HTM 325

SALES AND MARKETING

www. Hostelworld.com
Wed Reservation
International

HEW MEI GEE 208-2356-04

LOW POH LING 308-1978-05
JENNY PHAM THI THAN HUONG 607-0940-02
KHOO VUI TIONG 208-0281-04
HOW HAN JIAN 208-0869-04
What is WRI???
 Web Reservations International (WRI) was
founded in 1999.Their aim is to simplify the
booking of hostels worldwide. Currently,
they provides online confirmed reservations
to over 50,000 accommodation providers.

 
Cust omers can choose
fr om 5 star hotel s to
hostel s wo rld wide t hrough
thei r maj or onl ine br and s.
WRI al so provi de
reser vati on technol ogy to
more than 1, 000 aff ili ates .
 WR I’ s
partners:
• Hotel
• Hostels
• Other
accomodation.
Hmmmm…..

How About the

Company
Backgrounds???
 Tom Kennedy

Ray Nolan

Tom Kennedy owner of Avalon House

Hostel in Dublin contracted Ray Nolan to
develop a software programme to
manage the check-in and out process.
After a successful installation Nolan
In 1999 Ray Nolan and
Tom Kennedy founded
Web Reservations
International (WRI) and
created an online
reservation site for
 KEY ISSUES
HOW TO GROWTH THIS
BUSINESS?

•Creating electronic
marketplace-automated
booking machine
•Having flagship website
•Having investors- summit
partners
Question 1

What are the strategic

options open to WRI?
• Si mpl e and st r ai ghtf orw ar d
booki ng pr ocess.
• Detai ls available once lodging has
been selected.
• Provides varies gu ides
• Lo w cost oper ator
• Other ele ments for booking.
• Offer mor e c onveni ence.
QUESTION 2
• Should WRI pursue the interest
of summit partners?
Cash flow means everything to a
growing business.

• What are the alternative

funding source?
Banks and SBIC lenders
C. What expertise would
Summit partners bring to
WRI?

-Industry Experiences
-Strategies for Growth
-Uses of Capital
QUESTION 3
B. In wh at wa ys should WRI begin
to c ompete with Ex pedia and
Tra ve locity?
• Get creative
• Outstanding customer service
• Do research
• Add WRI website to
search engine &classifieds.
 Marketing

Marketing includes sales,

publicity, branding, pricing,
advertising, distribution,
promotions, and customer
service. It's how your
business brings in money
with leadership
B. How can WR I prote ct
itsel f a gai nst
compet itor s that imi tate
its st rategy and
busi ness mod el?

-Invest on marketing effort

-invest in technology and
facilities
 QUESTION 4
A. What are the unique
competencies of WRI?
-Instant room availability information
-Online reservation confirmation and
status
-Agent secure login
-Agent booking
-Agent reservation
-Reservation tracking

B. Are they sustainable over the

 QUESTION 5

Is the WRI business and

revenue model transferable
into other sectors of the
travel industry?
WRI’s internet
reservation system is
also used to book other
elements of their
holiday.
Nolan (2003) describes,
“When we sell a ticket, we
are automatically out of
the game and because we
have hostel sin both the
southern and the northern
hemispheres, we don’t
have a slow season”

Ray Nolan
CONC LUS ION
WRI gain profits by taking annual
fee per listing and
10%reservation fee from
complementary products they
sold through its websites.