Open Destinations Belmond deal ‘reflects travel tech evolution of rail’

Open Destinations Belmond deal ‘reflects travel tech evolution of rail’

Luxury travel company Belmond, previously known as Orient Express, has extended its partnership with technology supplier Open Destinations. Continue reading

Luxury travel company Belmond, previously known as Orient Express, has extended its partnership with technology supplier Open Destinations.

The operator will use Open Destinations’ Travel Studio platform to power its rail and tour businesses in Peru where it runs a joint venture called PeruRail.

Open Destinations’ chief executive, Kevin O’Sullivan, says the deal indicates a trend of travel technology becoming more important in the rail sector.

“Belmond’s operations show that the rail industry is evolving. The companies in this sector are becoming specialist tour operator businesses who need yield management tools in addition to reservation technology to manage their businesses.

“We have demonstrated that we understand their unique needs. Our continued investment in Travel Studio means it is well positioned to keep up with the changing needs of this sector.”

The deal involves an expansion of Belmond’s existing partnership with Open Destinations, whose technology sits behind Belmond’s global network of rail, cruise and touring products.

The deal opens up the growing travel market for PeruRail to Open Destinations which will replace legacy technology that Belmond currently use across their Peruvian operations.

This includes Belmond’s luxury trains, the Belmond Hiram Bingham and Belmond Andean Explorer, as well as PeruRail’s Vistadome and Expedition tourist trains and its wider passenger network.

Travel Studio will also run the operations of Belmond’s local destination management company, Journeys in Peru.

Belmond vice president of revenue management and distribution, Shawn Jereb, said:

“Open Destinations has demonstrated that they really understand how to support the complex requirements of the Belmond organisation.

“The software is highly intuitive and caters to the needs of a specialist tour operating business and rail operation. Travel Studio gives us the best of both worlds.”