Datalex, the Dublin-based travel software technology company, has been chosen by travel portal Lasvegas.com to provide the search and booking software for its site.
The next-generation booking platform is designed to enable destination sites such as Lasvegas.com to provide multi-component travel packages, informational content, search and recommendation capabilities and distribution via the internet.
Datalex says visitors can book hotel accommodation, air and car transportations and facilitate complex searches of everything Las Vegas has to offer.
Speaking to siliconrepublic.com Mary Rose MacAllister, PR marketing manager for the Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) region of Datalex, explained that the company had developed the new ‘web services’ platform last year in conjunction with leading US mountain resorts operator, Vail resorts, and the platform was then deployed on Vail’s snow.com site.
“This allowed customers to package their ski holiday all from the one site and the same type of platform has just been deployed for Lasvegas.com,” she said.
Lasvegas.com, which services the US city’s visitors and local people and businesses alike, is a partnership of Mandalay Resort Group and Park Place Entertainment, owners and operators of Las Vegas hotel and resort rooms, casinos, restaurants, shops and a collection of the city’s major attractions and entertainment events.
The deal represents a change of fortune for Datalex, whose share price was badly affected by the September 11 attacks as airlines cut back drastically on their investment.
This resulted in a large-scale restructuring in the company, which saw staff numbers drop from over 500 in 2001 to 300.
Datalex generated revenue of US$11.5m in the first half of last year – a drop of US$6.4m for the same period in 2001.
Speaking following today’s announcement, Datalex CEO, Neil Beck said: “Our technology makes it possible for organisations like this to merchandise their attractions, facilities and destination brand while offering a complete travel service.”
According to McAllister, the new service represents a diversification for the company: “Traditionally we would have marketed to airlines and travel agents. Now we’re targeting the hotel industry, the large resorts and destination management organisations like tourist boards and tourists authorities.”
By Suzanne Byrne
