Bookeasy is a system that allows operators, such as Tour Operators, Accommodation Operators and Ticket Operators to load their product in via the Bookeasy operators extra-net. Bookeasy then consolidates this data and allows users to search for availability and rates of multiple products for a region or location.

Users can view accurate rates and availability across many operators in much the same way as they would on other consolidators (OTA's) such as booking.com. They can then drill down to an operator and book a specific product.

A Channel Manager is a system that is used by specific operators to distribute dynamic data to consolidators (OTA's) such as Bookeasy. Dynamic data is defined as data that is constantly changing, such as availability and rates.

Bookeasy allows many channel managers to push dynamic data into the system via the Bookeasy API. It also allows channel managers to retrieve booking information. Currently over 3,000 operators of varying types use a channel manager to update Bookeasy.

Consolidators or on-line travel agents (OTA's) — It is important for OTA's to have a snapshot of the operator dynamic data at any given time. This allows the OTA to provide timely and accurate search results across a range of operators. In the current environment, it is not good enough to expect a user to drill down to a specific product to find if it is available and for what price. A good example of this is the TXA booking system which has not had a rapid uptake.

Consolidators also place themselves at risk if they have to call third party systems to obtain accurate rates and availability. This is because these third party systems can take a period of time to respond, or may be unavailable from time to time.

The Bookeasy Visitor Centre System — Operators, via a channel manager, or the Bookeasy extra-net, upload static information such as description text and pictures, and dynamic data such as rates and availability.

Users, being either the Visitor Centre staff console, or consumers via the Visitor Centre website search for a range of products by type, regions or location. They are returned with the search results within a second or two. View an example here http://www.margaretriver.com/tours.

These search results are accurate and come back in seconds due to smart caching, design and the fact that Bookeasy does not have to call on, and wait, for any third party system.

Also, if Bookeasy relied on a third party system, once results were retrieved, additional time would be taken to sort, filter and consolidate. Using the example link above, Bookeasy would need to make approximately 50 separate calls to third party systems and this example is only a small search.

In General the above explains why OTA's that provide search results across multiple operators work with channel managers that can PUSH changes of dynamic data to them.  

For Accommodation Operators: 

This field is fairly developed and has grown over several years to be saturated with software providers, property management systems and channel managers. See a full list of all our co-operating partners.

For Tour Operators:

This industry still growing and at present there is nothing similar to a channel manager in existence. So for those, we offer the following solutions: 

1. Use Bookeasy's Tour Manager Property Management System which is directly linked to all Bookeasy Visitor Centre consoles and ensures accurate up to date instantly bookable product is available.
2. Use Bookeasy's Tour Operator console and manually upload changes of dynamic data.
3. Ensure the third party system they use has channel management functionality where they can PUSH dynamic data to Bookeasy. Bookeasy API's are available for this.
4. At the minimum, ensure their system can push changes of availability to Bookeasy, as rates for tours generally stay static and can be loaded into the Bookeasy Console.