CHICAGO -- TEN-IO said its proposed Internet-based "alternative
travel distribution system," called TEN-OS, would tap multiple
databases, including suppliers' own inventory, "bringing together
multiple reservation systems into one Travel Distribution
Environment."
The company scheduled a meeting with suppliers next month in
Orlando, Fla., to explore the possible business model for TEN-OS, a
system open to agents.
TEN-IO, based in Campbell, Calif., owns the Travel &
Entertainment Network on-line Web site (www.tenonline.com),
hosts Web sites for various travel companies and organizations, and
markets an Internet booking engine named Level TEN.
John Ramos, the company's president, said Hewlett-Packard and
WorldCom representatives would attend next month's meeting as
potential partners in offering TEN-OS (operating system) to agents
and suppliers as a turnkey package. Ramos said, "The global
distribution systems supply hardware, communications lines and
communications infrastructure. To be an alternate system we needed
to partner with a hardware company and a telecommunications
company."
Ramos declined to characterize TEN-OS as a potential bypass of
the CRSs because he does not want to rule out the possibility of
working with one or more of them, perhaps to access airline
inventory. TEN-OS pricing, including what agents might pay to use
it, is one of the things that must be determined, assuming
suppliers are interested in the system.
Ramos declined to outline possible pricing schemes but said that
for suppliers, "We think we can offer a lower cost of distribution
[than CRSs]. We are not sure if we will implement TEN-OS. We are
not going to implement a whole system if no one is going to use
it."
Whether the TEN-OS comes to fruition or not, TEN-IO will
continue to market its Level TEN Internet booking product.
TEN-IO has three versions of the system now -- for the
accommodations, cruise and motorcoach sectors -- and plans to
release versions for air, car rental and events, including music,
theater and sports early next year.
Booking capabilities for agents, as well as a new hotel
customer, are expected to be announced by the meeting, Ramos said.
The meeting will be held at 5 p.m. on Sept. 11 during the American
Travel Market in Orlando, where TEN-IO is sponsoring the Technology
Pavilion and Internet Cafe.
To request an invitation to the Internet Travel Distribution
Forum, contact TEN-IO at (408) 879-2677 or e-mail [email protected].