Italian hotel and tourism specialist ITWG.com has signed a key agreement with 4oceans, providing thousands of agents in China, the UK and around the world with online access to over 500 hotels throughout Italy

Online reservations specialist, 4oceans has signed a distribution agreement with Italy based ITWG.com, to provide its ResConnect distribution system throughout the group's portfolio, offering 4oceans agents real-time booking at leisure and business hotels across Italy.

The new ResConnect agreement will initially provide 570 ITWG hotels with the ability to market promotional offers, rates and product information to thousands of agents around the world, including over 3000 agents in the fast growing Chinese market.

Following the launch of the agreement the number of ITWG hotels available through 4oceans will continue to be expanded, with all 1,000 ITWG properties to be featured in the coming months.

4oceans is now recognised as the largest electronic distribution channel in China, while its growing number of subscribers globally provides access to key new revenue streams for ITWG hotels.

Agents connected to the 4oceans platform will now gain access to the complete range of ITWG properties, with at-a-glance room availability, guaranteed reservations and instant booking confirmations in a real time, on-line environment. The ITWG hotel portfolio includes the 30 up-market Italy Hotel Club properties managed by ITWG.com itself.

Mr Luca Menni, marketing manager of ITWG.com, said: "Through 4oceans we will be able to offer our best selection of Italian properties to markets around the world, in particular the UK and China. The UK is the strongest on-line market in Europe and has consistently been the best performing market for our properties, while the emerging Chinese market underpins the future of European incoming tourism and ITWG is committed to being a core part of that success. We are delighted at the new agreement with 4oceans, and look forward to a long and mutually beneficial relationship."

ITWG.com operates both a travel company and a tourist website, providing visitors with online booking for Italian hotels, farm holidays, bed & breakfasts, car hire, airlines and package tours. Founded in 1996 the site is used as a guide to Italy by more than 3,500 websites that link to it.

Peter Thornton, 4oceans Business Development Manager - EMEA, noted: "By embracing new technologies at an early stage ITWG has ensured that it is now one of the top five suppliers of on-line accommodation in Italy, and probably the first for the number and choice of properties available to travel agents."

Juliette Newth, Hotel Relations Manager of 4oceans, added: "ITWG is a leading company in the Italian tourism market and we are delighted that they have chosen to work with 4oceans as part of their future development. The choice of ITWG hotels is all encompassing and will provide all agents operating through 4oceans with a unique customer proposition in the ever popular Italian market."