Portbooker: búsqueda y reserva de amarres en el Mediterráneo

What is Portbooker?

Portbooker.com is the comprehensive online search engine and booking system for moorings and marinas worldwide, developed and created by Virtual Marina SL as the first online mooring reservation centre. This idea is long overdue and a credit to the Spanish team of entrepreneurs behind Portbooker.com who have managed to develop and launch a site that is dedicated and focused on marinas around the world. The simplicity of the idea is one that has been thought of and discussed at length and there are numerous sites dedicated to the yachting community that have tried to create an online marina guide, usually without much success and often dedicated to the country in which the site is published. However Portbooker has taken its ambitious idea one step further and has added a booking system, intending to make this facility available to every marina – worldwide. It is the most comprehensive online guide to moorings and marinas and has the added advantage of being able to book marina berths online. No longer does a yacht need to turn up at a marina unsure of whether it can find a berth – forward planning is now possible.  Portbooker’s aim is to become the preferred online booking engine and search facility for moorings, marinas and charters worldwide. The first step has already been achieved, with the most comprehensive virtual nautical guide online, publishing detailed
information on over 7,000 marinas worldwide in 65 countries throughout the Mediterranean, Caribbean, North Atlantic and America. Ongoing development will eventually include every marina and yacht club in the world.

How it works

Portbooker’s nautical guide is  comprehensive and easy to use, with its key function utilising an interactive map where the user can virtually visit any of the more than 7,000 marinas listed. All the information is available in five languages: English, Spanish, German, Italian and French. One of the key benefits over and above traditional nautical guides, which are normally published and updated on an annual basis, is that Portbooker information can be updated real-time with tips and updates from fellow skippers and marina operators. The search and updating facility is free of charge for users and marina operators. The Portbooker software allows users to easily find marinas and moorings, and request mooring reservations. Through the booking engine, marinas can also offer their moorings online or alternatively use the on-line request feature to answer booking enquires that have been placed by skippers. By means of an easy booking process users can check  ailability not only for a single marina, but also throughout a whole area – rather that having to visit a multitude of sites to pull together the same information. Once the request has been received by the marina offices, and assuming they have berth availability, a payment can be made by credit card. Those marinas who have not currently signed up for the online facility for accepting bookings can take advantage of the service offered by Portbooker administration team.

How to book a mooring?

• Direct booking. An increasing number of marinas feature online availability. This means users can get real-time online confirmations.
• Monitored booking. When online availability is not featured for the selected marina/s, the user can request Portbooker to pursue the bookings. In this case, Portbooker’s consultants will take care of the booking. The user will only need to inform Portbooker of their itinerary.
• Basic booking request. Portbooker will automatically send the booking request to the marina/s which, upon receipt of this request, will
  respond directly to the client.

Benefits for Marinas

There are additional benefits to marinas that have signed up for the full package with Portbooker. It can be used as a powerful tool for promoting marinas on an international scale and attracting more visitors. With the prepayment system, marinas can predict revenue streams. Marinas can also include their own terms and conditions and fix their own cancellation policies

In brief

Portbooker’s Nautical Guide is the largest, most extensive online guide in existence with comprehensive information on more than 6,000
marinas located throughout the Caribbean, the Mediterranean, Atlantic and United States. With the help of its interactive map, users can take a
virtual tour of any of these ports.

• Easy to use search system. Allows users to search for ports and marinas by area, country or with the help of an interactive map with political, satellite or combined views.
• Simple system of tables comparing the services offered by ports.
• Information of interest. Useful information for seafarers, including weather information, tourist information, places to visit, classified
  ads, etc.
• Complementary services. In addition to the online booking of moorings, Portbooker also allows users to make hotel reservations and
  book rental cars.
• Versatile. The information is presented in different formats and is offered in five different languages.
• Functional. Unlike other, more traditional nautical guides, Portbooker comes at no expense to the user.
• Quality information. Due to the fact that it is an online guide, all information is updated in a matter of seconds.
• Powerful promotion tool. Portbooker is an excellent “shop window” for users, making it a powerful tool for promoting ports worldwide.

