Grampians tourism operators are being urged to support an online booking system to satisfy the needs of web savvy travellers while increasing businesses’ customer base and ‘bottom line’.

Grampians Tourism is hosting a series of three-hour workshops across the region in August to help operators connect to Frontdesk, an online booking system that sells accommodation, attractions and tours to consumers through more than 100 travel websites,

Morning, afternoon, and potentially evening workshops will be in Hamilton, Halls Gap, Horsham, Ararat and Avoca from August 9-13 respectively.

Frontdesk experts will assist operators load the system onto computers and provide system training. Workshops will be limited to three participants per session to maximise outcomes for each business.

Grampians Tourism chief executive Chris Burchett said most travellers had come to expect to book and securely pay for accommodation and experiences before they left home.

“Frontdesk gives regional tourism businesses the capacity to offer the same level of service that we get when booking into metropolitan accommodation,” Mr Burchett said.

“If you’re trying to capture the market, online bookings in real time are the only way to go – you want to be able to seal the deal then and there.”

Personalised

Mr Burchett said businesses would get a personalised booking system on their own websites, so their customers could securely book and pay online.

Registrations close tomorrow. Email admin@grampianstourism.com.au for more information.