any successful online booking that the Open Booking Exchange brings you.
Therefore if you receive no bookings through the Open Booking Exchange you will not be charged anything.
If you sell your product via the Open Booking Exchange the following fees apply:
Booking made directly to tourism provider
The consumer books directly with the tourism provider (if they have an integrated reservation system) via the Exchange. A 2.8% (inc GST) booking fee plus a transaction fee of 80 cents per booking is payable to V3 for any successful online booking.
Booking made via and integrated intermediary
The consumer books the product with an intermediary via the Exchange. The 2.8% booking fee plus 80 cents per booking transaction fee due to V3 may be incurred by the intermediary, or passed on to you as a cost. This will be set out in the agreement between you and your intermediary.
Booking made via a distributor's website
The consumer books your product via a distributor's website that you have "opted in' to. The cost to you will be as detailed in the distributor's terms and conditions. Distributors offer their services at a range of different percentage rates. As a distributor website, westernaustralia.com is charging 0% commission.
Online Merchant Service Facility (OMSF) is required by all providers who participate in the Exchange. An OMSF enable consumers who book product to pay securely online, with the booking revenue deposited directly into your nominated bank account. Assistance is provided to gain an OMSF when joining the Exchange.
Using the above examples:
Booking made directly to tourism provider
The payment will come directly to you from the consumer making the booking. Booking revenue is transferred directly into your nominated bank account.
Booking made via an intermediary
The payment of the booking will depend on your agreement with your intermediary. They may pay upon booking or 'on account'. Many intermediaries work on traditional agency or 'on account' models where they take payment and settle with you the tourism provider at a future date.
Booking made via a distributor's website
In most cases distributors offer direct to product payment, which means the total value of the booking is transferred directly into your nominated bank account from the customer's credit card.
As noted earlier Online Merchant Service Facility is required to participate in the Exchange.
Other consumer sites using the technology include:
www.southaustralia.com
www.discovertasmania.com
The Open Booking Exchange offers tourism providers the opportunity to increase their sales by providing consumers with the ability to source tourism products and book them securely online.
In addition the Open Booking Exchange removes the current barriers to online distribution, such as:
- Managing multiple allocations and allotments.
- Being 'too small to justify the costs".
The Open Booking Exchange is a completely open and neutral environment which has the potential to benefit all sectors of the tourism industry.
Consider the Open Booking Exchange as another avenue in which to market and sell your business. As with all avenues of marketing, it is important to evaluate and consider before implementing.
- Establish if you operating an integrated reservations system.
- Contact V3 about a demonstration of the Open Booking Exchange and for further information about how to participate. Phone: 1300 266 582. Email: sales@v3leisure.com.
- Consider using an integrated intermediary to promote and sell your product. Review terms and conditions thoroughly to ensure they suit your business needs before entering into any agreements.