Illusions Online Embarks on Exciting Adventure with Expedition Tour Specialist

Feb. 14, 2012 - PRLog -- The region’s leading travel technology expert, Illusions Online, has secured a deal with UAE-based global adventure tourism specialist, Real Expeditions.

The agreement will see Dubai-headquartered Illusions provide a complete online business solution for the expeditions firm that will encompass a B2C website, online marketing, plus a number of administrative functions.

It marks a new adventure for Illusions, which is adapting its highly-successful business model – providing customised solutions to tour operators and DMCs worldwide – to create a tailor-made solution for Real Expeditions; a highly-specialised travel company offering a wide range of expedition-led experiences worldwide, from wolf-hunting in Mongolia to survival training in the desert.

“We are an adventure tour specialist owned by trained expedition leaders who have no real knowledge of how to run a professional travel company,” explained Real Expeditions co-founder and general manager Ron Steyers.

“We needed to find a company that could not only build our B2C website, but help us manage the very unique requirements of our business in terms of several sub-functions such as marketing, PR, HR and finance.”

Steyers said Illusions was the only company that could offer Real Expeditions the “full package” based on its travel technology expertise and extensive industry knowledge and understanding.

“With Illusions there is no need to contract individual companies for separate tasks,” he continued.

“It was not only their ability to provide the technology and a full package, but they listened to what we needed and were willing to be flexible and adapt to our needs.

“With Illusions on board, Real Expeditions management will be able to concentrate on what it does best - tour guiding, organising expeditions and exploring new destinations - instead of having to sit in an office behind a desk and manage a team and a business.”

Steyers said one of the key tasks at hand would be to overhaul Real Expeditions’ existing consumer-facing website – www.real-expeditions.com – to include a number of functions.

“Although this is not a conventional travel website where as a customer you book a package, pay for it and off you go, we do want to automate as much as we can to make the booking process easy,” he explained.

“For example, we would like customers to be able to find all the information they require about our expeditions online and book and pay a deposit to secure their place using the website.”

He said the website, which will be “work in progress”, should be “as interactive as possible” to allow customers to communicate with the Real Expeditions team and fellow explorers, through emails, blogs and social media.

It will also feature videos, online tutorials instructing customers on how to prepare for their adventure, plus automate administrative functions such as disclaimer forms, medical insurance and similar documents.

Illusions’ job will also include helping Real Expeditions promote its brand and product through the website and other forms of online communication.

Illusions Online’s CEO Faisal Memon said he was keen to take on this challenge, which he hoped would set new standards for highly-specialised travel industry players based in the Middle East market.

“Our ability to roll out this project, which not only involves adapting and installing our cutting-edge travel technology but importantly, using our 12 years of industry know-how to create a unique online business solution for Real Expeditions, makes us stand out from the crowd,” he said.

“By signing this deal with Real Expeditions we have proven what few competing companies globally can; that we are a one-stop-shop for travel firms requiring a suite of products and services suited to their own individual requirements.

“In this day and age, it is not enough to offer one rigid, inflexible product or service. To survive and lead in their field, companies such as Illusions must raise the bar and adapt to the needs of their clients.”

Memon said Illusions’ business solutions package for Real Expeditions would ensure the adventure specialist stayed ahead of the competition.

Steyers agreed, adding: “Outsourcing has always been an effective way for companies to adopt the most efficient business solutions without expanding beyond their capabilities.

“Products such as those offered by Illusions are the best way to solve the many tasks and daily challenges involved in running a company without the logistics and costs of job advertisements, hiring, HR problems and staff management.”

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Illusions is a travel technology company providing unique customized solutions for Tour Operators and DMCs. Responds rapidly to market requirements and uses latest technology to provide with a simple and cost-effective way to book travel.