Welcome on board – how it started …

The idea of Portbooker was conceived in May 2006 as a group of Spanish businessmen sharing a similar vision recognised that flights, holidays and hotels can easily be booked over the web, but nothing was available in the marina market sector. So Portbooker’s concept of being the easiest way to find information on marinas, also set out to provide this service. In its earliest stage, a website was developed from scratch with an in-house booking engine designed by marina managers. For the success of this first step it was imperative to ensure that what was being built met the needs of marinas in order to promote online availability, with immediate feedback to the client.
Once this technology was tested and ready, the second key task was to load the vast amount of content on the marinas. With understandably stringently controlled copyright put in place by nautical guides, the only way to obtain and research this content was for Portbooker to go through marina associations, tourist boards, chambers of commerce, and local information from the port authorities. Portbooker is very proud of its achievement, and the content team is working continuously to include the rest of the world in the coming months. They expect in the future to become the place where skippers will automatically exchange real-time information on marinas and harbours.
The general manager, Guillermo Canellas, who works closely with Pere Jover, the CTO, comments: “With the finance in place to support ongoing and future development, Portbookeris now all about technology and developing partnerships with all those companies that can provide value to our users. This, in time, will include developing a one-stop-shop, adding such relevant content and offers such as charters, classified ads, nautical charts, tourism information, weather, etc.
“However, the core business is becoming the best nautical guide for marinas and yacht clubs worldwide, providing the largest network of moorings and the most functional and flexible mooring booking engine. We continuously bear in mind that this is a high demand sector that requires us to be constantly attentive to marina needs.
“The Board of Portbooker is proud to have a growing team, made up of motivated people who love this challenge. We are also honored with our partnerships and we thank those companies that have already come on board for their confidence and friendship. The Board is also thrilled at the opportunities that lie ahead for Portbooker. It is a growing responsibility, but a cherished one.”

Source: Yachtworld (July 2008)
www.yachtworld.com

Die ganze Welt der Häfen, Liegeplatzreservierungen und Charterreservierungen nur einen Klick entfernt. Marinas all over the World, mooring and charter reservations only one click away. Portbooker strebt an, zur beliebtesten Online-Buchungsmöglichkeit für Liegeplätze und Charter zu avancieren. Der erste Schritt ist bereits gemacht, denn Portbooker ist der umfassendste virtuelle Nautik-Führer mit detaillierten Informationen von über 8.500 Yachthäfen weltweit (in über 80 Ländern im Mittelmeerraum, in der Karibik, am Nordatlantik und in Amerika). In Kürze werden alle Yachthäfen und Yachtclubs
der Welt nur noch einen Mausklick entfernt sein.

Was hat Portbooker zu bieten?

Der Nautik-Führer von Portbooker ist der umfassendste. Unter Nutzung einer interaktiven Karte kann der Benutzer jedem der über 8.500 Yachthäfen einen virtuellen Besuch abstatten. Alle Informationen stehen in 5 Sprachen (Englisch, Spanisch, Deutsch, Italienisch und Französisch) zur Verfügung.

Was ist anders bei Portbooker? Im Gegensatz zu den traditionellen Nautik- Führern steht Portbooker für Benutzer und Häfen kostenlos zur Verfügung. Die Informationen können direkt aktualisiert werden (Tipps von Skipper-Kollegen sind immer willkommen).  Portbooker ist ein starkes Instrument, um Yachthäfen auf internationaler Ebene zu promoten, d.h. Benutzern zur Verfügung zu stellen.

Online-Liegeplatz-Reservierung

Die Software von Portbooker erlaubt Benutzern ein einfaches Finden von Häfen und Liegeplätzen. Über dieses Buchungssystem können Häfen eine Online-Liegeplatzbuchung anbieten oder über die Anfragefunktion die Reservierungsanfragen der Kapitäne immer über Portbooker  eantworten.

Was ist anders?

Ein einfacher Buchungsprozess: Der Benutzer kann nicht nur die Verfügbarkeit in einem Hafen sondern gleich in der gesamten Region abfragen.
Vorauszahlung: Yachthäfen erhalten hierdurch früher ihre Einnahmen. Saison: Portbooker kann flexiblere Kunden dirigieren und somit eine bessere Planung der Liegeplatzkapazitäten bieten. Vereinfachtes Handling: Diejenigen Yachthäfen, welche die Liegeplatzbuchung online anbieten, brauchen lediglich den Zahlungseingang per Kreditkarte abzuwickeln – alles andere erledigt Portbooker.

Flexible Kündigungskonditionen: Yachthäfen können ihre eigenen Allgemeinen Geschäftsbedingungen zu Grunde legen und ihre eigenen  ündigungsbedingungen hinterlegen. Portbooker ist völlig flexibel.

Wie bucht man einen Liegeplatz?

Direkte Buchung: Eine wachsende Anzahl von Yachthäfen bietet online die Verfügbarkeit an. Das bedeutet für den Benutzer, dass er umgehend die Online-Bestätigung erhält. Überwachte Buchung: Wenn eine Online Verbindung nicht möglich ist, kann der Benutzer Portbooker bitten, die Buchung zu verfolgen. In diesem Fall werden sich Portbooker Berater um Ihre Buchung kümmern. Der Benutzer muss Portbooker lediglich die
Reiseroute mitteilen. Basis Buchungsanfrage: Portbooker wir automatisch die Buchungsanfrage direkt an die entsprechenden Yachthäfen eiterleiten diese werden die Anfrage erhalten und umgehend antworten.

