Category Archives: Technology

Wego and Azerbaijan tourism board invites travelers to discover Azerbaijan in all seasons.  The two companies will join forces for a new campaign aiming to showcase Azerbaijan’s incredible attractions to MENA travelers. Building on the successful previous partnership, this collaboration will leverage Wego’s extensive reach and innovative marketing strategies to showcase Azerbaijan’s rich cultural heritage, diverse landscapes, and warm hospitality. In Azerbaijan, both summer and winter offer a wide range of exciting activities for each type of traveler. Mamoun Hmedan, Chief Commercial Officer and Managing Director, MENA and India, Wego, said: “As we renew our partnership with Azerbaijan Tourism Board, we aim to inspire and guide travelers to explore the wonders of Azerbaijan and create a seamless and inspiring travel experience. We recorded over 830,000 searches globally to Azerbaijan this year and we are expecting to see an increase in the searches towards the summer.” During the summer months, the country’s beautiful coastal areas become a haven for beach lovers. Travelers can indulge in water sports such as jet skiing and parasailing. Additionally, the picturesque mountainous regions of Azerbaijan, such as the Greater Caucasus range, provide fantastic opportunities for hiking, trekking, and exploring scenic trails that lead to breathtaking vistas and hidden waterfalls. Florian Sengstschmid, CEO, Azerbaijan Tourism Board, said: “In winter, Azerbaijan transforms into a winter wonderland, providing excellent opportunities for winter sports enthusiasts. The country has premier ski resorts and offer world-class skiing and snowboarding facilities with a range of slopes suitable for beginners to advanced skiers. Additionally, the picturesque village of Gabala, located in the Tufandag Mountains, offers a charming winter retreat with opportunities for skiing, snowboarding, and even enjoying horse-drawn sleigh rides through snowy landscapes.”

Sabre Corporation announced the integration between Nuvola, its task management and guest engagement software, and the renowned messaging platform WhatsApp. Hotels using Nuvola’s Guest Chat module now have the option to choose between SMS messaging or WhatsApp to power their real-time communications with guests. With over two billion users across 180 countries, the integration with WhatsApp provides hoteliers with a powerful tool to offer a differentiated and seamless guest experience. Additionally, Nuvola recently launched a two-way integration with Sabre’s property management system, SynXis Property Hub. This new integration allows hotel staff to have a more holistic view of the traveler and run operations on-property smoothly. “Properties using Nuvola’s Housekeeping module and Property Hub can send real-time updates to ensure the front desk has accurate room status information, such as if the room is cleaned, and can seamlessly check in guests upon their arrival,” said Juan Abello, Vice President of Product Management at Sabre Hospitality and founder of Nuvola. “Furthermore, if the hotel incorporates Nuvola Guest Chat or the Angel guest app, the information exchanged between the property management system (PMS) and Nuvola has the potential to improve the guest experience and increase the hotel’s guest satisfaction score.” Abello added. SynXis Property Hub is the latest PMS addition to Nuvola’s list of PMS integrations. Nuvola already offers integrations with prevalent PMS providers such as Oracle Opera, SMS Host and Maestro, making it an attractive option for the global hospitality industry. Furthermore, Nuvola currently supports user’s interface in English, Spanish, Portuguese, Traditional Chinese, and Simplified Chinese languages, enabling each staff member to pick the language they feel most confident using. Additionally, Nuvola is set to release French, German, and Japanese languages next …

Sojern announces the latest version of its Sojern Travel Marketing Platform with enhanced Artificial Intelligence (AI)-powered audiences. Sojern has leveraged its long-standing AI capabilities to provide expanded support for more than 10,000 travel marketers annually. Customers include hotels and resorts of all sizes, destinations, attractions and airlines. “Our customers needed to respond swiftly to the rapidly evolving digital marketing landscape, so during the pandemic, we expanded our automation and AI capabilities. It all begins with data, specifically the Sojern Traveler Ecosystem™, which powers our platform with billions of travel intent signals from thousands of travel brands in every corner of the globe,” said Kurt Weinsheimer, Chief Solutions Officer at Sojern. “While AI is making headlines now, we’ve been harnessing its capabilities for years and are excited to announce these new updates. We have competitors that are just now building AI functionality, and I can tell you firsthand that it takes several years to develop and refine the sophisticated AI models that power our platform. Our 15 years of experience and deep technological expertise gives us a significant advantage in delivering results with AI-powered audiences in the latest iteration of our Platform.” Sojern’s AI-powered audiences offer travel marketers a strategic advantage in optimizing their marketing investments. By leveraging AI technology, marketers can make informed decisions on resource allocation, effectively targeting the right customer segments for maximum return on investment and business impact. Through automated audience segmentation and optimization, brands engage with relevant audiences in real time, achieving greater precision, efficiency, and cost-effectiveness. In response to increasing demand for personalized experience, and 71% expressing their expectation of personalization from companies, Sojern’s data-driven approach enables brands to deliver highly tailored campaigns at scale …

