Category Archives: Technology

Travelport announced the acquisition of Deem, a leading corporate travel management platform. Since launching the company’s next-generation marketplace, Travelport+, Travelport has continued its investment in innovation, with the acquisition of Deem being the latest example. “The game-changing acquisition of Deem by Travelport will fulfill a growing, post-pandemic need for a tight, fully-integrated corporate tool that will provide access to all multi-source content, including NDC,” said Greg Webb, CEO of Travelport. “We’ve been laser-focused on investing in technology innovation, and Travelport+ has simplified the agency workflow, upgraded how travel content is curated, and enabled modern travel retailing. Now with the acquisition of Deem, Travelport will provide corporate travel with award-winning, complementary tools that are as revolutionary, modern, and easy-to-use as Travelport+.” Previously owned by Enterprise Holdings, a leading provider of mobility solutions, Deem has long been recognized as the foremost modern technology for the corporate travel industry. Named one of Fast Company’s Most Innovative Companies of 2022, Deem has pioneered its suite of online booking and travel technology products for business travelers, travel managers, travel-management companies and suppliers, making the corporate travel experience more efficient for all. Deem has continued to grow its share of the corporate travel business, and Travelport’s investment intends to further accelerate that growth on a global scale. “Deem is pleased to be joining the Travelport family,” said David Grace, President of Deem. “We are proud of the growth and success Deem has achieved in recent years. The acquisition by Travelport will enable a strong future of global growth for Deem and help accelerate the delivery of travel management solutions in a rapidly evolving industry. We want to express our sincere appreciation to our customers, as well …

The Emirates Group and Dubai Future Foundation have today signed a significant partnership to launch the Emirates Centre of Excellence for Aviation Robotics (ECEAR). The agreement was signed at ForsaTEK, the Group’s innovation forum. Adel Al Redha, Emirates’ Chief Operating Officer said: “This is a key milestone in the Emirates Group’s innovation journey and a remarkable step for the aviation industry. Our partnership with Dubai Future Foundation helps realise our own vision for aviation and supports Dubai’s vision to be one of the world’s leading futuristic cities. This will give us a true opportunity to take advantage of evolving technology, allowing us to continually expand the use of robotics and technological applications in our customer journey and improve operational efficiency. Investing in focused R&D will allow us to transform our business in the digital era, make more use of AI, give tangible benefits to our customers and stakeholders, and will keep us ahead.” His Excellency Khalfan Juma Belhoul, CEO of Dubai Future Foundation, said the launch of the Emirates Centre of Excellence for Aviation Robotics embodies the importance of incubating top national and international talents in Dubai to develop robotic solutions that support the growth of the aviation sector. Belhoul said the agreement will provide fresh and diverse economic opportunities centred on developing technologies of futures. He added: “The outputs of this initiative will contribute to advancing “Dubai Robotics and Automation Program”, launched by His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Chairman of the Executive Council of Dubai and Chairman of Dubai Future Foundation’s Board of Trustees, which aims to make Dubai one of the leading cities in the world within this field, …

As an estimated 474 million tourists traveled internationally between January and July 2022 compared to 175 million in 2021, international tourism continues to bounce back. But how will we travel in 2033? A global research study – Traveler Tribes 2033 – the third in a series that launched in 2007, identifies four Traveler Tribes that will develop in the next 10 years. It does so by examining the future forces of change transforming travel, alongside emerging traveler traits, behaviors and preferences, to understand exactly what it is that travelers will want a decade from now. It suggests many travelers will be open to new and emerging technologies and will want to travel in more sustainable ways. But with some travelers concerned about the proliferation of technology and the increasing need for cyber-security and data privacy, the industry must work together to ensure all travelers benefit from technological advances. Moving beyond the limitations of traditional segmentation, this psychographic approach identifies four key Traveler Tribes likely to be dominant in 2033: Excited Experientialists – this group has a ‘try it and see’ approach to life and travel. 44% are without children and have a mid- to high-income job with flexible working options, which enables them to readily explore the world. They have a you only live once (YOLO) approach. They are more likely than other travelers to act on instinct, making them 2033s ‘anti-planners’, favoring less predictable and more exciting accommodation experiences. They are also open to technology that helps them ‘speed up’ certain aspects of their journey, with many expecting to use artificial intelligence (AI) in the airport environment. Memory Makers – this group takes a more simplified approach to travel: …

