What is the Regional DMS?

The Regional DMS is a tourism management solution for Yorkshire. Driving a range of online services including web bookings and sales, customer profiling, brochure ordering, e-newsletter publication and live listings for accommodation, attractions, events, activities and other tourism venues, the Regional DMS streamlines marketing for the region and presents an exciting tourism revenue generating opportunity for the Yorkshire tourism industry.

The new system is a partnership project working with Yorkshire Forward, Yorkshire Tourist Board (YTB) and the six Area Tourism Partnerships within the region, and its aim is to provide SMEs with a real opportunity to increase business, whilst at the same time reducing duplication and increasing the region's marketing effectiveness. Accommodation providers, attractions and event organisers in Yorkshire all have access to the system and by utilising this online tool will be able to create unique online profiles to attract visitors and generate real business. The system will also supply information to all the Tourist Information Centres.

The new Yorkshire DMS streamlines, simplifies and standardises the collection of information. It makes it possible for both the cultural and tourism product to be booked online and perhaps most importantly makes it possible for operators to combine their offerings, strengthening their product and desirability, reaching new markets and extending deeper into existing ones, maximising returns for businesses at a local, regional and national level.

The Regional DMS is the back office database which drives consumer websites nationally, regionally and locally. Providing the opportunity to create a virtual 'one stop shop' where customers can purchase accommodation, entry to attractions and event tickets. By providing online booking, tourism businesses receive enhanced promotion on their Area Tourism Partnership website, Yorkshire.com website and the national enjoyengland.com and visitbritain.com consumer websites.

Consumers demand the ability to book holiday options online at a time to suit them. It is in the interests of the Yorkshire tourism industry to participate with the Regional DMS, to ensure that the region can provide a online booking option for consumers. To present Yorkshire as an online tourism proposition not only adds value to the regional tourism product but gives Yorkshire a competitive, global edge and creates a realistic and viable opportunity to effectively compete with leading European and International markets.

The benefits to businesses are immense - operators will see an increase in business, flexibility to easily and instantly update product information online and control, to comfortably and confidently manage real time availability. Benefits to consumers are that online booking is easy to access, simple and straightforward and available 24/7.

Online booking is now a serious business requirement for tourism businesses in Yorkshire.