SAN FRANCISCO HOTEL BUSINESS. has learned that Kimpton Hotel & Restaurant Group s recently inked five-year contract with Phoenix-based Pegasus Solutions marked the end of the company s three-year relationship with Outrigger Hotels Kimpton s former call center and GDS provider.
According to Caryl Helsel, Kimpton s vp/reservations and distribution, the need to find a full-service, fully-dedicated distribution services provider was becoming more and more evident as the company continued to grow.
“We were Outrigger s only customer other than their own hotels and there just wasn t the commitment of resources we needed. We put out an RFP with a list of 384 criteria a wish list of things we needed from a distribution services provider as well as things we would like to have,” said Helsel.
“Pegasus met 350 out of our 384 items while every other company out there that responded to the RFP came in meeting less than 300 items on the list,” Helsel continued.
Because Kimpton outsources every step of its inventory distribution, there is a long list of solutions Pegasus has been enlisted to provide. The agreement includes the customization and use of Pegasus central reservation system (CRS); Internet and global distribution systems (GDS); as well as reservations reporting systems.
Also included in the deal is the relocation of Kimpton s call center. Kimpton s reservations will be funneled through one number at a call center located in Phoenix and controlled by Pegasus. According to Helsel, Pegasus will also be providing two data reporting sources in the form of CD ROMs and also with a download of all raw data to be used by Kimpton for its own data mining purposes.Furthermore, according to Helsel, Kimpton s relationship with Pegasus will possibly be extended in the future, including the interfacing of a revenue management solution and the addition of centralized commissions.
Helsel said the implementation process is currently underway and Kimpton hopes to have all Pegasus solutions in place by June 5. (4/18/01) Kelly Wayne