Utell and Sterling Hotels & Resorts Now Offering Member Hotels Free Three-Month Trial for Travel Agent Commission Processing

Utell, today announced it is offering a free three-month trial for its member hotels in more than 180 countries to receive travel agent commission processing. Utell is one of several services recently acquired by Pegasus Solutions, Inc. (Nasdaq: PEGS). Sterling Hotels & Resorts’ member hotels in 18 countries also have the opportunity to take advantage of the free trial
From July to September 2000, member hotels of Utell and Sterling Hotels & Resorts can outsource their travel agency commission processing and payments at no charge. To facilitate this value-added service to their member hotels, Utell and Sterling are tapping the expertise of Pegasus Commission Processing, the hotel industry’s leading travel agent commission processing service.

On a monthly basis, Pegasus will collect from Utell’s and Sterling’s member hotels actual guest stay information related to hotel bookings made by travel agents. After consolidating the hotels’ information and commission payments with that of other Pegasus participating hotels, Pegasus will send a consolidated commission payment to its member travel agencies worldwide. The more than 90,000 travel agency locations subscribing to Pegasus’ service also will receive detailed reporting of actual guest stays, cancellations and “no shows” and can elect to receive total automated commission management through Pegasus’ reconciliation and tracking service.

According to Michael Prager, senior vice president and managing director of Utell, the free trial supports Utell’s commitment to delivering exceptional value and customer service to its member hotels, and ultimately being the pre-eminent provider of services to help independent and small chain hotels enhance their bottom line. “With a significant portion of our member hotels’ business being generated by travel agents, it is critical that our hotels’ travel partners feel valued. Consistently paying commissions in full and on time is an ideal way to help foster this important relationship,” Prager said. “More than 1,800 of our hotels in 90 countries are currently using Pegasus’ consolidated commission processing service. Through our free trial, the remainder of our member hotels will have the opportunity to experience first hand the time- and cost-savings benefits of utilizing the hotel industry’s recognized solution for processing and paying commissions.”

Utell member hotels also can have commissions processed for non-Utell generated reservations for a nominal fee. Member hotels interested in receiving more information regarding this service should contact their Utell and Sterling account managers.

According to Kelvin Seah, Utell's senior vice president - Asia Pacific, travel agents will benefit greatly from having more Utell and Sterling member hotels centrally paying their commissions. "Hotel bookings at international locales are an important source of income to travel agencies. By booking Utell and Sterling member hotels that have adopted our central commission processing service, travel agents participating in Pegasus' service can receive their commissions in their choice of currency, consolidated into a single payment, and in a timely manner," Seah said.