'Click and fly' the new way

BAD NEWS for travel agents. Cobwebs are likely to grace tourist agencies as web-land has a new trick down your sleeve - at the click of the mouse. Online booking now takes on new heights with the introduction of air ticket and hotel reservations through the portal www.chennaionline.com.

``Nearly 10,000 visitors a day,'' the site claims. Surfers can now book accommodation in hotels anywhere in India and air- tickets both Domestic and International through the site.

With the increasing popularity of online booking sites for cinema houses (www.clicktickets.com), it was just a matter of time before online booking, opened up new `windows' for other avenues.

The city portal that carries news, features and other city trivia on entertainment, train timings, flight schedules, has recently got its section on `Tours and Travels' going.

``All that the user needs to do is click on the Travels and Tours link on the main page, providing information on his requirements of air tickets and hotel rooms. The confirmation is given online and also sent to the user's mailbox,'' Mr. K. Murali, Manager of Business Development, Chennai Online says.

It is the age of `Windows to Doors' all the way. The site also arranges to have the confirmed tickets delivered at the doorstep and collect payment for the same.

While online reservation for flights is only available for flights originating or terminating at Chennai currently, the site plans to extend the service to other metros too.

The hotel booking section is comprehensive with a wide range of places for the user to choose from - anywhere from `Adoni' to `Yercaud'. What's more, the payment needs to be done only at the hotel.

How are tour operators going to tackle this one? Better discounts, perhaps.

By Sudhish Kamath

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Section  : Features
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