Category Archives: Technology

Inmarsat unveiled the United Arab Emirates (UAE) results from its Passenger Confidence Tracker 2021 — the largest and most comprehensive global survey of airline passengers since the pandemic began. The research reveals that passengers in the UAE are amongst the most confident in the world to fly again. In fact, only those from China were more likely to have taken a short or long haul flight since the onset of Covid-19, with 79% having done so, compared to the UAE’s 75%. 56% of UAE passengers surveyed said they had travelled to international destinations, and expressed that their overall confidence in air travel had not waned — with 42% confident about taking their next flight within six months. This sentiment was reflected in the responses of fellow travellers from Spain (43%), India (43%) and Mexico (46%), who have similar levels of confidence to fly during the same  time period. Neale Faulkner, Regional Vice President for Inmarsat Aviation, said: “Although airlines have faced unprecedented challenges over the past 18 months, they have once again shown their resilience and met those challenges head on. And the dark clouds are starting to clear, with the latest International Air Transport Association (IATA) figures showing significant momentum for international and domestic travel. “This news will be welcomed by UAE airlines. However, to maintain and even accelerate this growth, it’s essential to rebuild passenger confidence and ensure their evolving needs are met in a post pandemic world. Our latest Passenger Confidence Tracker offers detailed insights into the main areas of confidence and concern around air travel, direct from UAE passengers themselves. Such findings will allow airlines to increase their focus on key priorities and seize the exciting opportunities ahead.” Flying …

Farnek Hotel Management has developed a ground-breaking hospitality app that digitalises a hotel guest’s journey from the initial reservation through to check out. The app which was developed in-house by Farnek’s award-winning technology and innovation division, interfaces with the hotel’s property management system (PMS) affording guests a whole suite of services from uploading travel documents, such as vaccination certificates, ordering a car on arrival, room service and laundry. The hotel app can also send automated electronic updates and alerts to the guest, as well as e-registration documents, e-invoices and e-receipts, all in one convenient space. Walter Knight, Director of Hospitality at Farnek said, “Flexi-Guest achieves three main hotel objectives. First of all, it offers the guest an enhanced experience, providing a seamless pre-arrival and check-in procedure. “Secondly, during the stay, guests can order room service in advance, have laundry picked up or delivered, request early or late check outs, invoices or order a car to go to the airport. Because the app manages secure online payments, the guest doesn’t even need to physically visit the reception. “Finally, the hotel benefits too. If the experience is good, the guest is more likely to return and also recommend the hotel to friends and colleagues. The hotel operates more efficiently, saving staff time and expense and has the added advantage of driving revenue through F&B and e-concierge services,” added Knight. Farnek has just completed a successful trial of the app, having secured a contract for the Expo Village, situated on the Expo 2020 site. Farnek is currently responsible for managing the reservation services, concierge, front office services and housekeeping, for the 2,273 apartments. “Feedback from the initial guest reviews, has been very positive,” …

Inmarsat announced the launch of its innovative new OneFi customer experience platform (CXP) for airlines. The first-of-its-kind solution will serve as a catalyst to monetise inflight connectivity by bringing a host of onboard services together within a single portal interface, which passengers can easily access using their own personal devices. OneFi delivers a rich airline-branded digital platform to enhance the passenger experience onboard flights. It allows passengers to order food and beverages, purchase seat upgrades, receive the latest flight and destination information, and sign-up to the airline’s frequent flyer programmes, all in real-time from the comfort of their seat. In addition, passengers can browse the internet, stream videos and audio, shop online and enjoy other ecommerce offerings, using high-speed inflight broadband that airlines could choose to offer free-of-charge, funded through OneFi’s sponsorship and advertising features. The launch of OneFi comes at a critical time for airlines, with the global pandemic having accelerated passenger demand for digital inflight experiences. Philip Balaam, President of Inmarsat Aviation, said: “For many years, Inmarsat has advocated the vast commercial opportunities of inflight connectivity. However, until now, airlines have struggled to realise the full potential of the business model. OneFi is a step change for those looking to monetise their Wi-Fi services and ensure they keep pace with evolving passenger needs. It will empower a digital transformation in the cabin, which is especially important at this critical time for the aviation industry. “OneFi allows airlines to improve their brand experience and secure passenger loyalty, with the flexibility to incorporate their own services and use existing and new partners, such as content providers, advertisers and retailers. We are in advanced discussions with leading airlines about adopting this innovative …

