Southern Sun Resorts has chosen Merlin Software for Vacation Ownership as its resort software partner.

With six timeshare resorts located around South Africa in key holiday destinations, Southern Sun Resorts provides superb accommodation and facilities for the discerning holidaymaker. World famous destinations such as Beacon Island at Plettenberg Bay, Sabi River Sun Resort near Kruger Park and the mountain destination of the Drakensberg Sun resort will now be connected ‘in the cloud’ through Merlin Software for Vacation Ownership.

All Southern Sun resorts have been star graded by the Tourism Grading Council and are affiliated to timeshare exchange organisation, Interval International. Members also receive automatic membership of SunSwop, an exclusive holiday exchange service just for Southern Sun owners.

Part of the Tsogo Sun Group which has a portfolio of over 90 hotels, Southern Sun Resorts has become a trusted brand in the vacation ownership industry.

Merlin Software provides a complete and fully integrated software solution for today’s vacation ownership business from single site resorts to complex multi-site, mixed-use developments.

Developed as state of the art business application software, Merlin is the only software available to the industry that is 100% cloud-based and served over the Internet on demand. Users access their Merlin accounts securely via a web browser anywhere with an Internet connection.

Functionality includes the Merlin marketing, sales, front office, property management and back office modules, stand alone exchange facility and website integration. This form of software as a service (SaaS) helps businesses become more efficient and productive and makes bringing new products and services to market faster and easier.

The technology platform for Merlin consists of a Microsoft SQL Server database back end with the front end built using Active Server Pages (Browser Front End).

“The complete integration of all of our systems was a key reason for choosing Merlin. In addition our owners will now be able to engage with their favourite holiday destinations seamlessly. We look forward to implementing the Merlin Software across all the operating divisions of Southern Sun Resorts to the benefit of all, in 2013” says Deon Viljoen, Director of Operations for Southern Sun Resorts.

Speaking about the new partnership Mike Pnematicatos, chief architect at Merlin Software, said: “We are delighted that a South African organisation the size and stature of Tsogo Sun has chosen Merlin Software for its timeshare operations. We are looking forward to introducing them to the many exciting opportunities that Merlin Software and cloud computing can offer.”