COMTEC ANNOUNCES FORMATION OF COMTEC COMMUNICATIONS

ITAA strongly endorses package of Broadband Communications with Viewdata and Internet access, + EasySell Web

Comtec, the retail travel industry’s leading agency software provider, has announced the formation of Comtec Communications to offer connectivity services to travel agents using high speed broadband access to Viewdata and to the Internet. Agents who subscribe to the service can also acquire the browser version of Comtec’s EasySell, the UK’s leading agency search and booking system.

Pricing for installation and set-up is from £125 including a router and a security firewall. Monthly service fees start at just £45. Customers who subscribe to the communications package can also acquire EasySell Web at preferential terms.

The package has been endorsed by three of the leading consortia – Worldchoice, Travel Trust Association and Midconsort, all of whom came together to form the Independent Travel Agents Alliance.

Todd Carpenter, Managing Director of the Travel Trust Association, said: “It’s probably the most cost-effective communications and software deal for the travel industry, and I’m happily recommending it to all our members.”

John Lawrence, IT & Membership Services Director for Worldchoice, mailed his members with the message: “Technology is changing for the better with lower costs of ownership. This could be the best £45 per month that you ever spend.”

Charles Eftichou, Managing Director of Midconsort, said: “We have always pushed the boundaries of technology in the interests of our members. Combined with the leading edge Comtec software, this broadband proposition will deliver significant benefit to our members.”

Daman Singh, Group Director at Comtec added: “Its simple – More for Less. Packaged with EasySell Web, Comtec is living up to its promise of enhancing the effectiveness of travel distribution. Broadband is much, much faster than leased line services or dial-up. In addition, agents get a variety of other value-added options. This offer is focused at the small-to-medium sized independents, many of whom still use expensive dial access, and who will benefit enormously in terms of both productivity and cost saving. The phones haven’t stopped ringing.”

The service offer was launched at the Worldchoice conference in Tenerife on 9th May, under the ITAA banner whose founding consortia unanimously backed it.

Simon Powell, Comtec Group Chief Executive said: “Comtec is the retail travel industry’s leader in agency selling and management systems, and in powering e-commerce. This network services offer to small to medium sized consortia agents adds a major additional leg to our portfolio of products and services.”

– Ends –

Notes to Editors:

Comtec

Comtec is the retail travel industry’s leading agency software provider and one of the fastest-growing e-commerce pioneers. The company’s portfolio of solutions and services covers five core areas: travel agency management solutions, agency search systems, e-commerce, online content and Point of Sale (POS) solutions.

Comtec delivers two of the industry’s leading travel agency solutions – management system TravelCat currently operating on more than 9000 PCs, and EasySell, the industry’s leading multi-operator holiday, search and booking system, allowing agents to search availability from operators’ reservations systems in a matter of seconds.

The Comtec Group offers e-commerce solutions and holiday availability data and powers several of the UK’s leading websites, including Bargainholidays.com, Expedia.co.uk and Lastminute.com.

Comtec Group has now launched Comtec Communications in order to provide high speed connectivity to retail travel agents.

For further information, contact:

Daman Singh or Greg Denning
Tel: 01633 627521
email1: [email protected]
email2: [email protected]
http://www.comtec-europe.co.uk