Color Line is revolutionising Norwegian tourism on the web, and is signing a contract for a new reservations and internet platform. The new platform provides travellers with the opportunity of reserving accommodation and shore-based activities in conjunction with their Color Line ticket. The new tourist industry platform forms part of the company’s strategy for the renewal of ships and concepts.
Following two years of preparation, a contract has been signed with the Italian company E-Dea, the Irish company OpenJaw Technologies and the Norwegian company EDB. The new Reservations and Internet Booking Platform will be operative in 2009, and the project will have a total expenditure of approx. NOK 150 million.
First in Norway
An important reason for this initiative is Color Line’s future-oriented investment in new ships. In February and May 2008, the new SuperSpeed ferries will be put into operation from respectively Kristiansand and Larvik to Hirtshals. There are no passenger cabins onboard these ships and they will double the capacity between Norway and Denmark.
The new Reservations and Internet Booking Platform will make it possible for the land-based tourist industry to present their products and services throughout the entire Color Line international sphere, making these products and services available just by clicking a mouse.
"We have attached importance to development of destinations in cooperation with selected companies and destinations. This solution will mean that major sections of the Norwegian tourist industry can reach out to international markets in a more targeted and cost-efficient manner.
We are acting based on the overall viewpoint that we are stronger when we cooperate, and we sell more when we offer more", says Helge Otto Mathisen, Executive Vice President communication and public affairs in Color Line.
Choices
On the new websites, travellers will have the opportunity of choosing between attractive readymade packages, which can for example contain ferry transport, accommodation and entertainment, or they can assemble their own packages using the additional elements offered on the website.
"We are the largest cruise and transport company in the country, and we are one of the companies that bring most international guests to Norway. This is why a new reservation and internet platform is a vital ingredient to enable us to reach our target of becoming Europe’s best shipping company in the fields of cruise and transport", says Mathisen, who also sees the company’s initiative in a larger perspective.
Major joint opportunities
The introduction of Color Line’s new Reservations and Internet Booking Platform is in line with the declared policy of the Norwegian tourist industry. The Government has doubled marketing support, and the Company has expectations with regard to the forthcoming tourist industry strategy.
"The major players in the Norwegian tourist industry have put in applaudable efforts through the "Forum for Reiseliv" and the Norwegian Hospitality Association (NHO), which carries out important assignments for the smaller players in this field. It is our intention that all this good work shall contribute towards increasing awareness and competence providing all players with the opportunity of self-development in line with the enormous opportunities that are available in the Norwegian tourist industry", says Mathisen.
Future-oriented action involving new ships and new concepts
Color Line will be investing heavily in new cruise and transport concepts in the coming years. NOK 7.5 billion will be invested from the period 2004 to 2008. The SuperSpeed concept marks a new era for Color Line in the traditional traffic between Norway and Denmark. These ships will operate on the Kristiansand – Hirtshals line from February 2008 and on the Larvik – Hirtshals line from May 2008. The SuperSpeed ferries represent an efficient and modern transport concept, which will improve accessibility and shorten the distance to the rest of Europe appreciably. The new ships have high capacity and are without cabins, which means that there are growth opportunities for the land-based tourist industry. The renewal of the Color Line fleet will involve the discontinuation of 4,500 beds onboard the ships.
"With the new SuperSpeed ferries without cabins and the new Internet platform, we are convinced that Color Line will contribute significantly to growth in the Norwegian tourist industry in the years ahead", says Mathisen.
Statements from Color Lines main suppliers and strategic partners in the project:
John McQuillan, CEO of OpenJaw Technologies (Ireland):
"We are delighted to announce this prestigious contract with Color Line which, for the first time, enables dynamic packaging to be applied to the shipping industry for combining sea and land products. We look forward to supplying OpenJaw’s industry leading platform for the benefit of Color Line and the Norwegian tourist industry".
Nicola Cammarota, CEO of E-Dea(Italy):
"E-Dea is proud of being part of such an important project critical to the business of one of the most important European ship-owning companies. The fact that we have been selected after a rigorous evaluation process highlighting the superiority of our solutions and technologies compared to all other European suppliers. E-Dea has the objective of becoming leader not only in Italy but also in Europe for the implementation of technologies and solutions for supporting the management and the security of cargo and passengers maritime transportation. The startup of such an international project is for us an important milestone towards the achievement of this ambitious objective".
Anette Willumsen, Vice President - Retail and Industry at EDB (Norway):
"The agreement with Color Line strengthens EDB’s position in the retail and industry sector, where Color Line will be one of our largest customers. The new booking and Internet platform will be a technically advanced solution that will strengthen Color Line’s competitive position. We are proud to be involved in developing this solution".
