JackRabbit Systems, Inc., is pleased to announce a partnership with USVI Hotel & Tourism Association! Online visitors to www.virgin-islands-hotels.com will now use the JackRabbit Search Engine, allowing them to compare local rates and availability and select desired lodging. JackRabbit will then seamlessly redirect the traveler directly to the lodging property to complete their transaction. "Jack Rabbit Systems has provided the USVI Hotel & Tourism Association with a booking solution unlike any other," said Lisa Hamilton, President USVI Hotel Association. "We have turned down many other companies because they all charged a commission and our goal is to send direct bookings to our membership commission free. In addition, JackRabbit provides - free of charge - a booking engine on the websites of those members that do not have one. They are continuing to offer additional booking solutions to include air and activities & attractions which is very important to our consumers." The JackRabbit team used a customized Search Engine interface to match the www.virgin-islands-hotels.com website.

KEY BENEFITS
FOR DMO (DIRECT MARKETING ORGANIZATION) WEBSITE VISITORS

  • Website visitors can conduct dynamic searches by preferred location, category, and check-in and check-out date from the Book › Direct toolbar located directly on the USVI Hotel & Tourism Association homepage and other site profile pages.
  • Date-driven Book › Direct search results provide immediate information on the lowest average rate per night, hotel amenities, location, and type of accommodations available.
  • Most consumers book direct, especially from DMO websites. According to the latest American Hotel & Lodging/Smith Travel Research Study, nearly 81% of all hotel rooms are booked through direct channels, supporting the fact that consumers highly prefer (and do) book direct.
  • Allows consumers to easily utilize loyalty reward points, membership discounts, etc. based on the direct reservation and relationship with the lodgings.
FOR DMO LODGING PARTNERS
  • Book › Direct allows travelers that visit www.virgin-islands-hotels.com to book accommodations directly, with no additional fees or commissions, bypassing online booking fees and travel agency commissions from standard 3rd party booking engines, completely eliminating the "middleman."
  • JackRabbit does not require any additional inventory management for lodgings into the Book › Direct system!
  • Consumers become the lodging's direct customer, allowing the lodging to service, transact the booking and remarket to their customers for repeat stays.
  • Allows lodgings better control of pricing realizing in a higher ADR compared to 3rd party booking engines.
FOR DMOS
  • State of the Art site visitor experience utilizing dynamic search efficiency and navigation.
  • 100% participation, meaning all lodging partners participate in the Book › Direct technology and search results.
  • Real-time analytics and detailed reports data.
  • Keeps 100% of the lodging and sales tax within the DMO's market. Instead of bed tax being collected on 75-78% of the rate with many major online travel agencies, it is collected on 100% of the rate via the Book › Direct Search Engine driving the highest market ROI compared to any other 3rd party solution.