• How can I get more online business?
  First make sure you have a booking engine on your web site. Then ensure you are connected to the Global Distribution System (GDS) and Internet Distribution System (IDS) and maximise use of the functions the system provides. Better still is to use a channel management solution that controls GDS / IDS plus the direct connections with Online Travel Agents.
  
  
• Will my staff need good technical understanding to implement these services?
  Definitely not! No technical knowledge is required. The control functions accessed over the Internet are easily understood by reservations staff.
  
  
• How fast can these systems be implemented?
  Normally we can have your property up and running at the latest within 4 weeks once our Support team has received all data from your company.
  
  
• What is the difference between connecting ourselves to GDS and posting our hotel from "A" website to "Z" website?
  All these web sites taking bookings are On Line Travel Agents (OTAs ). Some OTA don't process via the channels that the CRS distributes to. These are often referred within the industry as extranets'. They are an important source of bookings to hoteliers today and we recommend you ensure that you participate on as many extranets as possible to maximise business. eHotel Alliance CRS distributes to thousands OTAs worldwide - not covered by the previous statement. Contact us if you would like a list of extarnets we consider important for Asia Hoteliers and Tour operators. Your property shows on Travel Agent terminals worldwide- over 600,000 PC terminals.
  
  
• If GDS is real time based, then how do we connect it to our own website site or even our own reservation system, or else, we may get double bookings?
  The CRS is real time. You control over the internet. Let's say your property takes a group booking for dates. The first action your res takes is log on and close the dates in the CRS Being instant update - once closed no bookings can be confirmed. This question is frequently raised by those new to online distribution services. Once using the service the hotel finds it was not the concern they thought since updates are instantaneous.
  
  
• How long will it take for GDS to work?
  Once we have all your data loaded it normally takes 20 working days to go active on the main channels (most of the main distribution). With some of the OTA web sites it can take up to 10 weeks.
  
  
• How long will it take Channel Manager to work?
  Our support team will schedule 2 days to work with your staff for set up. Most channels will be working withing days of set up being completed.
  
  
• We want to create our own look and feel on our web site?
  This is fine and recommended in todays market. We can provide xml specs and your web management will need a programmer who is familiar with xml coding to build the pages.
  
  
• We would like to interface our PMS with eHotel Alliance CRS ?
  Yes this is possible. We can supply xml specs for the system provider to develop the interface. Please note that there are costs from the PMS provider that can be expensive (sometimes in order of USD7,000).
  
  
• What are xml specs?
  Leave this with the programmers to worry about! Basically it's todays standard coding used by programmers to ensure different hospitality systems communicate with each other.
  
  
• Should our hotel sign-up independently with Merchant programs offered by Travelocity, Expedia, Hotels.com etc?
  Most definitely - its fact today that being preferred delivers more reservations. The downside is that they are at the least revenue