OREANDA-NEWS.  February 1, 2012.  Star Alliance, the way the Earth connects, has become the first global airline alliance to offer online booking and ticketing to convention delegates. The new booking tool allows the convention organisers to direct their participants to a dedicated online booking and ticketing site for all air travel contracted under Star Alliance Conventions Plus.

Christopher Korenke, Vice President Commercial, Star Alliance said: “The Star Alliance Conventions Plus booking platform is an integral part of our strategy to further enlarge the scope of our online distribution channel. We are proud to be the first airline alliance to offer convention organisers a simplified and streamlined manner of displaying available air travel options through the web, with delegates being able to book directly from the site.”

The new online booking tool complements the existing traditional fulfilment channels. Organisers can use the new tool to inform the delegates of travel options offered by the participating airlines for the selected convention. Delegates can then check real time availability and fares for their required itinerary, book the appropriate flights, and purchase the corresponding ticket.

A test phase of the tool with selected customers began in October 2011 as part of the Alliances' presence at IMEX in Las Vegas. Roswitha Clement, Senior Manager Conventions and Meetings at Star Alliance  commented: “We have now successfully completed booking and ticketing for several events using the new tool and the feedback we have received form customers is very positive indeed. By now making it available for all Conventions Plus travel requirements, Star Alliance further improves its product offer to this market segment.”