PHOENIX— Best Western International and Dublin, Ireland-based Datalex have inked an agreement for Datalex to supply its new hospitality booking-engine solution to the global lodging chain. The technology will extend a range of online searching and booking capabilities to customers and travel professionals via Best Westerns global websites, connecting travel buyers directly to BWs central reservations system. Through a license agreement, Best Western will take delivery of the Datalex Internet booking-engine platform, which will provide a broad range of functionalities that allow the company to replace its current per-transaction cost base for outsourced Internet reservations services. Best Western will operate the booking engine from its center in Arizona. The new system will provide travel buyers with destination search and recommendation capabilities, dynamic links to property information content, and bookings made against real-time room availability. The system also will be linked to Best Westerns loyalty program and will enable the packaging of additional components, such as products and packages, in conjunction with hotel accommodations. Best Westerns web-based portals will provide functionalities required by different types of purchasers, including travel agents, corporate travel planners, meetings planners and tour operators, as well as unmanaged corporate travelers and leisure guests. Bookings access will be made through browser-based technologies and mobile devices.
