Red Funnel goes for BOOKIT

The Southampton-based Red Funnel Group is to upgrade its booking technology by replacing three separate systems for ro-ro ferries, fast ferries and accommodation with BOOKIT, a state-of-the-art booking system supplied by Hogia Ferry Systems.

Red Funnel is a fast growing integrated travel, transport and leisure company specialising in ferry travel between Southampton and the Isle of Wight, and Isle of Wight holidays. The company carries in excess of 3 million passengers per annum and operates more than 23,000 Hi-Speed sailings and over 14,000 ro-ro sailings every year. Traffic is split between commuters, business, leisure, VFR and freight with pronounced peaks in demand during the holiday periods.

After assessing many reservation systems, Red Funnel concluded that BOOKIT was the ideal solution, as it enabled dynamic booking and ticketing for all types of ferry travel, accommodation, tickets for events, attractions and activities, insurance, car hire etc as well as the ability to offer ferry inclusive packaged itineraries.

Hogia Ferry Systems has a long reference list and is regarded as a reliable partner due to its stable company structure. "Our customers know what they get, as our client references for BOOKIT virtually span the whole world and most types of ferry traffic", says sales manager John Bertell of Hogia Ferry Systems. "BOOKIT is a well-proven system for many ferry markets and is used by a wide range of operators," he continues.

"We already have several customers, who to a great extent sell a whole destination rather than just tickets for a ferry crossing. By gaining Red Funnel, we are able to continue developing these types of holiday functions," Mr Bertell states.

"The Red Funnel deal also gives BOOKIT a significant foothold in the British market. We already have a strong market share on the Baltic Sea and the Mediterranean as well as in Canada."

The introduction of BOOKIT enables further development of Red Funnel’s integrated multi-channel approach. "We already provided a one-stop-shop for customers to and from the Isle of Wight but in order to offer dynamic packaging and a wider product range we needed to replace our technology with a system that would also significantly enhance the customers experience". says Colin Hetherington, Commercial Director at Red Funnel.

Red Funnel is aiming to substantially grow its business, without any enlargement of the organisation. Despite the expansion, Red Funnel wants to remain as close as possible to its customers.

About Red Funnel
Red Funnel Ferries has a fleet of 3 modern purpose-built ro-ro ferries sailing between Southampton and East Cowes and a fleet of 4 Red Jet hi-speed passenger catamarans operating between Southampton and West Cowes. Both services operate year-round.

Hogia Ferry Systems, Korsholm, Finland, is part of the Swedish Hogia Group and the provider of mission critical systems for the travel, transport and tourism industries. Hogia Ferry Systems’ ferry reservations system BOOKIT is used by more than 50 ferry lines all over the world.

Contact:
Lisa Tyrell
BGB Communications for Red Funnel Group
7 Westminster Palace Gardens
Artillery Row
London
SW1P
Email: ltyrell@bgb.co.uk
http://www.redfunnel.co.uk