Wri

HTM 325 SALES AND MARKETING

www. Hostelworld.com Wed Reservation International HEW MEI GEE LOW POH LING JENNY PHAM THI THAN HUONG KHOO VUI TIONG HOW HAN JIAN

208-2356-04 308-1978-05 607-0940-02 208-0281-04 208-0869-04

What is WRI???

Web Reservations International (WRI) was founded in 1999.Their aim is to simplify the booking of hostels worldwide. Currently, they provides online confirmed reservations to over 50,000 accommodation providers.

 

Cust omers can choose fr om 5 star hotel s to hostel s wo rld wide t hrough thei r maj or onl ine br and s. WRI al so provi de reser vati on technol ogy to more than 1, 000 aff ili ates .

WR I’ s partners: • Hotel • Hostels • Other accomodation.

Hmmmm….. How About the Company Backgrounds???

Tom Kennedy

Ray Nolan

Tom Kennedy owner of Avalon House Hostel in Dublin contracted Ray Nolan to develop a software programme to manage the check-in and out process. After a successful installation Nolan

In 1999 Ray Nolan and Tom Kennedy founded Web Reservations International (WRI) and created an online reservation site for

KEY ISSUES HOW TO GROWTH THIS BUSINESS? •Creating electronic marketplace-automated booking machine •Having flagship website •Having investors- summit partners

Question 1

What are the strategic options open to WRI? • Si mpl e and st r ai ghtf orw ar d

booki ng pr ocess. • Detai ls available once lodging has been selected. • Provides varies gu ides • Lo w cost oper ator • Other ele ments for booking. • Offer mor e c onveni ence.

QUESTION 2 • Should WRI pursue the interest of summit partners? Cash flow means everything to a growing business. •

What are the alternative funding source? Banks and SBIC lenders

C. What expertise would Summit partners bring to WRI? -Industry Experiences -Strategies for Growth -Uses of Capital

QUESTION 3 B. In wh at wa ys should WRI begin to c ompete with Ex pedia and Tra ve locity? • Get creative • Outstanding customer service • Do research • Add WRI website to search engine &classifieds.

Marketing Marketing includes sales, publicity, branding, pricing, advertising, distribution, promotions, and customer service. It's how your business brings in money with leadership

B. How can WR I prote ct itsel f a gai nst compet itor s that imi tate its st rategy and busi ness mod el? -Invest on marketing effort -invest in technology and facilities

QUESTION 4 A. What are the unique competencies of WRI? -Instant room availability information -Online reservation confirmation and status -Agent secure login -Agent booking -Agent reservation -Reservation tracking B. Are they sustainable over the

QUESTION 5 Is the WRI business and revenue model transferable into other sectors of the travel industry?

WRI’s internet reservation system is also used to book other elements of their holiday.

Nolan (2003) describes, “When we sell a ticket, we are automatically out of the game and because we have hostel sin both the southern and the northern hemispheres, we don’t have a slow season”

Ray Nolan

CONC LUS ION WRI gain profits by taking annual fee per listing and 10%reservation fee from complementary products they sold through its websites.