Travelguru.com unveils extranet API TGConnect for hoteliers

Mumbai-based DV Travels Guru Pvt Ltd, which runs hotel distribution network site Travelguru.com, has unveiled TGConnect, an extranet (private network) API for hotel partners and channel managers--the  API  helps them exchange automated real-time updates on hotel rates and inventory. It also enables hoteliers to access updates on bookings and availability. Besides, the interface is online travel agency (OTA)-compliant and can be integrated into any OTA-compliant applications, according to a company statement.

In its first phase of integration, 1,000 hotels under different partners will be using TGConnect. The interface is already live with channel manager, AxisRooms. Moreover, partners such as Rate Tiger, RateGain, Maximojo Eazy Yield and Staah will be integrating the new API. Travelguru has a network of around 9,000 hotels in India.

A post on Travelguru.com, which was acquired by Yatra Online Pvt Ltd last year, states that the API serves as a solitary management tool across multiple channels, making Travelguru and Yatra much easier to work with, which means the API will be available on both the sites—TravleGuru.com and Yatra.com.

Techcircle.in tried to reach TavelGuru several times for more details, but did not get any response at the time of posting this article.

"TGConnect is a connectivity solution that offers hotels and channel managers the ability to design, build and deploy standardised interfaces to connect directly with TravelGuru, ensuring the most accurate pricing and inventory is available to the customer. The connectivity also enables hotels to provide last minute inventory for mobile channels," Mukesh Goel, technology head of Travelguru, said in the statement.

Last year, Gurgaon-based OTA Yatra Online acquired online Travelguru from international online travel agency Travelocity for an undisclosed amount.

After selling Travelguru to Yatra, Travelocity shut down its India site travelocity.co.in early this year. The OTA business in India is dominated by home-grown majors like NASDAQ-listed MakeMyTrip, Cleartrip and Via, in addition to Yatra. There are a number of other players, including Goibibo.com.

 (Edited by Joby Puthuparampil Johnson)