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SriLankan Airlines recently tied up with SasiaNet, the Internet-based reservations service provider for the services of Roomsnet, an automated interactive hotel reservation system which will help to position Sri Lanka as an ideal hub for air travellers as well as promote the country as an adventure, special-interest and eco-tourism destination.

Roomsnet, which will be implemented in phases, will enable SriLankan Airlines overseas stations to directly book passengers in hotels in Sri Lanka during their lay overs in the country. On feeding the passengers travel information into the system, Roomsnet will automatically book the passengers into a hotel which their travel entitles them to. The hotel voucher will then be handed over to the passenger on arrival at the airport in Sri Lanka.

SriLankan Airlines is already online Phase I of Roomsnet where its overseas stations route the travel information through the airline's reservation system to its head office which makes the booking on Roomsnet. In Phase II, overseas offices will be able to make bookings directly on Roomsnet.

"With Roomsnet, SriLankan's offices overseas have 24-hour access to Sri Lankan hotels for inquiries and bookings," says Sunil Welivitigoda, SriLankan's Product Support Manager. "This hotel reservation system cuts down the time and effort to make hotel bookings and issue vouchers. It provides an automated, cost effective and integrated solution for airlines to make hotel bookings, precluding the necessity for manual interaction between customers, airline and hotels and saving fax and telephone communications costs."

Eric Wickramanayake, Managing Director of SasiaNet in Sri Lanka said: "SriLankan is one of the first airlines, in the world to have online facilities for stopover and passenger services."

In Phase III of Roomsnet, customers who wish to make a longer stay in Sri Lanka can make their hotel bookings through SriLankan's overseas offices. This facility is offered free of charge to all hotels in the island and will help to promote frequent individual travel.

Roomsnet allows hotels to drive their own business, instead of being dependent on contracting business a year ahead at low rates. It allows for rapid pricing changes on the part of hotels in meeting changes in market situations, without the cost of having to print new brochures as traditional marketing methods would require.

In Phase IV, SriLankan Airlines will be able to offer packages for adventure, special interest and eco-tourism holidays through Roomsnet to customers overseas. In this way, Roomsnet will help to promote holidays in Sri Lanka.

Roomsnet has been customized to suit SriLankan's requirements. The system will also provide vital management information to the airline, enabling it to tailor its products to suit the customer. The project did not require any large investment in infrastructure by the airline.

SasiaNet which has its data centre in USA provides reservations services to several different types of firms in USA and Europe.

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