Backpacker Channel Management
One of the largest suppliers of budget accommodation in Australia, Base Backpacker Hostels, has also become a product distributor after partnering with channel management company, SiteMinder.
The Base Tourism Group, which represents 17 hostels in Australia and New Zealand, has used SiteMinder’s channel management technology to become a distributor of backpacker rooms.
“The Base connection underlines the many ways SiteMinder can help travel businesses more efficiently manage and sell their product and expand their market reach in what is an increasingly competitive marketplace,” said SiteMinder Sales and Marketing General Manager Gary Fog.
The Base Tourism Group operates 13 high-quality Base Backpacker Hostels in Australia and New Zealand and also represents four affiliated ‘Base Mates’ hostels, with more independent backpacker operators signing up to its network soon.
Base Tourism Group Marketing Director, Tom Clark, said he was excited the group had become the first supplier business model to become an online product distributor through SiteMinder.
“We wanted our affiliated hostels to have the ability to dynamically manage rates and availability on our website in real time so rather than build our own inventory management system, we have created our own web service and integrated this directly to the well established SiteMinder channel management system,” Mr Clark said. “This has allowed our affiliates to manage inventory on our booking engine dynamically.
“The new integration with SiteMinder also means that the affiliate hostels joining the network will generate a significantly greater level of brand awareness by leveraging the Base Backpacker web platform. Our website provides our affiliate properties with access to literally hundreds of thousands of monthly website visitors, where previously they were restricted to just their own website for eyeballs. This project significantly adds to the strength of their business models via increased levels of revenue and brand strength.
“In terms of customer benefits, this integration has allowed the Base brand to drive forward a much stronger online proposition for consumers and agents to package up itineraries using our hostels, particularly in Australia, as we now have a more consistent presence up the east coast and through to Darwin due to the ever expanding affiliate network.”
About Base Tourism Group: The Base Tourism Group is owned by several high profile investors of which the largest institutional shareholderis Ironbridge Capital. The group operates the leading budget accommodation network in Australia and New Zealand – Base Backpackers – as well as the largest backpacker retail chain in Australia and New Zealand – Backpackers World Travel. The Base brand is a globally recognised brand providing backpackers with the highest quality accommodation at budget prices. ?