TravelCLICK and Hickory Travel Systems Enter into Global Marketing Partnership
Hickory Travel Systems (HTS) in partnership with TravelCLICK, a leading provider of ecommerce solutions for hotels, is launching Hickory UltraConnect --premium targeted travel agency GDS media advertising delivered exclusively to HTS member agencies. Hotels participating in the Hickory Worldwide Preferred Rate Hotel Program will now be able to target unique selling messages directly to HTS booking agents at their desktops.
Hickory first approached TravelCLICK regarding this new approach to reach consortia affiliated travel agencies directly through GDS advertising. Through their year-long collaboration, TravelCLICK discovered Hickory travel agents alone produce over $600 million of annual advertising enabled hotel revenue. The result is Hickory UltraConnect, an innovative, cost effective and measurable way to increase consortia hotel reservation performance."
TravelCLICK's ability to target GDS Media Advertising to HTS member agencies in all four systems offers hotel partners the opportunity to distribute an exclusive value proposition to HTS booking agents and their travelers at the point-of-sale, giving Hickory a competitive edge over the larger travel management companies.
The business model has changed dramatically over the last five years. Hotels are more selective with their travel industry partners opting only to participate in those consortia hotel programs that have the ability to leverage hotel bookings at point-of-sale to deliver real trackable ROI and provide the data. The partnership is a logical choice for Hickory given TravelCLICK's reporting and premium targeted GDS Media Advertising capabilities.
Hickory UltraConnect Media Advertising enables hotels to market to and influence bookings from a specified segment of travel agents at point-of-sale in all four GDS. This highly targeted GDS media advertising offers hotels cost effective and measurable results, including the opportunity to maximize sales and grow market share on the Hickory rate access code.
Hickory first approached TravelCLICK regarding this new approach to reach consortia affiliated travel agencies directly through GDS advertising. Through their year-long collaboration, TravelCLICK discovered Hickory travel agents alone produce over $600 million of annual advertising enabled hotel revenue. The result is Hickory UltraConnect, an innovative, cost effective and measurable way to increase consortia hotel reservation performance."
TravelCLICK's ability to target GDS Media Advertising to HTS member agencies in all four systems offers hotel partners the opportunity to distribute an exclusive value proposition to HTS booking agents and their travelers at the point-of-sale, giving Hickory a competitive edge over the larger travel management companies.
The business model has changed dramatically over the last five years. Hotels are more selective with their travel industry partners opting only to participate in those consortia hotel programs that have the ability to leverage hotel bookings at point-of-sale to deliver real trackable ROI and provide the data. The partnership is a logical choice for Hickory given TravelCLICK's reporting and premium targeted GDS Media Advertising capabilities.
Hickory UltraConnect Media Advertising enables hotels to market to and influence bookings from a specified segment of travel agents at point-of-sale in all four GDS. This highly targeted GDS media advertising offers hotels cost effective and measurable results, including the opportunity to maximize sales and grow market share on the Hickory rate access code.