Canadian telecommunications firm Telus on Thursday announced the inking of a deal with Vancouver-based resort operator Intrawest Corp. that will see the deployment of Internet Protocol (IP) based infrastructures in resorts across Canada.
Included in that list are such notable properties as Whistler Blackcomb and Panorama Village in B.C., Tremblant in Quebec and Blue Mountain Resort in Ontario.
Services offered will include the centralizing of key applications into a Vancouver data centre and the deployment of Telus Mobility’s wireless Mike service to give customer-facing staff members walkie-talkie communication.
Another benefit of the deal, according to Telus, is the integration of Intrawest’s major contact centres in Vancouver and Montreal with other smaller ones at the actual resorts.
Telus spokesperson Shawn Hall said that by establishing a common technological back end system, Intrawest will in turn be able to present a more consistent online product to potential customers.
“When a customer contacts any resort online for any product or service, they’ll get the same consistent experience, but one tailored to the unique character of individual resorts,” Hall said. “That lowers cost for Intrawest and provides customers with a better, more consistent experience.”
Examples of this common experience could include a uniform online reservation presentation, Hall added.
The deal is worth $30 million and extends over eight years. It follows on the heels of a recently expired five-year contract that saw Telus provide similar services to Intrawest resorts in Western Canada.
Hall described the travel and tourism industry as a “growth area” for Telus.