Vacation.com’s EZguider to Add Air Bookings in First Quarter of 2009

Vacation.com said that, this quarter, it will bring a full-blown air booking capability to EZguider, the web-based leisure-booking system it makes available free to all members. It said 1,100 agencies, or a little more than 20 percent of members, have registered and have access to EZguider.

Currently, EZguider allows members to book all major cruise lines (with biasing favoring preferred choices), six tour operators and four insurance providers. Viking River is slated to be added this quarter, followed by another three tour operators in June.

Tiffany Glass, vice president of e-commerce and technology for the trade group, said adding air will involve “a marginal setup fee and a modest transaction fee” for each participating agency.

This feature, which utilizes Amadeus, Vacation.com’s parent, is designed for members without GDSs, Steve Tracas, Vacation.com president and CEO, said. Fulfillment will be handled “centrally,” he added, but he declined to name the service provider for now.