InterContinental Hotel Group Certifies ZUJI as Internet Third Party Intermediary

ZUJI, an online travel company, has been certified as an InterContinental Hotels Group’s ‘Internet Third Party Intermediary’ partner. The certification confirms ZUJI’s role as a key online distribution channel for InterContinental, Crowne Plaza, Holiday Inn, Express by Holiday Inn, Staybridge Suites and Candlewood Suites.

ZUJI is the only pan-Asia Pacific online travel company to have been awarded the certification covering all six of ZUJI’s markets. As an InterContinental Hotels Group certified partner, ZUJI has the ability to access and sell hotel inventory via ZUJI, and its alliance, sites.

ZUJI’s Executive Director of Commercial, Mr Martin Symes, commented that the company was very focused on continuing to increase hotel sales on ZUJI sites, which are currently tracking growth of more than 350% year over year, and that this will remain a core focus for the company into 2005.

“Our certification to sell inventory from the InterContinental Hotels Group’s portfolio is confirmation of our best-practice approach to working with suppliers on a local and regional scale, and most importantly to our consumers, this certification conforms that ZUJI’s pricing will be consistently low and comparable to going to supplier direct,” said Mr Symes.

“We ensure that great supplier content, and unique supplier deals, are promoted to our member base and the travelling public as our mutual interest – for the supplier and for ZUJI – is to sell as many hotel nights as possible.”

“We are pleased to welcome ZUJI on board as a certified online distribution partner as we continue to seek mutually beneficial relationships with third party intermediaries who share our values and commitment in looking after the best interests of our hotels and customers. We will only work with partners such as ZUJI, who engage in clear marketing practices, respect InterContinental Hotels Group’s trademarks, ensure reservations are guaranteed through an automated and common confirmation process as well as clearly present fees to consumers,” said Mr Christian Binting, Regional Channel Manager, Asia Pacific, InterContinental Hotels Group. “It is indeed heartening to have more and more travel partners support our online operating standards and we are expecting the numbers to increase.”

ZUJI plans to actively promote InterContinental Hotel Group’s portfolio of hotels to consumers via customer relationship management CRM and other marketing techniques. Booking InterContinental Hotels Group and other hotels on ZUJI has an added advantage: all hotel bookings on ZUJI currently earn ZUJI customers free bonus Asia Miles, regardless of supplier.

Currently ZUJI sources hotels rates from Abacus and WorldRES. In 2005, ZUJI will transition to Travelocity’s Merchant Model Hotels (MMH) platform for provision of hotel, including InterContinental Hotels Group, rates and product.

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