Travelport and Royal Jordanian Airlines announced they have renewed the distribution and operator agreements to deepen their decades-long relationship. Under the agreements, Royal Jordanian Airline will continue to provide the widest range of products and ancillaries to Travelport-connected agencies worldwide, along with the highest level of service to its customers. Travelport will support the airline’s technological transformation by ensuring its robust product offering is delivered to agents through Travelport’s innovative, modern retailing platform, Travelport+. Furthermore, Royal Jordanian Airlines and Travelport have renewed the operator agreement for Royal Jordanian Airlines’ distribution of Travelport+ to agencies in Jordan. “Throughout our decades-long partnership, we have been impressed with the cooperation and adaptability that Travelport has demonstrated as a partner. They have a firm grasp of our business requirements and have worked closely with us to meet our commercial goals, helping us further elevate our positioning as the airline of choice for the entire Levant region. We are eager to work closely with Travelport on our global network expansion, strengthening our relationship with Travelport and having direct access to the world-class travel marketplace, in line with our ambitious, comprehensive growth strategy for the coming years,” said Karim Makhlouf, Chief Commercial Officer at Royal Jordanian.  “In addition, the 25-year partnership between Royal Jordanian Airlines and Travelport is reinforced with our renewed operator agreement, which will enable us to cement our position as the leader in sales distribution and support for agents in Jordan”, he added. “The distribution agreement renewal with Royal Jordanian Airlines is evidence of their trust in the long-established partnership with Travelport,” said David Gomes, Head of Commercial, Air Partners EMEA at Travelport. “We are thrilled to have renewed our agreement with Royal …

Almosafer, and Klook have together launched the first ever holistic tours and activities platform for the KSA market, Almosafer activities. The launch follows the signing of an agreement between the two travel industry powerhouses in early 2022 to establish the joint venture with the purpose of creating a holistic B2B marketplace for activities in the Kingdom, addressing a gap in the market which has thus far largely seen fragmented options for bookable ‘things to do’. Almosafer Activities is a one-stop digital platform with end-to-end content and inventory management solutions that supports tourism and leisure activity merchants in Saudi Arabia, as well as distributors across the globe, to provide an unprecedented choice of product offering for travellers to, from, and within the Kingdom. The platform, which will go live for distributors in Q3 2023, will leverage Klook’s position as a leading global distributor of experiences and services and enable domestic and international tourists to book activities with ease. Almosafer Activities will provide seamless booking experiences, connecting Saudi Arabia travellers to global platforms, starting with Klook. The launch of Almosafer Activities supports the tourism agenda of Saudi Vision 2030 by boosting inbound and domestic tourism. The platform will also support small and medium-sized merchants by providing them with a platform and exposure to more distribution channels. Fahd Hamidaddin, CEO and Member of the Board at Saudi Tourism Authority, said: “Saudi is setting the pace for global tourism development. We are currently undergoing a remarkable transformation and experiencing unprecedented growth, positioning ourselves as the world’s largest investor in tourism – this presents an exciting opportunity for both our existing and new partners. “The launch of Almosafer Activities represents another significant stride towards establishing …

Sabre Corporation has signed a multi-year agreement with dnata Travel Group. The partnership will see Sabre support the travel company’s strategic goals as its preferred technology partner.  Sabre and the dnata Travel Group already share a long-term commitment to innovation through travel technology, and the new deal will represent an extended, broader relationship between the two companies in the Middle East. Additionally, under this agreement, the dnata Travel Group’s Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Partner Network will continue to access Sabre’s portfolio of innovative technology and its intelligent platform Sabre Red 360, allowing it to harness more data, content, and offer clients more choice from more than 400 airlines, 1.6 million lodging options, and hundreds of tour operators, rail, car and cruise providers. “With evolving customer expectations and complex market dynamics, Sabre has been our partner of choice for over 12 years,” said Simon Woodford, VP Global Air Services, dnata Travel Group. “Sabre’s deep understanding of the challenges and opportunities offered by the dynamic global travel eco-system enable us to identify and embrace new technology to strengthen our position, improve efficiency and respond to evolving customer expectations with personalized experiences. This partnership will lead to accelerated innovation, operational simplification and enhanced digital user experience.” For many years, Sabre has provided a broad portfolio of technology and solutions to dnata Travel Group brands in the Middle East as well as key markets in Europe. This strategic agreement builds upon that history with new initiatives that will help expand dnata’s business and reinforces Sabre’s role as a key distribution partner. “We are excited to continue our successful collaboration with the dnata Travel Group,” said Andy Finkelstein, senior vice president – Global Agency Sales …

