Category Archives: Technology

Epic Reality designed to help tourists & locals navigate the city of Dubai safely and in a time-efficient manner has officially launched from Modus Capital’s Venture Studio, and is now available for download on Apple iOS and Android devices. Conceptualized in the UAE, Epic Reality acts as a city guide that provides real-time updates on the city’s safe and risk zones, as well as critical information related to COVID-19 health precautions, including social distance practices, facial wear dress code policies, seating capacity, temperature checks, and the relative exposure risk based on indoor vs. outdoor activities etc. The score is compiled from the most up-to-date international data sources such as the World Health Organization (WHO) and run through a proprietary algorithm to produce a COVID-19 Risk Score.   Users can browse a listing of fun engaging activities, events, travel tours, sightseeing spots, restaurants, bars, cafés—and learn about each venue or activity’s health measures to ensure a safe travel experience during their stay in Dubai. Ahmad Daneshvar, Epic Reality Co-Founder, said, “We are extremely excited to be able to allow travellers to enjoy Dubai in a safe and risk-free environment by helping them stay well-informed of the city’s health & safety measures. We want to provide travellers—and locals alike—with essential information on how to get around Dubai during the pandemic when health and safety concerns are top of mind.” “The application has been developed with an intuitive design and user-friendly interface that promises to give users timely information and provide significant assistance during the pandemic,” added Daniel Ashtari, Co-Founder. “Epic Reality will enable tourists and locals to discover and book activities in a well-informed and safe manner,” said Kareem Elsirafy, Managing Partner at …

Sabre announced the introduction of its new airline storefront, an industry-first capability that makes it easier to comparison-shop increasingly complex airline offers in the indirect channel.  Beginning today, the new airline storefront capabilities are available via Sabre’s shopping APIs, which travel retailers can leverage to build a bespoke storefront and enhance their customers’ experience. Sabre expects to launch the new capability for travel agencies via Sabre Red 360 in the coming weeks. Powered by Sabre’s shopping APIs, new airline storefront provides digital “shelves” that organize the breadth and depth of an airline’s offering in a side-by-side display to help travelers shop with confidence and make better buying decisions to meet their personal needs. For airlines, the new airline storefront supports differentiation and more merchandising opportunities in the indirect channel, with flight search results displaying several product offerings for an individual flight. For travel buyers, it allows for efficient comparison shopping across several flight options and helps travelers choose the offer that is right for them. “Airlines have invested in differentiating their brand in a number of ways. While this creates greater choice for travelers, it also presents a challenge – it’s easy to understand the cost, but harder to understand what the experience will be,” said Wade Jones, chief product officer for Sabre Travel Solutions. “Sabre’s new airline storefront not only empowers airlines to effectively market their unique product in the indirect channel, but it also helps travel buyers communicate the total offer value.” “Our customers demand choice paired with convenience and simplicity – this is not always the case with today’s airline shopping experience. Consumers want to compare products and offers quickly and efficiently, just as they do in …

Kanoo Travel has extended its 25-year partnership with Sabre Corporation. A new multi-year agreement will see it using Sabre’s industry-leading technology and solutions to power operations, drive growth and transform the experience it offers travellers in a dynamic travel environment. Through partnering with Sabre, Kanoo Travel was able to develop its own customised platform, Kanoo Krystal, which provides the agency with unique content and corporate solutions that meet evolving traveller needs.  The new agreement will see Krystal combined with Sabre’s cutting-edge Sabre Red 360 platform, which leverages data-driven insights to offer travellers greater choice and highly personalised experiences.  This powerful combination will enable the agency to work faster and smarter and will help generate additional revenue opportunities. “Sabre’s technology has been critical in responding to constantly evolving market demands and traveller needs,” said Nabeel Kanoo, President of Kanoo Travel. “We expect that travel in our region will increase in a post-COVID-19 environment.  We need to be ready for this by equipping ourselves with intelligent technology that makes shopping and booking travel intuitive, personalised and flexible.  Partnering with Sabre will give us a competitive edge during what is a pivotal time for travel.” “To fuel recovery, agencies like Kanoo Travel need access to cutting-edge technology and content,” said Abdul-Razzaq Iyer, vice president, Sabre Travel Network Middle East.  “Kanoo is already a proven innovator in travel, delivering highly tailored experiences to its customers.  However, we expect that any recovery of travel in the Middle East will likely be very competitive, and travellers will want to be given the increased choice, control and flexibility. With its suite of intelligent technology, Sabre can help Kanoo react to real-time changes and deliver a highly consultative service …

