CruiseStar: new booking system

The first product offering from a new technology company, TravStar Technologies, offers travel agents direct conductivity to the cruise lines without requiring a long-term technology contract. CruiseStar was designed by agents with agents in mind, according to company officials of American Marketing Group, parent of TravStar. TrarStar plans to expand its technology with other tour booking and marketing systems, said Jim Mazza, CEO of the new company. CruiseStar will support cruise sales with direct connectivity for both online and office transactions with live access to the inventory of major cruise lines that include Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises and Holland America Line. The company’s formation is evidence of its commitment to develop proprietary technologies for travel agents, according to Mr Mazza. Initial pricing was set at $99 per month for up to five users. CruiseStar can also be customized and privately branded to meet various agent needs. Its key capabilities include online direct marketing, a client self-booking capacity, up-sell prompts and service buttons allowing agents to arrange for special events.