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Reservation Solutions for Activity, Adventure, Eco & Outdoor Tour Operators

Business Solutions For The Adventure Tour Operator

As a Whistler B.C. based provider of technology solutions, we have been working with activity, and adventure tour operators, to build a solution for their Front Desk, 3rd party partners, and web site reservation requests.  This is about reservation solutions developed for the adventure tour operator.  Our Web-based reservation management system will: “Sell your seats, to everyone”, thus increasing revenues, while managing your clients, and inventory.

Our On-Line Tour Booking Agency Portal, AdventureREZ.NET sells “adventure” seats on behalf of tour operators to Internet browsers.  Available in the Spring of 2003, AdventureREZ.net will list activities, and operators by destinations.  Our Portal will provide browsers with the ability of purchasing one or more activities, on-line, prior to visiting their destination.

Problem - Does your adventure tourism business need a management and reservation system, to manage the "seats" available for your activities, and tour packages?  Do you rely on 3rd party distribution i.e. wholesalers, to sell your "seats"?  Do they phone you constantly for availability??  Do you sell your "seats" through your web site?

If your existing "seat" inventory management has become a time consuming, manual process, then this issue can directly affect your revenue's.   Your business is all about maximizing revenue yield, by selling to the "last seat".

Scenario - Your tour business is growing.  Your advertising, and web marketing are creating results, as your reservation centre receives requests for available "seats" on tours.   Travelers to your tourist region now use the Internet to "plan" their vacation.  This includes accommodations, activities, and adventure reservations.   Without the ability to manage your tour "seat" availability, you could be losing revenue's, as a tour departs with availability.

As an Owner, of an adventure tour business, you have focused on developing safe, reliable tour activities for your customers.  Visitor's to resort destinations now have a wide variety of activity businesses to choose from, both prior to arriving, and while in-resort.  As an Owner, you rely extensively on in-resort marketing, word-of-mouth advertising, and 3rd party reservation services to drive business to your door.  Is your reservation system keeping up with your growth?

Solution - How do activity companies manage their customer data, front desk, and web based reservations?  They use our  ^TM Reservation Software designed for the Adventure Tourism industry.

Our solution uses the latest web-based architecture, Microsoft.NET, to build a solution to the problem of “selling” your activity and tour seats.   Why this new process? 

If you sell over the phone, to walk-in traffic, or through 3^rd party wholesale partners, our software will manage your inventory availability.   We provide your business with three seat sale opportunities; your inventory is available to your call centre or front desk, your distribution partners, and through your website.  Browsers to your web site can purchase your seats utilizing the latest Secure Internet Payment Technologies.  With this real-time access to seat availability and inventory, our software will assist your business with improving your client, inventory, and revenue management processes.  It will also improve your bottom line!  We look forward to building a partnership with your business.

Our Market - We have broken down the adventure tourism businesses into four categories, and have included activity types, which represent our prospects.

Individual Tours - Guided tours with no Inventory required

Adventure Lodge and Ranches, Backpacking, Caving, Hiking/Walking, (Bird Watching, Eco, Historical, Nature, Native Cultural, Sightseeing). 

Equipment Tours - Guided tours with equipment supplied by tour operator

Bungee Jumping, Bike Trips, Canoeing, Cross Country Skiing, Dog sledding, Fishing (Ice, Lake, River, Ocean), Horse Pack Trips, Kayaking, Mountain Climbing, Scuba Diving, Skiing (Extreme, Backcountry, Powder), Spa Vacations, Snowshoeing, Snowboarding, Survival Courses, ZipLine.

Seat Tours - Guided Tours with Limited Seating

ATV, Boats, Helicopter, House boating, Jet Boating, Motorcycling, Personal Watercraft, Snowcat, Snowmobiling Whale Watching, White Water Rafting.

Tour/Rentals - Business which both rent inventory, and need it for tours.   

Biking, canoeing, fishing, horse back riding, kayaking, scuba diving, Snowshoeing, Snowboarding.  

 _TM Reservation Software Overview - Our products are designed as a Web Services solution.  This means that our Licensees use our software at their offices, but their inventory database resides on our secure, protected and reliable servers.   This structure provides 24x7 access to their database from any client running our software.  Our software also provides visitors to your web site with access to inventory.  As well, our software provides secure access to your Inventory for your 3^rd party reseller partners.  This architecture means that your company uses PC’s connected to the Internet, to our servers, to maximize access to your data, thus maximizing reservation revenues.  The “sell to the last seat” scenario.

What is a Web Service? - The Basics - A Web Service Software vendor is a third-party business that distributes software over a wide area network. That is, instead of actually buying an application, customers are licensed to use it.  The Vendor, in turn becomes responsible for servicing the software, including providing upgrades. Use of a reliable Web Service Application Solution benefits your business in many ways, including reducing your IT requirements. 