Sabre Corporation announced a renewed technology agreement with Etihad. Under the new agreement, Etihad will continue leveraging a suite of Sabre’s industry-leading IT solutions to aid recovery, help drive post-pandemic growth and enhance the passenger experience. “As we focus on our recovery, it is imperative that we have the right technology in place” said Frank Meyer, Chief Digital Officer, Etihad Aviation Group.  “Our strong relationship with Sabre and this renewed agreement means that we can continue to optimize our day-to-day operations.” Etihad and Sabre have a successful and long-standing relationship, with the carrier already having seen tangible benefits from a suite of Sabre’s network planning and scheduling, pricing and revenue management and cargo technology.  Under the new multi-year agreement, the following products will be among an important suite of technology for Etihad as it focuses on optimizing its operations to fuel its recovery: Fares Optimizer – Uses near real-time responses to provide dynamic price recommendations for Etihad’s fares. The solution will be crucial in helping Etihad improve its revenue. Network Planning and Optimization – this industry-leading planning and scheduling suite is able to scale to the largest airlines in the world. Powering more than 60% of the world’s top airlines, Sabre’s Schedule Manager will continue to help Etihad build and deliver robust, accurate and operationally feasible schedules across its network. Inflight – In previous years of using Sabre’s Inflight solutions, Etihad has been able to achieve significant savings, while continuing to provide a world-class and award-winning guest experience onboard. “Our renewed technology agreement with Etihad is testament to the airline’s confidence in Sabre to deliver the advanced solutions needed to help secure its recovery, and help it to power future growth,” said …

Sabre Corporation announced the successful migration of GOL Linhas Aéreas, Brazil’s largest domestic airline, from their legacy reservation system onto the SabreSonic passenger service system (PSS). The well-executed cutover now enables the airline to expand GOL’s global reach, offer exceptional personalized passenger experiences, and propel its growth plans. With the recent migration, Sabre’s highly-scalable technology will collectively manage the large number of passengers that travel on GOL each year. The two companies will continue to work closely to expand the airline’s operations and evolve its retailing, distribution and fulfillment capabilities. “At GOL we have taken significant steps to ensure the company is well-positioned for growth in the post-pandemic cycle. Innovation and technology are key components of our strategic growth plans,” said Eduardo Bernardes Neto, Vice President, Sales, Marketing & Clients at GOL. “We are confident that the flexible and intelligent nature of Sabre solutions, including the PSS, will enable us to be more efficient and offer a modern retail experience that enables personalized travel at scale to better serve our customers.” Headquartered in São Paulo, GOL began operations in 2001 and has quickly grown to become one of largest airlines in South America, carrying more than 36 million passengers per year to over 100 destinations in Brazil, South America, the Caribbean and the United States. “We are proud to become GOL’s trusted travel technology partner as it embarks upon the next phase of its journey,” said Dave Shirk, President of Travel Solutions at Sabre. “We are excited to have successfully completed GOL’s migration to SabreSonic and see that Sabre’s differentiated set of solutions delivers value to the airline.” Sabre’s robust PSS has already allowed Sabre’s valued partners to realize increased …

The Lufthansa Group airlines and Travelport announced a new distribution agreement that enables modern airline retailing as well as technology innovation. Under the agreement, which covers the carriers Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines, Lufthansa, SWISS and Air Dolomiti, Travelport will distribute Lufthansa Group airlines’ NDC content through the next-generation content distribution and travel retailing platform, Travelport+. This agreement builds on the ongoing distribution of Lufthansa Group airlines’ content through traditional EDIFACT channels. Both companies are already in the process of implementing end-to-end NDC functionality. The launch, expected in the first half of 2022, also lays the foundation for a diversified NDC program giving Travelport-connected travel agencies the ability to access Lufthansa Group airlines’ content through Travelport+ by signing up to one of the two available commercial NDC models, the NDC Public model or NDC Bilateral model. “Lufthansa Group is firmly committed to delivering superior customer experiences along the entire travel journey, increasing reach of our most attractive offers and enabling a diverse travel ecosystem. Especially in these times of crisis and when creating additional customer value through advanced technology proves to be more important than ever, we are doubling down on our long-term NDC strategy”, says Tamur Goudarzi Pour, Senior Vice President Channel Management at Lufthansa Group Network Airlines and Chief Commercial Officer SWISS. “This future-oriented agreement allows a maximum level of flexibility, and confirms that Travelport and Lufthansa Group airlines are teaming up to drive change in our industry towards true retailing capabilities and implementing customer-centric processes that together elevate the customer experience to new levels.” Jason Clarke, Chief Commercial Officer, Travel Partners at Travelport, says: “Expanding our longstanding partnership with Lufthansa Group airlines to include NDC content, with the …

Sojern have partnered to provide hoteliers with powerful multichannel media solutions aimed to drive direct bookings. The partnership empowers hoteliers to reach their customers across multichannel media solutions, increasing direct sales and profitability. With Sojern, Roiback enhances its own digital marketing agency specialised in hospitality, providing its clients a smart advertising platform built specifically for travel marketers. Sojern and Roiback will focus efforts on the Middle East and Asia Pacific, Iberia and Latin America regions. “As travel emerges from global lockdowns and cross-border restrictions, we couldn’t be happier to launch another impactful partnership with a market leader in the direct booking space. We look forward to delivering best-in-class strategies and products for our shared customers,” said Josh Beckwith, senior director of strategic accounts and partnerships, Sojern. Roiback is a global powerhouse in travel technology. For five consecutive years has won the World Travel Awards as ‘Europe’s Best Hotel Reservation Solution Provider’ and is nominated for the “World’s Best Hotel Booking Solutions Provider” at the upcoming 2021 World Travel Tech Awards. “Hospitality marketing is a challenging space, with ever-increasing channels and solutions. At Roiback we have a Digital Marketing agency specialised in hospitality, and with this partnership we look to further enhance it. Our hotel clients will benefit from access to simple and effective solutions to empower their digital marketing strategies, as well as to improve their direct channel performance,” said Felipe Bravo, Head of Roiback Digital.

