FareHarbor Transforming How Charleston Tour and Activity Companies Generate Bookings

Charleston Culinary Tours and others now using one-of-a-kind online reservation software that provides a seamless, direct link to concierge desks, resellers, and each other

CHARLESTON, S.C. (June 13, 2015) – FareHarbor, a full-service online booking and reservation platform designed for the activity industry, is transforming how Charleston’s tour operators generate bookings from concierges, travel agents and other reseller networks and affiliates.

In the past month, 10 local tour and activity companies, including Charleston Culinary Tours, Charleston Brews Cruise, Lowcountry Walking Tours, Walks of Charleston, Flipper Finders and Charleston Sailing Charters   have signed on to work with FareHarbor, the company announced today.

“Our online booking software allows tour operators to resell each other, track commissions, invoice, the whole nine yards,” said Max Valverde, CCO at FareHarbor. “In addition, concierge desks and other resellers can book directly into our tour operators’ live availability - no calls, no hassle, and it’s all tracked.”

He added, “Once a company becomes a FareHarbor partner, hotel concierges, resellers and other partners can view their availability in real time and make online bookings instantly, which saves time and helps our partners grow, which is our goal.”

FareHarbor provides a seamless link between tour operators and the third-party resellers who are often vital to reaching the tourist market and building a strong customer base. The software is helping replace a clunky, antiquated booking process that existed for years in Charleston and around the country, a system frequently bogged down by phone calls, frustration and confusion. Prior to FareHarbor, companies almost exclusively used pen and paper to manage these complex relationships, commissions, and invoices.

"Every day, FareHarbor is helping me grow my business,” said Oscar Hines of Charleston Culinary Tours. “They have allowed hotels to book directly into my live availability, so I don’t need to be on the phone 24/7. FareHarbor also has helped me streamline my partnerships and create different partnerships with other companies in Charleston. They are not just a reservation software; they truly want to help their partners grow.”

In addition to managing Charleston Culinary Tours reservations, including putting a "Book Now" button on its website, FareHarbor has bolstered the company’s affiliate network by linking its reservation system directly to hotel concierge desks.

“Our affiliate network has amazed each and every hotel operator to whom it has been introduced,” said Adelaide Hester, Director of Channel Development at FareHarbor. “Being able to see live availability and book direct into that availability removes uncertainty from the booking process. We have seen the frustrations at the concierge desk when a concierge cannot reach a tour company to check availability or confirm a tour – especially when the hotel guest is standing right in front of them. With our software platform, they walk away from the concierge knowing what activities have been reserved for them."

FareHarbor (www.fareharbor.com) forms a partnership with each tour and activity company it works with, providing a suite of services that removes the time and expense of managing online reservations through a platform that includes website upgrades, 24/7 support, streamlined booking and scheduling, and a comprehensive back end system.

FareHarbor, one of the fastest growing booking and online reservation software companies in the country, is expanding rapidly in Charleston and other South Carolina tourism markets. As its network of partner companies grows, the opportunities for connection and cross-selling will grow in parallel, Hester said.

About FareHarbor
FareHarbor (www.FareHarbor.com) offers a host of turnkey enterprise-level services to tour and activity companies worldwide. Founded in Hawaii in 2013 by brothers Lawrence and Zachary Hester, FareHarbor views clients as partners, taking an active role in helping increase business via its software platform and a suite of other services. FareHarbor’s breakthrough, customizable booking software was built specifically for the tourism and activity industry. The company has offices in Hawaii, California, Colorado and Massachusetts.

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FareHarbor - Overview and Demo from FareHarbor on Vimeo.