Online-Charterbuchung

Dies ist ein neues Angebot von Portbooker. Durch die Nutzung verschiedener Suchkriterien bietet Portbooker ein breites Charterangebot.
Benutzer können sowohl Kosten anfragen als auch die ausgewählte Yacht direkt chartern. Was gibt es neues beim Yachtcharter? Einen ‘One-Stop-Shop’: Charter und Liegeplätze sind nur 2 Mausklicks entfernt. Sonderangebote: Charterfirmen können hier besondere Angebote einstellen und Benutzer können diese anschauen und einfach buchen. Detaillierte Information: Benutzer werden Zugriff auf eine detaillierte Rechnung und Bilder zum Durchschauen haben. Kundenservice: Wenn der Benutzer es wünscht, wird ihm ein Portbooker-Vertreter bei dem Procedere der Charterbuchung zur Seite stehen.

Portbooker Webdienste

Portbooker bietet jedem Websitebetreiber, der Interesse daran hat, eine sogenannte ‘White Label Lösung’, so dass dieser davon profitiert, einen vollständigen Nautik-Führer und eine Liegeplatzreservierung anbieten zu können. Diese Websiteservice-Lösung garantiert dem Benutzer den Zugang zu allen Portbooker-Angeboten, ohne die Website des jeweiligen Anbieters zu verlassen. Für diejenigen unter den Häfen, die daran
interessiert sind, das Portbooker Buchungssystem auf ihrer Website zu verwenden, wird Portbooker in Kürze diese Websiteservice- Lösung lancieren. Wer sind die Benutzer von Portbooker? Portbooker kümmert sich um Kapitäne und Yachtbegeisterte und sie sind stolz auf die starke Frequentierung ihres Serviceangebots. Somit bieten sie auch die perfekte Werbeplattform. Durch das breitgefächerte Angebot finden Kapitäne bei Portbooker alles Wissenswerte. Willkommen an Bord! Treten Sie in die Zukunft des Liegeplatz- und Charter- Managements ein. Die
Revolution hat bereits begonnen und hat sich bereits in anderen Segmenten wie zum Beispiel bei Flug- und Hotelreservierungen bewährt.

Online search and book moorings Portbooker is aimed at becoming the preferred booking engine for moorings and charters. Its’ first step is already achieved, as Portbooker is the most comprehensive virtual nautical guide, with detailed information on + 8.500 marinas worldwide
(+ 80 countries in Mediterranean, Caribbean, North Atlantic and America). Soon to come, all the marinas and yacht clubs in the world will be at a click’s distance.

What’s on stock at Portbooker?

Portbooker’s nautical guide is the most comprehensive. Using an interactive map, the user can virtually visit any of + 8.500 marinas.
All the information is available in 5 languages (English, Spanish, German, Italian and French).

What’s different at Portbooker?

Versus traditional nautical guides, Portbooker is free of charge (for users and marinas) and information can be updated real-time (tips from fellow skippers are welcome). Portbooker is a powerful tool for promoting marinas as an international showcase for users. Online mooring  reservations  Their software allows users to easily findmarinas and mooring. Through the booking engine, marinas can offer online mooring or
use the on-request feature to answer booking requests by skippers, always through Portbooker.

What’s different?

Easy booking process: Users can check availability not only for a single marina, but throughout a whole area. Early payment: Marinas can therefore anticipate revenue. Seasonality: Portbooker can direct those customers who are more flexible when planning mooring needs. Easy management: Those marinas that offer online availability just have to take care of payment by credit card. Everything else is managed by Portbooker. Flexible cancellation policies: Marinas can include their own terms and conditions and also fix their own cancellation policies.
Portbooker is fully flexible.

How to book mooring?

Direct booking: An increasing number of marinas feature online availability. This means users can get real-time online confirmations.
Monitored booking: When online availability is not featured for the selected marina/s, the user can request Portbooker to pursue the bookings. In this case, Portbooker’s consultants will take care of the booking. The user will only need to tell us the itinerary. Basic booking request: Portbooker will automatically send the booking request to the marina/s, which will receive this request and answer directly.

Online charter booking

This is a new offer by Portbooker. Using different searches, Portbooker features a wide charter offer. Users may also request budget or charter
the selected yacht.

What’s new for yacht charters?

A one-stop-shop: Charters and moorings are two clicks away. Special offers: Charter companies may feature special promotions and users can look and book easily. Detailed information: Users will have a full fac. sheet and images to check through. Customer service: If users wish, a Portbooker agent will show you through the process of booking a charter. Portbooker’s web services Portbooker offers a white label solution for any website interested in offering a comprehensive nautical guide and mooring reservations. The web service solution will assure the users have access to all Portbooker’s offers without leaving the website they are on. Also, for those marinas interested in using Portbooker’s booking engine for their own website, soon they will be launching this web service solution.

Who are Portbooker’s users?

Portbooker caters for skippers and those who love the yachting world, so they are proud of their highly segmented traffic, where advertisers can find the perfect environment. Through their wide offer, skippers will find at Portbooker all there is to know. Welcome on board! Join the future of mooring management and charters. A revolution has started and it is already consolidated in other services such as flights or hotels.

Source:  Yachting Magazine
http://www.drettmann-international.com/ym/YM14.pdf

Fuente: Diario de Mallorca (10/05/09)
http://www.diariodemallorca.es/palma/2009/05/10/reservas-transitos-verano-empezaron-enero/462175.html