Wego records exponential growth in the flight searches from Saudi Arabia to the UAE following Saudi’s announcement on welcoming travelers from the Emirate again. Saudi Arabia has been handling the pandemic very well and is rolling out its vaccination drive across the country. Travelers are feeling more reassured where airports are reinstating the confidence in travel. With stringent precautionary measures followed and safety measures that meet the high standards, we will see a quicker recovery for the tourism sector. Mamoun Hmedan, Managing Director, MENA and India, Wego, said: “The region was eagerly awaiting this announcement. Saudi Arabia is one of the most preferred destinations for MENA travelers. Through our platform, we saw a 1,700% increase in flight searches from Saudi Arabia to the UAE in the last two days. We expect to see more growth in flight searches and bookings in the coming days.” Around 50% of travelers are looking to travel within a week from the announcement and 60% of the people are searching for a short stay around 3 days. Solos are dominating the type of travelers searching for flights with 80%, followed by families and couples. Dean Wicks, Chief Flights Officer, Wego, said: “Flight searches from the UAE to Saudi Arabia have jumped by 1000% just days after the announcement. Saudi Arabia continues to be one of the favorite destinations for UAE travellers. The massive spike in searches between the two countries shows how much pent up demand there is for travel within the region.” Wego brings the best offerings to its users to help them get the best rates and deals from over hundreds of hotels and flights.

Sabre Corporation and Qatar Airways are now finalizing a new distribution deal that will provide long-term access to the airline’s content through the Sabre travel marketplace. Qatar Airways intends to strengthen its partnership with Sabre to take advantage of Sabre’s global reach and leading position in corporate travel for the distribution of Qatar Airways’ products to travelers worldwide. Implementation work is starting to enable unique NDC offers created by Qatar Airways to be distributed through Sabre’s new distribution capability (NDC), which provides a consistent end-to-end workflow that integrates within well-established agency operations. “A new approach to retailing is required in order to respond to the personalized service and enhanced flexibility that travelers expect,” said Roshan Mendis, Chief Commercial Officer, Sabre Travel Solutions. “Sabre is committed to supporting Qatar Airways in enhancing its retailing capabilities by enabling the airline to distribute personalized offers through our marketplace to corporations and travel agencies around the world.  Collaboration will be crucial in travel’s recovery, so I’m proud that we are now finalizing a long-term, sustainable agreement with Qatar Airways that is beneficial for all parties in the travel ecosystem.” Sabre’s technology enables Qatar Airways to effectively market and sell its expansive roster of fares globally through the Sabre marketplace. Reaching a network of more than 425,000 travel agents, it is one of the world’s largest marketplaces, processing over US $120 billion in estimated travel spend. Thierry Antinori, Chief Commercial Officer, Qatar Airways, said: “Working collaboratively is pivotal to our reputation as a trusted and reliable business partner for both customers flying Qatar Airways, and the travel agencies that serve them. As international travel recovers, the landscape has become extremely complex, and we don’t want …

Adyen the global payments platform of choice for many of the world’s leading companies, today announced the launch of its integration with Shiji Payments, providing hospitality businesses the ability to utilize the Adyen platform together with Shiji, a leader in the provision of technological solutions for the hospitality, food service, retail, and entertainment industries. This new integration simplifies the payment process for hospitality businesses by removing the need for a list of platforms and suppliers which usually includes separate processes for property management systems, food and beverage point of sale, and guest experience platforms not to mention the different payments service providers for each. “Our partnership with Adyen allows us to further improve the operational efficiency of our customers by providing a platform that guarantees a truly seamless and personalized experience for their hotel guests,” said Michael Balzer, VP Shiji Payments, Shiji. With only two companies, Adyen and Shiji, hotels can consolidate all of these front-end business systems and payment needs, including having the same point of sale setups across regions and easier reconciliation across all channels. This, in the end, provides the best possible customer service. These integrated features power the seamless journey that customers expect nowadays. Commenting on the partnership, Sander Maertens, Head of Middle East at Adyen, said: “Adyen is excited to partner with Shiji Payments. This is a long term strategic collaboration for us in the region. With Shiji’s leadership in hospitality sector, covering over 91,000 hotels and 200,000 restaurants, and a strong footprint in the Middle East, we aim to leverage this partnership to implement new digital innovations in the payment space. The hospitality sector will benefit from our combined, seamless payment integrations with specialist …