This is a professional Business Application Solution, designed in a Microsoft.NET technology Framework.  We configure each client site, into our Data Management Centre.  Our Data Management Centre, is hosted by Pacific On-Line in Vancouver B.C.  The Data Centre is   “Constructed in a former bank vault, Pacific OnLine’s Data Center Features specialized cooling, climate monitoring and a dedicated power grid. Our facility is protected by a state of the art intrusion detection system with motion detectors, fire/smoke detection, video surveillance and 24/7 monitoring. In the event of a breech, the police department is automatically notified.  All Cooling, Security, Power Management and Routing are all handled internally. If a problem develops, we don't have to travel across town to fix it. In the event of an Internet disruption, we can route around it. Most importantly, we can keep a watchful eye on our servers 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.”  Pacific On-Line Web Site

Our Data Centre .NET framework includes the following network architecture: Tier 1 hardware, UPS protecting all systems and network equipment, Dedicated environmental control, RAID disk subsystems, reliable Server OS, and redundant high-speed connectivity to the Internet.  Our clients do not need extensive hardware, networks, technicians, service contracts etc.  They just need Dial-Up, Broadband, or Wireless connectivity to the Internet!

Overview -  Product Suite _{TM -} Includes 3 components:  Front Desk, PARTNERGateway, and TOURPlanner.  Each component provides access to your "seat" availability in real-time, driving the client contact, reservation and invoicing processes, forward to complete and confirm a reservation.   Our solution is engineered to provide different types of secure, On-Line payment processing, in partnership with our On-Line Payment Partner, Paradata Systems.

 FRONTDesk _TM - Has been designed and installed into the Whistler B.C. adventure tourism market.  This is the first component of our complete Product Suite _TM.   FRONTDesk _TM is for businesses requiring Front Desk management of their seat inventory, activity and tour availability, rates, customer contact, invoicing and revenue management.  Our software provides your Front Desk agents with real-time availability for an unlimited number of activities and tours, for instant sales assistance with a retail client.  This software manages your sales to the last tour seat, enabling you to increase revenue's.

  PARTNERGateway _TM - Adventure Tourism is a growth sector of the tourism industry.  In many destinations, existing Central Reservation Services, Portals, and other 3rd party businesses, build trips, and book activity and tour reservations.  Their access to your "seat" availability is usually over the telephone to your front desk, or by fax.  Many of these businesses have access to the Internet, but not access to your "seat" availability.  Our secure, login gateway, provides this access for your 3rd party resellers.  Reduce your time commitments to the people you are paying to sell your "seats", by providing them access to your data!  Chose from one of our two configurations:

Payment Processors:  Provide your availability by activity or tour, only, for partners who sell your seats to their guests.   These folks process the client credit card, and take payment.  Your business invoices them, for each tour seat they sell.

  Hosted Payment Solutions:

Your License for AdventureREZ.com software is hosted on SSL Certified Secure Web Servers, running Microsoft Windows NT 4.0, with SPA/2000, Microsoft.NET Framework, and Microsoft Internet Information Server 5.0.   Browsers require Microsoft Internet Explorer 4.01, with SP2 or greater, with 128-bit encryption, installed.

Our Data Hosting service includes an SSL Certificate from Thawte.  “With Thawte's SuperCert, based on SSL, the leading security protocol on the Internet, you can rest assured that all information exchanged between you and your customers will be secure during transmission.  The firm handshake of trust offered by Thawte's Web Server Certificate is enhanced by our 128-Bit SuperCert, which allows you to enjoy the strongest possible online security for communications among 'international browsers' still in use today.  By unleashing the full protection of your SSL-enabled server, a SuperCert from Thawte will allow you to extend 128-bit encryption to all your clients, even if they use browsers limited to 40-bit or 56-bit encryption capabilities. “ Thawte Web Site.

Features:

- This configuration offers maximum security for all transactions;
- We control the appearance and behavior of all .html secure pages;
- We control the appearance or all e-mail order confirmation;
- We control the transaction data for record keeping;
- Transaction flow is seamless, the customer never leaves your site;
- Captures are automated through our API so your business does not need to process them
  manually;

How our Payment GateWay Works:

In order to integrate secure, On-Line Payment Transactions into our product, we have established a Partnership with Paradata Systems Inc., a Whistler based developer of Integrated Payment Services with global expertise. 

To implement our PayGateWay Net Service, your business requires a Merchant Account through a US or Canadian acquiring bank.  This is the financial institute which passes your customer transaction details onto the issuing bank.  The issuing bank verifies that the customer has the available credit to make the purchase. 

