Bangkok--10 Mar--ScottAsia Communications
SOTA is showing the travel trade at ITB Berlin how to simplify its online business and quickly maximise earning opportunities.
SOTA (Standard Online Tourism Architecture), which is free, allows agents to have a single view of their entire business. The latest SOTA XD (eXecutive Desktop) platform integrates travel operators worldwide. Its easy-to-use interface means that B2B and B2C travel service providers, even those without a website, can start tapping the global online tourism market.
SOTA XD runs a secure payment system and works on all popular internet browsers.
"What we do is take the complexity of technology out of the travel equation so that agents, tour operators and hoteliers can concentrate on running their business," said Mr Rohizam Md Yusoff, CEO of Creative Advances Technology, which created SOTA in Malaysia, a recognised technology innovation hub.
SOTA is also an integral part of ASEAN Tourism Association's new B2C website, www.southeastasia.org. SOTA will soon announce a major partnership with a leading travel trade entity in China.
Vincent Kok, Chief Operating Officer for SOTA, said: "SOTA is effectively free to use. We are using a pre-paid module in which the travel agents need only pay USD100. This is earned back almost immediately as the transactions start. SOTA then charges USD1, per successful customer transaction. In essence, the SOTA platform is free."
Mr Kok said that SOTA provides agents with a host of travel products that they can search, plan and purchase. These include contract rates, promotions and inventory allotments from over 25,000 hotels around the world.
"Agents no longer have to remember multiple passwords and different URLs to access different suppliers and vendors," said Mr Kok. "SOTA XD is online 24/7 and available from anywhere in the world through an internet connection. Travel operators can keep fully up to date with transactions as they happen."
Mr Kok said there were three steps to get on to SOTA. First, register at http://www.sotanetwork.com. Second, upload your inventory details into SOTA. Third, start receiving bookings from travel trade buyers worldwide.
Latest industry statistics show that the value of online travel transactions is about USD200 billion per year.
SOTA XD will formally launch at the SOTA International Conference at Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia in May 2010.
The Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) is a supporter of the SOTA initiative. It is promoting the SOTA platform to its members and through its global PATA Chapter network.
At ITB Berlin, the travel trade can visit SOTA at the PATA and "Southeast Asia: feel the warmth" booth in Hall 26A, Stand 139. Or visit www.sotanetwork.com
About Creative Advances Technology Sdn Bhd (CAT)
CAT is a leading provider of online tourism solutions. The company provides technology and consultancy services to a broad range of travel industry companies and organisations. With its creative content, innovative systems and reliable robust infrastructure CAT provides cost-effective solutions for travel businesses intending to enter the global market. CAT has developed portals such as Tourism Malaysia, Virtual Malaysia, IMT-GT Tourism, North Sumatera Tourism, BIMP Tourism & OIC Tourism — just to name a few of them.
Following the experience in building portals and websites for over 900 travel industry agencies, associations and operators, CAT then developed the Standard Online Tourism Architecture or SOTA to become the one-stop e-tourism platform for technology, market and innovation. SOTA is a unique and innovative project initiated to promote travel products and services. SOTA currently enables over 15,000 travel operators and has been recently endorsed by PATA as the platform of choice for PATA's members worldwide.
The recent collaboration between SOTA and www.southeastasia.org in January 2010 will boost ASEAN tourism business opportunities by putting operators' travel packages on multiple travel trade and consumer online sites, including ASEANTA's southeastasia.org portal. The ASEANTA portal uses Standard Online Tourism Architecture (SOTA). SOTA utilizes networking linkages to connect travel businesses with potential customers, both trade and consumer. Through this electronic tourism platform, tourism players can be linked and networked within the industry more effectively. Hundreds of tourism players in ASEAN are expected to benefit from the collaboration. The SOTA platform allows tourism players to go online and get new business for free.
About the ASEAN Tourism Association (ASEANTA)
The ASEAN Tourism Association (ASEANTA) was formed on 27th March 1971. ASEANTA is a non-profit tourism association comprising both public and private tourism sector organizations from ASEAN. ASEANTA has grown to become a tourism association of influence within the ASEAN tourism landscape, playing an integral role in shaping tourism development growth and policies in the ASEAN region. Further information and ASEANTA mission statement.
Media Enquiries:
Shafina Syafei
Creative Advances Technology
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Ken Scott
ScottAsia Communications
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