Travelanza.com advisor (portal) Sunil Chainani told The Financial Express that the portal (to go on stream by March 2000) was slated to function as a complete business to business (B2B) and business to consumer (B2C) site for travel information, needs and services.

The parent company (IDS) is involved in the development of property management software packages under the `Fortune' brand name for hotels. ``IDS currently has installations in 300 hotels across 18 countries. The portal will leverage the existing relationship with the hotels in India and provide booking service for them through Travelanza.com,'' said the company's vice president (business development) Naozar R Daruwalla.

The portal was targeting close to 1000 hotel listings in different categories across the country within the first few months of operation, he added.

Travelanza, in the launch phase, would cover India and offer travel services (hotel bookings and arrangements) for close to 16 main cities across the country. Introduction of facilities like e-ticketing for booking air, rail and bus tickets online in real time was planned in the second phase, Chainani said.

The company is also drawing up plans for strategic alliances with Internet service providers (ISPs) and portals of different types. Alliances with international travel portals for providing bookings overseas and vice versa was also on the cards, he added.

As part of the e-commerce initiative, Chainani said that sales of travel related articles, books, etc, would be launched on the portal by mid-2000. On the revenue stream, online advertising space, bookings, special offers and online sales were expected to bring in substantial revenues, he said. ``Promotions through banks for credit card holders, rewards programs and shopper/traveller specific focus are also part of the plans,'' Chainani added.