British Universities Film & Video Council

moving image and sound, knowledge and access

Systems in Travel

Synopsis
Looks at the ways in which computers have transformed the way the travel industry works, through the experiences of small tour operator, Sunvil Travel, and an internet-based travel agency, Expedia.co.uk.

Sunvil Travel uses its computer system to organise every part of a holiday, while its web-site is like an electronic holiday brochure. Expedia, meanwhile, does everything on the web. It’s a virtual, on-line travel agency, which can be used to not only look up a hotel or a flight, but book rooms or seats as well.

Increasingly Expedia is offering ‘e-tickets’ which means no actual ticket is needed. The travel firm simply gives you a number which you tell the airline — the computers do all the rest. In the future, technology may even make passports obsolete as well, with electronic systems identifying travellers by checking their eyes or hands.

Hotels are themselves becoming more automated. Computer systems highlight vacancies and make bookings, while computer networks link hotels to holiday-makers and travel agents all over the world.

But computers do go wrong, and the travel business suffers losses every week because of system crashes. What does the future hold? Will we soon be booking holidays through interactive TV? Will IT lead to an increasing standardisation of holidays and complete elimination of the human element? Are plans for self-contained, computer-controlled holiday resorts dreams — or nightmares?
Language
English
Country
Great Britain
Year of release
2002
Year of production
2002
Documentation
Support booklet available.
Subjects
Business studies
Keywords
computer systems; travel industry

Distribution Formats

Type
VHS
Format
PAL
Price
££120.00 (+VAT +p&p)
Availability
Sale
Duration/Size
25 min
Year
2002

Production Company

Name

TV Choice Ltd

Distributor

Name

TV Choice Ltd

Email
tvchoiceuk@aol.com
Web
http://www.tvchoice.uk.com External site opens in new window
Phone
020 8464 7402
Fax
020 8464 7845
Address
PO Box 597
Bromley
Kent
BR2 0YB
Notes
Producer and distributor of over 100 educational videos and DVDs, most with support materials, designed for use in UK schools, colleges and universities. Wide coverage across the curriculum, but particularly strong in the areas of business/management, ICT, geography, DT/manufacturing, history, English/media studies, PSHE, and leisure/tourism.

Record Stats

This record has been viewed 375 times.