Following two years of preparation, a contract has been signed with the Italian company E-Dea, the Irish company OpenJaw Technologies and the Norwegian company EDB. The new Reservations and Internet Booking Platform will be operative in 2009, and the project will have a total expenditure of approx. NOK 150 million.
First in Norway
An important reason for this initiative is Color Line’s future-oriented investment in new ships. In February and May 2008, the new SuperSpeed ferries will be put into operation from respectively Kristiansand and Larvik to Hirtshals. There are no passenger cabins onboard these ships and they will double the capacity between Norway and Denmark.
The new Reservations and Internet Booking Platform will make it possible for the land-based tourist industry to present their products and services throughout the entire Color Line international sphere, making these products and services available just by clicking a mouse.
"We have attached importance to development of destinations in cooperation with selected companies and destinations. This solution will mean that major sections of the Norwegian tourist industry can reach out to international markets in a more targeted and cost-efficient manner.
We are acting based on the overall viewpoint that we are stronger when we cooperate, and we sell more when we offer more", says Helge Otto Mathisen, Executive Vice President communication and public affairs in Color Line.
Choices
On the new websites, travellers will have the opportunity of choosing between attractive readymade packages, which can for example contain ferry transport, accommodation and entertainment, or they can assemble their own packages using the additional elements offered on the website.
"We are the largest cruise and transport company in the country, and we are one of the companies that bring most international guests to Norway. This is why a new reservation and internet platform is a vital ingredient to enable us to reach our target of becoming Europe’s best shipping company in the fields of cruise and transport", says Mathisen, who also sees the company’s initiative in a larger perspective.
Major joint opportunities
The introduction of Color Line’s new Reservations and Internet Booking Platform is in line with the declared policy of the Norwegian tourist industry. The Government has doubled marketing support, and the Company has expectations with regard to the forthcoming tourist industry strategy.
"The major players in the Norwegian tourist industry have put in applaudable efforts through the "Forum for Reiseliv" and the Norwegian Hospitality Association (NHO), which carries out important assignments for the smaller players in this field. It is our intention that all this good work shall contribute towards increasing awareness and competence providing all players with the opportunity of self-development in line with the enormous opportunities that are available in the Norwegian tourist industry", says Mathisen.
Future-oriented action involving new ships and new concepts
Color Line will be investing heavily in new cruise and transport concepts in the coming years. NOK 7.5 billion will be invested from the period 2004 to 2008. The SuperSpeed concept marks a new era for Color Line in the traditional traffic between Norway and Denmark. These ships will operate on the Kristiansand – Hirtshals line from February 2008 and on the Larvik – Hirtshals line from May 2008. The SuperSpeed ferries represent an efficient and modern transport concept, which will improve accessibility and shorten the distance to the rest of Europe appreciably. The new ships have high capacity and are without cabins, which means that there are growth opportunities for the land-based tourist industry. The renewal of the Color Line fleet will involve the discontinuation of 4,500 beds onboard the ships.
"With the new SuperSpeed ferries without cabins and the new Internet platform, we are convinced that Color Line will contribute significantly to growth in the Norwegian tourist industry in the years ahead", says Mathisen.
Statements from Color Lines main suppliers and strategic partners in the project:
John McQuillan, CEO of OpenJaw Technologies (Ireland):
"We are delighted to announce this prestigious contract with Color Line which, for the first time, enables dynamic packaging to be applied to the shipping industry for combining sea and land products. We look forward to supplying OpenJaw’s industry leading platform for the benefit of Color Line and the Norwegian tourist industry".
Nicola Cammarota, CEO of E-Dea(Italy):
"E-Dea is proud of being part of such an important project critical to the business of one of the most important European ship-owning companies. The fact that we have been selected after a rigorous evaluation process highlighting the superiority of our solutions and technologies compared to all other European suppliers. E-Dea has the objective of becoming leader not only in Italy but also in Europe for the implementation of technologies and solutions for supporting the management and the security of cargo and passengers maritime transportation. The startup of such an international project is for us an important milestone towards the achievement of this ambitious objective".
Anette Willumsen, Vice President - Retail and Industry at EDB (Norway):
"The agreement with Color Line strengthens EDB’s position in the retail and industry sector, where Color Line will be one of our largest customers. The new booking and Internet platform will be a technically advanced solution that will strengthen Color Line’s competitive position. We are proud to be involved in developing this solution".
