Central Holidays founders making moves

MOONACHIE, N.J. -- Central Holidays founders Joe and Fred Berardo, under the umbrella of World Travel Group, acquired Maiellano Tours, an Italy-based car-rental company.

World Travel Group also launched a companywide software system that will make its live inventory available through major GDSs and introduced an Internet booking engine for agents.

Maiellano Tours will continue as a separate operation managed by its former chairman and co-chairman, Rocco and Cristiana Maiellano, respectively. World Travel Group also includes Central Holidays and the ski operator World on Skis.

Maiellano Tours will give up its office space in Staten Island, N.Y., and move into the World Travel Group offices here.

The Berardos plan to expand Maiellano's product line by adding package elements from Central Holidays trading partners.

They also plan to expand Maiellano's base of operations from Italy to all of Europe.

World Travel Group also installed a new Hypertech brand tour operator automation system for the combined firms.

The software is designed to integrate the back-office systems of the separate companies and make the company's inventory accessible through Sabre. According to Fred Berardo, the company plans to make its products available through Worldspan in the second half of the year.

The company also upgraded the Central Holidays Web site, www.centralholidays.com, by adding a booking engine for travel agents. It will be tested with a select group of retailers and after about three months is expected to be open to the agent community at large.

The site will provide access to live inventory and will give agents the ability to create packages that include air, hotels, car rentals, sightseeing, transfers and rail tickets.

In addition, the site will offer virtual packaging, according to Fred Berardo, which means the travel agent can print the operator's itinerary and display only the agency name, not the operator's.

Agents also will be able to book e-tickets, print vouchers and pay by credit card.

Meanwhile, Central Holidays published four brochures for its new product line: a 24-page Italy brochure; a 16-page Greece brochure; a cruising brochure featuring MSC Italian Cruises and a 68-page Europe brochure.

The company is attempting to create agent interest in its revamped programs with some special offers for bookings through April 30, including 12% commission, a price guarantee against currency fluctuations and $50 per-person discounts on hosted or independent packages and $125 per-person discounts for motorcoach or cruise packages.

Central Holidays' Web site is at www.centralholidays.com. The reservations number is (800) 935-5000, and the e-mail address is info@centralholidays.com.

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