FORTHcrs was founded in December 1999 aimed at the provision of integrated services within the tourism field, research and development, operation and marketing of electronic products as well as distribution and management of services related to tourism, based on convergent up-to-date technology. Tourism services can include reservations of seats, ticket issuing or ticket allotment, and any process that is formed by transportation, hotel or any type of tourism service.

OpenSeas

FORTHcrs planned, created and currently operates SeaConnect, the first integrated distribution system for electronic bookings on account of ferry transportation. SeaConnect accomplished the following benefits:

• Reservations distribution for the Hellenic Coastal Shipping as a whole, as well as the Adriatic Sea Lines (ANEK, Blue Star Ferries, DANE, GA Ferries, DANE, HFD, Minoan, NEL, Superfast and many other seafaring companies of Greece).
• Co-operation with 1100 agencies within Greece and Europe with on-going support on a daily basis. The network of agencies in Europe is under a significant expansion.
• Advanced network system based on a powerful, advanced and reliable system platform. Through OpenSeasTM (agent interface), agencies have access to smooth operation, speedy response and client service (ticket/voucher printing in 3 seconds on thermal printer).

Between 1-1-2002 and September 2002, SeaConnect distributed over 8.000,000 bookings and over 40.000,000 transactions. FORTHcrs undertakes the distribution of the common printed ticket to the co-operating agencies, the technical support and maintenance of the necessary equipment and applications used by the agencies.

OpenSeas Benefits concerning Agents:

• Within a single application, a single form and only one printer, every professional can co-operate with ALL the ferry companies.
• User-Friendly Environment
• Fast Customer Service - Printing in 3 seconds
• Full Technical Support, Help-Desk
• Distribution of Forms to the agency
• Thermal Printing on a Unified Form
• Statistics and Reports
• Combined solutions with air GDS
• Commercial Policy of Benefits
• Automatic Updates
• Electronic Messages from FORTHcrs and Ferry Companies

Benefits concerning Ferry companies:

• Network of over 1200 Co-operative Agencies Throughout Greece
• Developing Network of Partners Abroad as well.
• Booking Distribution through the advanced SeaConnectTM system
• Statistics and Reports
• Combination of routes with terrestrial transportation and hotel accommodation

For more information about OpenSeas and SeaOnLine click here.