UK: Serviced apartment booking agent SITU has launched a live availability booking solution for travel managers and TMCs.
The new service will be rolled out over the coming year to SITU’s global portfolio of 36,000 serviced apartments.
SITU partners will be able to upload availability of properties through SITU’s supplier portal or through API for all the major Property Management Systems and Channel Managers – feeding live availability and prices instantaneously to SITU and its customers.
Selected SITU partners will be among the first to be able to make their properties available through the new service, which will allow industry partners (such as booking agents and travel management companies), clients and new customers to book instantly for periods of one night upwards. Properties with live availability will be identified on SITU’s site by a pastel green button with a lightning bolt symbol.
Phil Stapleton, managing director of SITU, said: “We have seen a growing appetite from travel bookers for a service that allows online booking with real-time availability both domestically and internationally, so we are stepping up to the mark with a solution which ensures that businesses and our industry partners can gain instant access to high quality serviced apartments when they want it, where they want it. However, it is important to note that this will not replace the service-led approach that SITU has built its reputation on – rather it is a tool within the SITU technology suite to further support our guests and clients.
“In our view, more complex group bookings, stays of over a month, relocations or more unusual requests are best met by SITU’s search service, which delivers bespoke solutions, negotiated rates and corporate accommodation solutions where stock may be scarce or even non-existent,” he added.
