Web Reservations International plans to launch a travel search engine next January.

Web Reservations International plans to launch a travel search engine next January.

Published: 29 Oct 2006

Web Reservations International plans to launch a travel search engine next January.

According to local media, sbpost.ie, the new service will combine travel information with social networking, with up to one million reviews of destinations and accommodation.

The report referred to Ray Nolan, the chief executive of WRI, saying that the firm had invested several million euro in the new service, which has been in development for almost a year.

“The site will be a further boost to the profile and finances of WRI, which has built a hugely profitable business from handling online bookings for almost 50,000 hostels and hotels. The company made a pre-tax profit of €12.5 million last year as turnover rose by 79 per cent to €28.5 million. The turnover figure includes €6.75 million from the acquisition of US firm WorldRes in March last year,” as per the report.

He believes that the Internet has made finding travel information and booking holidays more complicated for many people, instead of making it easier. “Because most online travel companies have commission deals with certain hotels, travellers never get a full listing of all hotels and those they do get may not be the cheapest, or might not even be available. WRI plans to solve that problem with a new service that lists every single accommodation provider in the world and allows travellers to quickly find and book their holiday. It will have up to one million reviews of destinations and accommodation, allowing people to get a personal opinion before booking their holiday,” added the report.

According to Nolan, the service combines ‘‘the best of Google, the best of travel brands and the best of social networking’’, making it completely unique.

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