Khimji’s House of Travel, one of the leading travel companies in Oman, has extended its partnership with Amadeus to build momentum around its digital transformation and the development of integrated travel services. Since 2012, Amadeus has worked with the agency to strengthen its position in Oman’s travel and tourism market as well as helping it expand across the region. Cashio Vettom, General Manager of Khimji’s House of Travel, said: “One of the pillars of our success has been an unwavering focus on digital transformation and innovation. We have developed state-of-the-art service platforms with the support and expertise of Amadeus – a pioneer of the global travel industry. Our experience means we can completely trust Amadeus to offer solutions that ensure we exceed our customers’ expectations. This is especially important considering the uncertainties of the COVID-19 pandemic, and as we strive to give confidence to the local travel market.” Ernesto Sanchez Beaumont, Managing Director of Amadeus Gulf, said, “Our priority in Oman has always been on maintaining strong, long-lasting relationships with our customers. Khimji’s House of Travel is a great example of how trust built over time brings dividends to our customers and the travelers they serve. We are determined to keep delivering digital solutions that enable the agency to offer its customers an even more rewarding and seamless, travel experience.”

A new e-learning platform for future Swiss public transport experts was launched recently. Heidi and Peter take trade specialists on a virtual learning journey through Swiss public transport. In the process, agents can broaden their knowledge in an entertaining way and ac- quire essential public transport know-how to support their clients professionally and competently. Everything is quick and easy: the fascinating world of train, bus and boat is always at your fingertips. As multipliers central to the Swiss Travel System AG (STS AG), the worldwide network of trade specialists plays an important role. Trade experts are in direct contact with clients and sell the Swiss Travel System around the globe. The new Swiss Travel System Excellence Program imparts up-to-date knowledge and thereby enables agents to support their clients in a confident and competent manner. Maurus Lauber, CEO of STS AG, affirms: “We are convinced that this attractive platform will help trade specialists to sell even more travels by train bus and boat in Switzerland.” The Swiss Travel System Excellence Program is the only e-learning program worldwide to cover the entire public transport system of a country. In the individual courses, participants learn everything about the characteristics of the Swiss Travel System – from tickets and passes to premium panoramic trains to luggage transport. Thanks to the modular structure, learners choose for themselves which content they would like to explore in more detail. And it can be done in a very short time: on average, a module takes only about six minutes to complete. Learners are accompanied on this journey by Heidi and Peter, two animated characters personifying two important Swiss qualities: reliability and enthusiasm. The innovative program is available in …

dnata continues to enhance its offering to ensure the safety and wellbeing of travellers and help airlines restore confidence in air travel. The company has partnered with the Disinfect Group and Ecas4 Australia to launch a safe, highly efficient and environment-friendly baggage disinfection service at Singapore Changi Airport (SIN). Passengers arriving at Changi Airport’s Terminal 3 can take advantage of the innovative solution and have their baggage quickly and safely disinfected before leaving the airport. Disinfect Group’s advanced equipment creates an almost invisible mist that is 100% natural, non-toxic, bio-degradable and can effectively kill over 99,99% of bacteria and pathogens, such as coronavirus, on all types of baggage. Elvis Crook, Diversification Director for Asia Pacific, dnata, said: “We are delighted to launch an innovative service to further enhance safety and customer experience across the Asia Pacific region. Our partnership with Disinfect Group and Ecas4 Australia will enable dnata to engage new customers beyond the airport, supporting businesses that work towards reopening. We are confident that the innovative mist technology, which is harmless to humans but effective in killing viruses and bacteria, will help companies provide additional peace of mind to customers and employees in a post-COVID world.” Dieter Veulemans, the founder of Disinfect Group, said, “Our units add not only a layer of safety but also a level of reassurance to everyone on-site. Our product helps create a sense of safety, allowing customers to re-engage at various types of locations.” Tony Amorico, Director of Ecas4 Australia, said: “Ecas4 Australia has worked with its partners to provide technological solutions that utilise our Electrolysed Water solution to destroy pathogens and the coronavirus. We are keen to see this technology fast-tracked and provide …

Lumi, the car rental business of Seera Group, is expanding its retail service network in Saudi Arabia, having won the bid to open counters at Jeddah King Abdulaziz International Airport, Ta’if Regional Airport, and Al-Baha Domestic Airport in Saudi Arabia. These join the current network of 8 airport counters and the total network of 26 branches in the region. Azfar Shakeel, Vice President of Lumi, said, “Winning the bid to open airport counters at three major airports in the Kingdom is an important step in the expansion of our network, and reinforces us as the preferred car rental partner. The airport counters will serve international visitors as well as domestic customers seeking convenience, value, and service. Our goal is to sustain our market leadership through innovative services that meet the requirements of our growing base of government clients, corporates, families, and individuals.”

