Tsogo Sun’s new booking engine streamlines processes with Sabre’s hospitality and distribution solutions

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa and SOUTHLAKE, Texas – March 8, 2017 –  Tsogo Sun has launched a brand new Internet Booking Engine (IBE) on its tsogosun.com website to provide a streamlined and user-friendly hotel reservation experience for guests booking into any of its 14,000 hotel rooms – in over 90 hotels and 14 entertainment destinations across South Africa, Africa, the Seychelles, and Abu Dhabi. The new IBE has been developed and is being managed by Sabre Hospitality Solutions, which is the world’s largest central reservations system provider to the hospitality industry with over 36,000 hotels, resorts and chains using its technology. The new Tsogo Sun IBE works smoothly across mobile phones, tablets, or PCs, and offers real-time rates and availability. The booking engine also features quick and easy hotel and room price comparison with interactive visuals, room upgrade options, a rate ‘slider’ for narrowing searches to suit the budget, and a ‘basket’, enabling guests to book multiple rooms at a number of hotels. “At Tsogo Sun, our aim is to consistently provide our guests with an experience that meets their needs and exceeds their expectations at all our properties, from our economy brands right through to our luxury hotels,” said Helen Kotze, general manager channels at Tsogo Sun. “To deliver on that promise, it is critical that we have the best technology solutions,” she added, “and Tsogo Sun’s global approach and expansion plans make it essential that the group has a strong technology partner that can help it succeed across channels.” “Sabre’s vast expertise and its global perspective into the industry as well as the challenges that hoteliers face will add tremendous value to our digital offering in the demanding hotel room market,” noted Kotze. “We are delighted with our impressive new engine and look forward to strong growth in hotel room bookings.” For Tsogo Sun, the benefits of the new IBE include:

• Increased conversion and revenue from the website channel due to the improved and easy-to-use guest experience across devices whether mobile, tablet or desktop.
• Improved access to best practice approaches with regard to new developments for the IBE with Sabre as a technology partner.
• Access to metasearch thereby increasing revenue from the web channel.

Tsogo Sun can now also benefit from functionality already available in the IBE, expanding the group´s packaging and promotional capabilities, as well as offering multi-language support for guests. “Tsogo Sun constantly reviews ways to enhance their guests’ experience including the booking process,” said Richard Wiegmann, managing director and chief commercial officer, Sabre Hospitality Solutions, Europe, Middle East and Africa. “The technology partnership with Sabre will help them to succeed across channels and devices, ensuring a rich online shopping experience for their guests.” Tsogo Sun’s portfolio includes over 90 hotels and 14 casinos and entertainment destinations throughout South Africa, Africa, the Seychelles and Abu Dhabi. With over 36,000 hotels, resorts and chains using its technology, Sabre is the world’s largest central reservations system provider to the hospitality industry and has a far-reaching, global perspective into the industry and the challenges hoteliers face on a daily basis. Sabre Hospitality Solutions will be present during ITB Berlin this week – Hall 9, Booth 207 – with the team of executives and product experts for a preview of the latest SynXis Booking Engine, built around unmatched guest experience and deep retail focus. About Tsogo Sun Tsogo Sun is the leading hotels, gaming and entertainment company in South Africa, providing a variety of hospitality and exciting entertainment and leisure experiences. Combining an established heritage with a professional and energised approach, the group proudly encompasses 14 casinos and over 90 hotels in South Africa, Africa, the Seychelles and Abu Dhabi. The company’s hospitality interests offer a wide distribution of hotels in Africa, providing world-class accommodation across all markets, including elegant, individually branded luxury hotels and well-known trusted market leaders in the premier through budget segments, including Southern Sun Hotels, Garden Court, SunSquare, StayEasy and SUN1 hotels. The exciting urban and resort casino portfolio includes the most popular entertainment destinations, strategically located throughout South Africa. In the Gauteng province, Tsogo Sun owns the group’s flagship property, Montecasino in Fourways, which features, amongst other attractions, the award-winning Teatro; Gold Reef City Casino and Theme Park in Southern Johannesburg; and Silverstar Casino to the West in Krugersdorp. Additional properties are owned and operated in the Western Cape, Eastern Cape, Free State, Mpumalanga and KwaZulu-Natal, including the jewel on Durban’s Golden Mile, Suncoast Casino, Hotels and Entertainment. Tsogo Sun Citizenship is the group’s corporate citizenship strategy which encompasses three areas of focus. This includes Corporate Social Investment, whereby the group promotes the development of learners through three academies which offer holistic, full-year programmes centred around sport, art and education; Entrepreneur Development which focuses on skills-based entrepreneurial development through its Tsogo Sun Book a Guesthouse and Supplier Development programmes; and Environmental Education, committed to initiatives that reduce the impact the business has on the environment. Tsogo Sun (“TSH”) is listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange.  The key shareholders of Tsogo Sun are Hosken Consolidated Investments Limited (“HCI”), a JSE listed investment holding company. Tsogo Sun Gaming supports the National Responsible Gambling Programme. Winners know when to stop.  Only persons over the age of 18 are permitted to gamble. National Problem Gambling counselling toll-free helpline: 0800 006 008. For more information go to tsogosun.com, follow us on Twitter @TsogoSun or like us on Facebook /TsogoSun. About Sabre Corporation Sabre Corporation is the leading technology provider to the global travel industry. Sabre’s software, data, mobile and distribution solutions are used by hundreds of airlines and thousands of hotel properties to manage critical operations, including passenger and guest reservations, revenue management, flight, network and crew management. Sabre also operates a leading global travel marketplace, which processes more than US$120 billion of global travel spend annually by connecting travel buyers and suppliers. Headquartered in Southlake, Texas, USA, Sabre serves customers in more than 160 countries around the world. Media contact: Heidi Castle Sabre Hospitality Solutions Heidi.Castle@sabre.com +1 682 605 4290