In another diversification similar to its investment in the Albert E Sharp share dealing service, British Telecommunications Plc has 51% of a new company, Holiday Designers Ltd, with travel firm B S Mantzoz Holdings Ltd taking the other 49%. The system, representing a UKP2m investment, will offer travel agents Prestel viewdata access to all the information facilities they need to put together custom holidays tailored to the preferences of of individual customers. It is based on an IBM 3090-180 mainframe with a front end switch acting as a gateway to a wide range of reservation systems. In the first phase, it will offer a booking access to wide range of charter and scheduled airline seats between the UK and Europe. The second phase will add hotel and car hire reservations, and transfers, the third phase, set for next year, will add some more exotic features.
BRITISH TELECOM TAKES 51% OF TRAVEL SERVICES VENTURE