On-Line Payment Merchant Options:

Each tour business may require different payment options, including:

1.       Book and Hold: Reservations, CC is processed on Client Arrival to your Front Desk.

2.       Biller: CC is processed on a date in the future, or on a recurring basis.

3.       Payment Gateway: Process your client’s credit card, at time of booking

Merchant Support Centre – is an online tool for merchants to manage orders on a daily basis.  The Centre allows merchants to:

1.       View sales activity reports

2.       Perform batch settlements

3.       Search for order and batch details

4.       Credit, void and capture transactions.

  TOURPlanner _TM, is the name for our seat availability, quoting/summary, booking, reservation and invoicing process.  This process is available through your FRONTDesk, as well as through your Web site.  We have integrated this function into our on-line, real-time Internet reservation process.  This extends secure access to your inventory for both Commission Partners, and browsers to your web site.  

In a recent study by the Canadian Tourism Commission, it has become apparent that Adventure tourism businesses are increasing their reliance on their website for attracting business.  Role of the Internet in the Vacation Travel of North Americans, Summary of Findings, Spring 2002 reports:

"One quarter of Canadian and 35% of American households recently used the Internet to research and/or book travel and are therefore classified as iTravellers.  U.S. travelers are more active users of the Internet for planning, booking and purchasing (both travel and non-travel) related items.  They have been online for more years and spend more time online every week.  Canadian iTravellers use the Internet predominantly for research and planning purposes.  While Americans also use the Internet first and foremost for research, they have been more welcoming of its e-commerce capabilities." Canadian Tourism Commission.

The Internet, and a web site is quickly becoming a critical advertising and marketing presence for an adventure tourist business.  We have designed our solution to bring your "seat" availability to your web site, so browsers to your site may review your tour information, research tour availability, and book, while on your site.  Imagine if 35% of the visitors to your site purchased a tour seat!

  TOURNow _TM – Replace your current web site’s e-mail registration form with our On-line availability process.   E-Mail forms require browsers to input extensive data, and each form requires manual processing.  Our TOURNow _TM Icon is placed along side your exciting graphics and text descriptions of your tour information.     Our On-Line module, brings your seat availability to your web site, in real-time, for immediate, secure bookings. This means that browsers can review your activity and tour information, search for availability, book their trip, and setup their own client record.  Availability is immediate, and your inventory is managed to reflect changes to the unit(s) reservation.

This TOURNow _TM Icon drives our On-Line booking process.  The ICON is linked to your activity and tour information, providing your web-site browser with a simple, secure method to make a booking, directly into your inventory database.  By selecting our TOURNow _TM Icon a Browser activates the On-Line Payment Transaction process.  This TOURNow _TM Icon activates and loads our secure Customer Contact Information form.  The browser uses this form to enter their Name, Phone Number, E-Mail address, CC# to purchase the seats/tour they have selected.  This activates the Payment Transaction process, a 12 step; secure process that takes place within seconds.  All transactions may be reviewed through our Merchant Support Centre.

Commission Partners: Provide these partners with our complete TOURPlanner _TM functionality, so they can check and sell, register the client, add the contact information, and compete all details of the client tour.  Your business processes the client payment, through your Merchant Account, therefore you own the client.  Your business pays this partner a commission, for each tour seat they sell.

AdventureREZ.com Services:

WEB Services - For many tour operators, the cost of establishing and maintaining an Internet presence can be expensive and complex.   As your technology partner, we offer several services designed to assist you with your Internet presence.   This includes: E-Mail Protection for your web site, WEBCare, WEBDevelop, WEBHosting and WEBMarket.   We will work with you on creating your site, or maintaining your existing site, as part of our services. With our site care services, we work with you to maintain your site architecture, content, and images.

E-Mail Protection - We have introduced E-mail Protection Services (EPS) for business with their own web site, and e-mail communications. Our comprehensive services are designed to act as the forward line of defense for a company's IT messaging infrastructure. EPS includes spam filtering, virus protection and "store and forward" to protect business' emails.

WEBCare - Web Care Services are designed to provide you with a cost efficient way of maintaining your site. Our Web Care services are available on a regular basis, daily, weekly, and monthly, semi-annually, based on your needs.  These services include:  Content Revisions, Graphic Design, HTML Programming Changes, Flash Animations, Javascript / DHTML client-side enhancements, Microsoft.NET server-side enhancements, PHP / CGI, Dynamic content / database connectivity.

WEBDevelop - We build Web sites for those clients without one.  Service generally include: Web Strategic Planning, and Development, Design of Basic, Interactive, and Dynamic Web Sites, Services include: Pre-Production, Production, Post-Production, Graphic Design, Graphics Digitizing & Conversion, HTML Development, Multi-Media Development, Macromedia Flash, Streaming Audio Dynamic Database Driven Sites.

WEBHost - We offer competitive hosting plans for your business.

WEBManage - Existing Web Sites need servicing, to enhance and maintain their position in the rapidly changing world of Internet Search Engines.  We provide Site Analysis & Re-Design, Search Engine Listings, Link Exchanges, Banner Advertisements, Web Statistics Analysis, Business and Site Promotions services to assist your site increase traffic.

Send e-mail to website@jcrconsulting.com with questions or comments about this web site.
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Last modified: 09/21/04