Three-way venture plans integrated system for sector

An alliance between 8D International, Microsoft Hong Kong and Hewlett-Packard intends to develop a system to help hotels link up with tourists, shops and travel-service providers.

Hong Kong-based 8D International is 30 per cent-owned by Regal Hotels International and 10 per cent by Century City International Holdings.

Lo Yuk-sui, chairman of Century City and Regal, also holds 30 per cent of 8D while 303 Co, a high-technology company controlled by the Lo family, holds the remaining 30 per cent.

Jimmy Lo Chun-to, director of Regal and Century City, said the Hotel Intelligence System and Matrix would involve the investment of 'tens of millions' of dollars, shared by Regal and 8D.

Mr Lo said that the system was a comprehensive and integrated solution that would provide on-line and on-demand services in conjunction with various hotel systems.

It would collect in-depth knowledge of tourist and consumer profiles, which could open up immense on-line, one-to-one marketing and retail opportunities, he said.

He said hotels operated by Regal would first adopt the system as a test run and then promote it elsewhere.