Tiscover claims its technology is best in class

Destination website operator Tiscover has launched what it claims is the most advanced combined ‘reservations-distribution’ system in the travel industry and has also revealed plans to enter the UK market.

The integrated system, called Tiscover2002, enables tourist boards and Destination Marketing Organisations (DMOs) to distribute across multiple channels, including the internet and call centres, with bookings processed automatically through its back office technology. Chief international business officer Karsten Kärcher (right) told TravelMole Tiscover2002 was “far more than an update”, with every single line of the software changed – a process that has taken two years to complete.

He added: “Tiscover2002 is the world’s most advanced combined reservation and distribution system for tourism providers. Not only does it encompass distribution through the leading online tourism brands, it is also one of the most powerful back-office reservation systems on the market.”

Included in Tiscover2002 is Office Management (OM), a suite of products designed especially for tourist boards and booking centres of resorts, regions and hotel providers. It allows tourism providers’ entire reservations processes to be automated, cutting booking times.

Tiscover claims that the new technology will enable companies such as hotels, resorts and attractions to reach a wider market because they can sell through Tiscover’s main website along with Tiscover’s national websites in Austria, Germany, Switzerland and Liechtenstein, as well as their own portals.

Mr Kärcher outlined ambitious plans for the company, which include finding a possible franchise partner in the UK and the prospect of a stock market flotation next year. He said: “We are currently negotiating with organisations in the UK and hope to find pilot partners. We do a lot ourselves in Germany, Austria and Switzerland but are really looking for a franchise partner in the UK such as a regional or national tourist board.”

He also revealed that Tirol Werbung, the state-owned tourist board for the Tirol region in Austria, that founded Tiscover in 1991 was looking to reduce its stake in the company. Its share has already decreased from 100 to 91%, and Mr Kärcher said this would fall further. He added that the company was considering an IPO but it was “unlikely to be this year.”

Tiscover currently operates portals in Austria, Germany, Switzerland and Liechtenstein -and features in-depth tourist information on over 3200 tourist regions, towns and cities. Last year its sites attracted over 50 million visitors, generating 200 million page views. It claims to be the leading tourism portal in Austria, Germany and Switzerland, with Österreich Werbung (the Austrian Tourist Board) and Bayern Tourismus Marketing (the Bavarian Tourist Board) adopting Tiscover for their official e-travel portals.