Shiji ReviewPro Guest Communications connects with Amadeus’ iHotelier® and HotSOS solutions to increase web conversions and improve hotel staff efficiency. Clients of both Shiji ReviewPro Guest Communications solution and Amadeus’ iHotelier® Booking Engine or HotSOS Service Optimization solution will benefit from a newly integrated AI-driven chatbot to better serve their guests. Travelers who interact with the Shiji ReviewPro chatbot while researching their next stay are seamlessly routed into the booking flow. Once the guest has filled in their details and is ready to book, they are redirected to the iHotelier Booking Engine page to finish their transaction. Thanks to the integration, all results shown on the Amadeus booking page are filtered by guest details previously collected in the chat. Booking is now only a matter of pick-and-pay, making the experience easy and frictionless for the guest. While messaging automation helps travelers find the information they need, the booking engine integration bridges the gap between information and reservation. “This new partnership with Shiji reinforces our strategic objective to provide seamless solutions that meet the growing demand for technology-driven guest personalization. By incorporating guest messaging into the booking process, guests can easily and efficiently receive more personalized offers and shopping experiences, while hoteliers can add additional value to their direct booking channel,” stated Peter Waters, Executive Vice President of Hotel IT Solutions, Hospitality, Amadeus. Shiji ReviewPro also integrates with Amadeus’ industry leading Service Optimization solution, HotSOS. The two-way connection offers common clients full visibility of guest feedback management updated in real-time on both platforms. Tasks coming in from reviews, surveys, messaging conversations or other updates appear directly in the HotSOS solution as well as the Shiji ReviewPro platform, enabling prompt resolution for …

Faced with increased disruptions, baggage mountains, and staff shortages, airports and airlines are ramping up their investment in technology to digitalize their operations and speed up the passenger journey by offering more self-service options. SITA’s 2022 Air Transport IT Insights report, published reveals that with the post-pandemic recovery CIOs want to ensure operations are as agile and resilient as they are efficient, with IT solutions seen as central to their success. This has spurred an acceleration of digitalization, with airlines and airports looking to key technology solutions to fortify their operations against disruption while automating the passenger experience. The industry’s IT spend is projected to continue its steady year-on-year growth trend since 2020 to support this push for digitalization, with a full 96% of airlines and 93% of airports expecting their IT spend to stay the same or increase in 2023 compared to 2022. Last year airline and airport IT spend rose to an estimated 37 billion USD and 6.8 billion USD respectively. David Lavorel, CEO, SITA, said: “Air travel has recovered faster from the pandemic than anyone in the industry had initially expected, particularly in Europe and the US. While the recovery is welcome, airports and airlines have found themselves on the back foot with staff and resource shortages. This has put strain on operations, resulting in an increased risk of congestion, delays, cancellations and mishandled baggage. Digitalization is seen as key to addressing these challenges, providing more scalability and flexibility.” Airlines are placing great emphasis on IT tools to manage irregular operations and provide the best passenger experience possible even amid staff shortages. Over the next three years, 90% or more of airlines are investing in IT service …

Jubail Island has announced the launch of its fully-fledged, innovative mobile phone application – the latest addition to Jubail Island’s touch points. The mobile application will further elevate customers’ satisfaction by providing a simplified user experience and an optimised journey. The launch of the new application will bring more visibility to all type of users by providing them with seamless access to an extensive range of services and essential key features. It will allow users to explore a comprehensive portfolio of leisure activities and property services on Jubail Island through a user-friendly interface. Engineer Abdulla Saeed Al Shamsi, Operations Corporate Director for Jubail Island, said: “At Jubail Island, the goal is to continuously offer our community of visitors and residents a unique and fully integrated experience. The aim of launching this mobile application is to create a defined central platform, through which all related parties will gain clearer visibility and easy access to different features and offerings in the island. Bringing together the real estate and destination aspects under one umbrella, the platforms will serve as a one-stop-shop for an integrated experience at Jubail Island.” Users on mobile application and the website can create their own accounts, access community insights and latest updates on the island. Furthermore, the platforms will also enable users to book their preferred activities, track bookings and transactions history, and proceed with online payments in just a few clicks. The user-centric platforms also offer a wide range of services through which they can book appointments and request a call-back from sales relationship managers, and raise queries and concerns. In addition, property owners will be provided with convenient access to their property data,  documents, and process and …

Zahara Travel, the leading travel management company in Oman, reaffirms its strategic partnership with Sabre Corporation , a leading software and technology company that powers the global travel industry. Furthermore, Zahara Travel signed a multiyear agreement to expand its technology scope with Sabre and recruit the latest technology solutions to enable its strategic goals. Under this renewed and expanded agreement, Zahara Travel will continue to use Sabre Red 360, to deliver intelligent and consultative services to travellers, respond to evolving traveller demands and create compelling shopping experiences. The travel company will continue to access Sabre’s marketplace of more than 400 airlines, 750,000 hotel properties, and hundreds of tour operators, rail, car and cruise providers, giving Zahara Travel the opportunity to sell personalized travel packages from suppliers all over the world. “In such a competitive landscape, technology is important to maximize our efficiency and deliver our promise of providing a seamless and exceptional travel experiences,” said Gautam Broota, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Zahara Travel.  “For more than two decades, Sabre has been the backbone of our operations, thus we are expanding our relationship to deploy further technology solutions to support our strategy, advance our operations and enable our digital transformation to better compete in this complex landscape.” Zahara Travel will deploy a set of Sabre technology and solutions to drive growth, boost revenue and transform its business – including as Sabre Virtual Payment to manage the agency’s payment and reporting capabilities; Content Services for Lodging to provide access to richer hotel and aggregator content; Automation Hub- to maximize efficiency and utilize resources; and Automated Exchange and Refunds to simplify the complexity of the day-to-day operations and drive operational excellence. “As a …