Swiss Tourism launched a new e-learning platform for the travel trade partners to help them with updated information on the Swiss public transport system and support them to sell the system better. This Swiss Travel System Excellence Program, an e-learning programme imparts up-to-date knowledge and thereby enables agents to support their clients in a confident and competent manner. Heidi and Peter take trade specialists on a virtual learning journey through Swiss public transport. In the process, agents can broaden their knowledge in an entertaining way and ac- quire essential public transport know-how to support their clients professionally and competently. Everything is quick and easy: the fascinating world of train, bus and boat is always at your fingertips. As multipliers central to the Swiss Travel System AG (STS AG), the worldwide network of trade specialists plays an important role. Trade experts are in direct contact with clients and sell the Swiss Travel System around the globe. The new Swiss Travel System Excellence Program imparts up-to-date knowledge and thereby enables agents to support their clients in a confident and competent manner. Maurus Lauber, CEO of STS AG, affirms, “We are convinced that this attractive platform will help trade specialists to sell even more travels by train bus and boat in Switzerland.” The Swiss Travel System Excellence Program is the only e-learning program worldwide to cover the entire public transport system of a country. In the individual courses, participants learn everything about the characteristics of the Swiss Travel System – from tickets and pass to premium panoramic trains to luggage transport. Thanks to the modular structure, learners choose for themselves which content they would like to explore in more detail. And it can …

Verteil and dnata Travel Group have entered into an agreement for powering the dnata Travel Group’s NDC adoption via Verteil Direct Connect (VDC) platform. The dnata Travel Group of companies will now be able to access airline NDC content across multiple business lines that serve the travel requirements of a diverse market. By virtue of integrating VDC APIs into its current technology stack, a full range of air content will be available in one place for the dnata Travel Group, thus making it easier for its agents to compare offers and provide its customers with the best value proposition. Using VDC, dnata Travel Group can now directly enjoy the benefits of value-added and differentiated products and services made available by the airline on its NDC channel. “As part of the dnata Travel Group’s NDC initiative, we are excited to partner with Verteil Technologies to bring NDC capabilities to our Corporate and B2B businesses. This new capability will enable our consultants to seamlessly search, book, and issue NDC fares and offers, and also conduct all post-issuance processes in order to support our customers,” said Geoff Wood, Senior Vice President, Destination Management and Supplier Relations, dnata Travel Group. “Our NDC initiative will ensure that our customers have continued access to the best available fares and enhance their capability to access airline ancillary products. It will also support our airline partners in efficiently implementing their NDC strategies in the UAE and GCC region. We continue to invest in innovative solutions to deliver best-in-class services for our customers and airline partners.” On this partnership, Jerrin Jos, Founder and CEO of Verteil Technologies stated, “Verteil is honored to be powering the dnata Travel Group’s NDC …

Kiwi.com and Sabre Corporation, a leading software and technology provider powering the global travel industry, announced a new strategic partnership. The agreement will see Kiwi.com leverage Sabre’s well-established global position to support its continued growth and expand its market reach. Since its foundation in 2012, Kiwi.com has grown into one of the most successful online travel businesses of the past decade, offering the content of more than 800 ground and air carriers from around the world. Already well-established in numerous markets, particularly across Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA), the company is looking to further improve its competitive position and advance its global market share. Sabre is the premier global distribution system (GDS) in the Americas and the Asia-Pacific region and will fuel Kiwi.com with unique content, competitive pricing, state-of-the-art business intelligence and online expertise. “We are looking to serve our customers even more effectively and deliver a seamless experience, which will set us up for success once the travel industry enters a phase of recovery,” said Gilles Karlé, Chief Strategy Officer at Kiwi.com.  “Sabre is the right addition to our partnerships to help us increase our footprint across the globe; we appreciate its responsiveness amid the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as its continued investment in innovative technology.” “To fuel recovery, travel tech companies like Kiwi.com need access to the broadest range of content”, said Madhavan Kasthuri, senior director – online EMEA for Sabre Travel Solutions. “Kiwi.com is already a proven industry innovator that is delivering a highly sophisticated end-to-end experience to its customers. In addition, it is now providing increased choice and flexibility, which is crucial in helping gain peoples’ trust to travel again. We are looking forward …