DMS firm Integra confident about EnglandNet project

Tuesday, 09 Apr, 2002 0

Destination Management Systems (DMS) firm Integra Systems has said it believes the English Tourism Council’s EnglandNet project will prove a success.

The project – which recently received an additional £3.6m of government funding – aims to create a central website where visitors to the UK can access up to the minute national, regional or local information such as real time accommodation and transport availability with tourism businesses encouraged to update their information directly onto the site. It will also integrate the destination management systems operated by local and regional tourist boards, which contain descriptions of local accommodation, events, activities and attractions. EnglandNet will connect to these systems so that this local data can be accessed from national portals such as the British Tourist Authority website.

Integra managing director Graham McKenzie said: “Whilst a number of attempts have been made in the past to develop a national infrastructure this time we feel that many of the areas that need to be looked at are indeed being fully examined. This includes funding, interoperability with suppliers like Integra, project management and of course commercial cooperation.”

Mr McKenzie added: “It is heartening for us to have clarity in the market, which allows us to support not only our existing client base with confidence but also our new and potential customers. “I truly believe that with this fresh approach, and a clear recognition by EnglandNet that they are not DMS suppliers, the project stands every chance of success”.

EnglandNet Project Director Dr Paul Byerley told TravelMole that he welcomes Integra’s support for the project: “DMS suppliers have already sold their solutions to the tourist boards so we need to work within the existing environment which is why interoperability is so important and why we are pleased to have the confidence and co-operation of companies like Integra.”

See our previous stories:

21 Mar 2002: £3.6 million boost for ETC’s e-tourism vision
13 Mar 2002: New IT system to drive English Tourism information
25 Sep 2001: EnglandNet Partnership makes e-tourism a reality