Amadeus and House of Travel Bahrain have renewed their ongoing partnership with the signing of a new multi-year agreement. This will help one of Bahrain’s leading travel agencies to benefit from the latest optimization and digitalization tools as well as a host of other technology. Eng. Nashat Bukhari, GM – Amadeus Saudi Arabia & Bahrain, commented, “We are thrilled to continue working with House of Travel in Bahrain as part of this new, multi-year agreement. The suite of Amadeus solutions that will be deployed is designed to help House of Travel enhance its leading position in Bahrain. The agency will also benefit from advanced optimization and productivity tools, and market insights.” Jehad Amin, CEO & Vice Chairman – House of Travel, added, “At House of Travel Bahrain we only work with the best partners, so we can deliver on our mission to improve the customer and traveller experience. After a thorough review, we’re delighted to have selected Amadeus as our preferred technology partner. Thanks to this ongoing partnership, House of Travel’s consultants will be able to spend even more time focusing on serving the needs of customers and delivering an unmatched level of service.” Highlights of the deal include the deployment of touchless, robotic tools to accelerate and automate administrative functions as well as Amadeus Online suite, a complete end-to-end online booking solution with integrated payment gateway and trip notifications. House of Travel Bahrain will also benefit from the latest market insights from Amadeus.

Kanoo Travel, the largest travel company in the MENA region, has started a new partnership with dcs plus, a global leading travel technology company. This investment will further enhance the technological infrastructure, strengthen Kanoo Travel’s operational activity and upgrade the services towards its impressive portfolio of customers. Kanoo Travel will power their operations with TINA, the travel ERP developed by dcs plus. TINA is one of the world’s most advanced web-based ERP systems for the travel industry and is favored by members of large global TMCs. With an operational footprint that spans over an extensive network of offices the Middle East, North Africa, and Europe, Kanoo Travel aims to achieve a greater control and efficiency through digitalization. This new partnership will enable Kanoo Travel to achieve greater control through seamless processes, reducing the operational costs and offering a best-in-class traveler experience at every touchpoint of the customer journey. Furthermore, Kanoo Travel will leverage the state-of-the-art technology from dcs plus to optimize business processes, utilizing smart analytics and data, which will be integrated across different platforms at group level for Bahrain, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Oman and Egypt. Zaeem Gama, Divisional CEO of Kanoo Travel: “Our partnership with dcs plus is a fundamental element of our ambitious roadmap to advance the travel industry through digitalization, further reflecting our commitment to provide the most sophisticated travel solutions on a global level. We believe in establishing key strong partnerships in the region to fully execute our full-scale digitization plan and ambitions, which allows us to become agile and seamless especially in an ever-evolving landscape. dcs plus and Kanoo Travel have a collective vision, and together we will capture untapped opportunities …

Sabre Corporation announced the extension of two agreements with Pakistan International Airlines (PIA). The national carrier of Pakistan has renewed its multi-year content distribution agreement with Sabre and the two companies have also agreed to continue their strategic joint venture partnership in the Pakistani market. The carrier and Sabre have had a successful GDS joint venture in Pakistan since 2004. The extension of the content distribution agreement means that PIA will continue to have full access to Sabre’s extensive global seller network. PIA will also continue to work with Sabre in a joint venture which allows the airline to better market and sell its content using Sabre’s advanced technological solutions, including the intuitive ‘Sabre Red 360’ point of sale, to Travel Agents across Pakistan. “We are delighted to have reaffirmed and strengthened our relationship with Sabre with these two renewals so that, together, we can move forward with our plans to not only grow PIA’s footprint and revenue, but also to facilitate growth in the wider Pakistan travel ecosystem,” said Air Vice Marshal Muhammad Amir Hayat, Chief Executive Officer, Pakistan International Airlines. PIA services a vast network of locations across Pakistan and throughout Asia, Europe, and the Middle East, and has ambitious plans to expand its network further. “We greatly value our partnership with PIA, and we’re pleased and proud to have cemented this important relationship with these multi-year renewals. As the travel industry recovery continues apace, it’s vital that the travel agency community in Pakistan can access Sabre’s advanced global suite of solutions and services,” said Brett Thorstad, Vice President, Sabre Travel Solutions, Agency Sales, Asia Pacific. “We are excited about the growth trajectory of the Pakistan market and …