Montreal, Thursday, September 14, 2000
Canada’s first totally interactive and fully transactional travel agency is officially opening its 'doors' today at exit.ca on the Internet. A true virtual supermarket of vacation packages, this 'travel machine' plans to become a must-visit Web site for travellers, thanks to a user-friendly interface that allows them to now shop around for, reserve and pay for the vacation package they want.
Simple and easy to navigate, exit.ca allows vacationers to select a destination and a convenient departure schedule in real time inventory. Internauts can also launch a search according to criterias such as destination, price range, preferred leisure activities or departure period. Each time the users will get offers and the search will generate results. At anytime during a session, they can also send travel companions photos and information on exciting destinations.Only when users are ready to book on line or register as privileged member are they asked some personal information, in a fully secure environment. If they prefer, however, they can call a toll-free number staffed by exit.ca customer care agent from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. (EST), seven days a week. Site users can also consult a travel agent on the phone or via a chat session to get information or book their vacation package or flight.
The site also offers a 'last minute' section, and another on the newest vacation offerings. More specific, customized information adapted to a consumer’s travel profile will also be sent by e-mail upon request. In addition, every vacation destination is illustrated with several photos. The French version of the site will be launched in a few weeks.
Exit.ca offers the most impressive variety of vacation packages through its privileged partnerships with Canada’s principal tour operators, including Air Transat Holidays, World of Vacations, Regent Holidays, Signature and Conquest Vacations. Consumers can quickly compare different products on the one site and select those that best meet their requirements. Exit.ca also provides the option of buying tickets for flights on charter airlines. A member of the AIR MILES™ program, exit.ca is also the only travel site that allows internauts, when booking on line, to redeem their Air Miles.
'No other site for booking and purchasing travel on-line has the technological depth and as full a range of vacation packages as exit.ca,' said Mr. Boilard. 'We believe we have developed an indispensable tool to help consumers find, at their convenience, the trip that meets their needs. This will make exit.ca a must-visit site for anyone planning a vacation.'
An initiative of Transat A.T., exit.ca employs 75 people, including 50 specialists in site development and integration. It will also be supported by the Montreal and Toronto customer service centres. Philippe Sureau, President of Exit.ca and Executive Vice-President of Transat A.T., said: 'The travel sector in the new e-commerce economy is in full expansion and we think that exit.ca, with the biggest holiday packages inventory in Canada, will become a reference.' In addition, Transat A.T. already operates the anyway.com site in France, a flights-only specialist. A hit with the public already, the site has sold more than $40 million worth of travel within its first year of operation.