Nationals from the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states and Jordan will soon only be required to pay £10 to apply for an ETA, which will allow them to visit the UK multiple times over a two-year period. This is compared to Gulf nationals currently paying £30 per visit to the UK under the current Electronic Visa Wavier (EVW) scheme and Jordanian nationals £100 for a visit visa. The scheme is set to launch for Qatari nationals in October 2023, and for the rest of the Gulf Cooperation Council states and Jordan in February 2024 ahead of a worldwide expansion throughout 2024. Immigration Minister Robert Jenrick said: “Visitors from the Gulf states and Jordan make a huge contribution to the UK’s tourism industry and the new ETA scheme will make it easier and cheaper for them to travel to the UK. The cost of an ETA will be one of the best value in the world compared to similar international schemes. This small additional cost to visitors will enable us to bolster the security of the UK border and keep our communities safe.” Minister of State for the Middle East, North Africa and South Asia Lord Ahmad said: “I’m delighted that our partners across the Gulf and Jordan will be the first to benefit from the UK’s new Electronic Travel Authorisation scheme. This scheme is further proof of the strong partnership between the UK and countries across the region. By cutting costs and visa requirements, the ETA scheme will ensure visitors from the Gulf states and Jordan can enjoy travelling with ease to the UK, boosting business and tourism links between our countries.” These details were disclosed by the Home Office, …

Almosafer (part of Seera Group), has signed a partnership agreement with the Riyadh Chamber of Commerce to develop Saudi talent for the travel and tourism sector. The partnership will enable Almosafer to expand the reach of its in-house training programme, Almosafer Academy, which equips young Saudi nationals with the necessary skills and industry knowledge needed to succeed and grow as travel advisors or other industry professions. Almosafer and the Riyadh Chamber of Commerce will work together to enable more university students in Saudi Arabia to apply to Almosafer Academy. Fahad Alobailan, Chief Tourism Officer of Almosafer, said: “This partnership with the Riyadh Chamber of Commerce will help accelerate our efforts to develop the necessary human capital for a sustainable travel and tourism industry. As our industry grows, there is a wealth of opportunity for young Saudis to embark on successful careers. I am pleased we are doing our part in championing young talent as we continue to support the tourism agenda of Saudi Vision 2030.” Naif Abdullah Al-Rajhi, Second Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors Riyadh Chamber and Chairman of the Tourism Committee, said: “We are pleased to be collaborating with Almosafer. This partnership is poised to significantly enhance human competencies, underpinning the growth of the travel and tourism sectors and aligning seamlessly with the Kingdom’s strategic mission to cultivate and advance Saudi talents, inspiring them to pioneer and lead initiatives across diverse disciplines.” The signing took place at the inaugural Tourism Investment Forum in Riyadh which was sponsored by Almosafer. Fahad Alobailan, Chief Tourism Officer at Almosafer, moderated a panel discussion on private sector investments with Her Highness Princess Haifa Bint Mohammed Al Saud, Vice Minister of Tourism, …

Wego offers travelers an unforgettable experience in Spain this summer. Wego and Spain Tourism will be promoting the best things to do in the country and sharing guides and tips on how to spend the best summer holiday. This strategic collaboration brings together the extensive reach and expertise of Wego in the online travel industry and the allure of Spain’s rich cultural heritage, stunning landscapes, and vibrant cities. Summer in Spain is one of the most enjoyable travel experiences. The vibrant cities such as Madrid and Barcelona offer a plethora of shopping options from high end boutiques to traditional markets that are perfect for every type of traveler. Mamoun Hmedan, Chief Commercial Officer and Managing Director, MENA and India, Wego, said: “Spain is a preferred destination for MENA travelers. Through our partnership with Spain Tourism, we aim to attract a wider audience and boost tourism to this captivating country. We will be providing curated itineraries, and personalized travel recommendations, to inspire and assist travelers in planning their dream trips to Spain.” Wego will showcase Spain’s diverse attractions, including its historic landmarks, breathtaking beaches, and world-renowned culinary scene, to its vast user base. Daniel Rosado, Director of Spain Tourism for the Middle East, said: “Spain is a well-known country in the GCC region and it’s experiencing a continuous increase in demand year after year. To consolidate this trend and build on it, we are partnering up with Wego to reach more and better the potential audience. Spain is a world in a country where travellers will find all they are looking for and that they desire, as Spain caters for all tourists. Through this campaign we will increase the awareness in …

Travel insurance provider battleface announced its integration with Concur Travel. The new offering is designed to deliver customizable travel protection benefits for corporate, bleisure and group travel such as: trip cancellation, interruption & delay, rental car damage, business equipment and baggage loss & delay, security evacuation and travel medical & emergency medical transportation. Lisa Conway, CUO, battleface, comments: “battleface’s corporate travel insurance provides a vital component to the duty of care solution in the event something goes wrong during an employee’s trip. This new integration with Concur Travel enables us to extend the reach of our duty of care solution, ensuring businesses and employees have the right form of customizable protection for every trip their employees take, just about anywhere in the world.” Conway continues: “Travel has changed dramatically in recent years. Remote workers, ‘bleisure’ travel, work/life balance and corporate spend have all added to the need for travel insurance that not only provides duty of care, but also allows for flexibility and customization that employees want. battleface’s corporate travel insurance allows companies to select the specific benefits that are necessary to their travel policy and provide others as optional for employees to select on an as-needed basis.” Once connected, when employees book travel, the Concur Travel platform provides battleface with the employee booking information and, based on this data, a travel protection quotation will be sent to the employee’s registered email address and will include a summary of the benefits which the employee can then purchase. battleface Travel Protection is now available in the SAP Concur App Center.