Category Archives: Technology

Sabre Corporation announced that Sabre and Google are developing an Artificial Intelligence (AI)-driven technology platform that is an industry first in travel. The technology, known as Sabre Travel AI TM, is infused with Google’s state-of-the-art AI technology and advanced machine-learning capabilities that will help customers to deliver highly relevant and personalised content more quickly, deliver personalised content that better meets the demands of today’s traveller, and create expanded revenue and margin growth opportunities. The Company is integrating Sabre Travel AI into certain products in its existing portfolio, with plans to bring those to market in early 2021. “Sabre Travel AI is a game-changer. We are proud to be working with Google to build technologies that will seek to re-define the way travel companies do business, and turn the insights derived from analyses into repeatable, scalable operations. The development of Sabre Travel AI marks a milestone in our technology transformation and a significant step toward achieving our 2025 vision of personalised retailing,” said Sundar Narasimhan, president of Sabre Labs. “With the creation of Sabre Travel AI, we are rebuilding our platform on cloud-native, data-driven technology that can be integrated into the existing and future products that Sabre offers. We are combining Google Cloud’s infrastructure, AI and machine-learning capabilities with Sabre’s deep travel domain knowledge to create, not next, but third-generation solutions that we believe are smarter, faster and more cost-effective – a first-of-its kind in travel.”

Emirates has launched an integrated biometric path at Dubai International airport (DXB). The contactless airport experience is now open to Emirates passengers travelling from and through Dubai. The integrated biometric path will give passengers a seamless travel journey from specific check-in to boarding gates, improving customer flow through the airport with less document checks and less queuing. Utilising the latest biometric technology – a mix of facial and iris recognition, Emirates passengers can now check in for their flight, complete immigration formalities, enter the Emirates Lounge, and board their flights, simply by strolling through the airport. The various touchpoints in the Biometric path allow for a hygienic contactless travel journey, reducing human interaction and putting emphasis on health and safety. Adel Al Redha, Emirates’ Chief Operating Officer said, “We have always focused on providing a great customer experience at any touchpoint and now it is more vital than before to make use of technology and implement products, and introduce processes that focuses not only on fast tracking customers, but more importantly on health and safety during their travel journey. The state-of-the-art, contactless biometric path is the latest in a series of initiatives we have introduced to make sure that travelling on Emirates is a seamless journey and gives customers added peace of mind.”

Marriott International’s commitment to Clean and Global Cleanliness Council, Marriott has introduced digital content about redefined processes and reimagined spaces guided by cleanliness experts and best practices to help hosts, organisers and attendees plan and execute meetings and connect with confidence. Recognised as an industry leader for quality and exacting standards for over 93 years, Marriott is introducing changes which include enhanced sanitation guidelines, new operational training for associates, and increased use of conference technologies to ensure that customers are able to come together when they are ready. Meeting planners may now reference a series of new materials including customer stories and resources that provide additional context and information for designing successful events in the current environment. Available on MarriottBonvoyEvents.com, these tools illustrate Marriott’s approach to delivering high-quality meeting experiences across its full portfolio of hotels and resorts. “Our Commitment to Clean is guiding everything from how we keep our guests and associates safe to how we begin to welcome back event and meetings business across Europe, Middle East & Africa,” said Neal Jones, Chief Sales & Marketing Officer, Marriott International, EMEA. “Our Global Cleanliness Council is working with us to tackle the realities of the COVID-19 pandemic and what that means for an event or meeting at a hotel. Having experts in the area of hygiene, food safety, infectious disease, and infection prevention has been enormously beneficial in helping us think through everything we can do to support organisations as they begin to envision, plan and execute future meetings and events of all sizes.”

Seera Group announced the launch of elaa 3.0, a digital travel management solution that has been designed to optimise corporate and government travel bookings across Saudi Arabia. A new dedicated portal has been launched for elaa, Seera’s travel management company, that enables employees of partner organisations to make all their bookings and travel planning seamlessly without having to go through a tedious and costly manual process. This means reduced cost through higher levels of transparency, pre-defined policy setting and travel management efficiency. Elaa made the most of the downtime caused by travel restrictions during the pandemic by digitising and simplifying the processes and enabling continuous improvement and innovation for its partner companies across private and public sectors. Making travel management self-sufficient, the new improved platform can digitally connect everything for customers whilst supporting them in the new normal, as travel management policies, structures and strategies have changed following the COVID-19 pandemic. Government ministries, departments and corporates with large-scale travel management requirements, can now manage all their requirements through elaa’s new portal, which is designed as a flexible and scalable booking platform that is easy to navigate and time, as well as cost-efficient. Abdulrahman Mutrib, Executive Vice President & Group Chief Technology Officer of Seera Group, said, “The new reality has brought a significant change in the travel requirements of corporate and government entities. Travel policies are constantly being updated or reviewed, and only a Travel Management System that can factor in these changes in real-time can add true value to organisations. Over the past years, we have been investing significantly in digitising our processes, and we are now ready to offer the next-generation TMS system for our customers.”

Sabre hosted a dedicated webinar for travel players in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) and the region to discuss the impact of the COVID-19 crisis on travel, its challenges and opportunities and how the industry is recovering from the crisis. Sabre Corporation (NASDAQ: SABR), is the leading software and technology provider that powers the global travel industry.The virtual event, which brought together executives and decision makers from travel companies and travel associations, highlighted market performance over the past few months and the role of technology to power its recovery. “As we enter a period of recovery from COVID-19, travel players need to look into new ways to operate in this new environment of uncertainty and continuous change,” said Abdul-Razzaq Iyer, vice president, Sabre Travel Network Middle East (STNME). “Equipping travel companies with the right solutions – such as artificial intelligence-based applications, that can automate processes, intelligent data analytics and virtual payments solutions – is essential in powering travel companies to navigate through the current challenges.” “Travel agencies play a vital role in rebuilding travellers’ trust and confidence,” Iyer added. “Travellers have a new definition of personalisation that involves new requirements and expectations for health and safety standards. They expect accurate and reliable information on travel restrictions and regulations during their planning phase. We are working closely with our customers to identify the best intelligent solutions and travel safety-related products to help them respond to travellers’ new demands and expectations.” “Saudi travel has proved to be a resilient industry,” said Faisal Kayal, Country Manager KSA, STNME. “We have seen strong market recovery compared to many countries regionally and globally, due to effective planning for the return of domestic travel and …

Amadeus’s latest research explores the leisure traveller’s mindset towards planning and purchasing upcoming travel amidst the realities of COVID-19. To do this, Amadeus got the opinions of +8,500 CheckMyTrip users from around the world through a quantitative and qualitative survey. The research gives us very good reason to be hopeful about the travel industry’s future. Amadeus’s research findings, outlined in the eBook Destination X: Where to Next – What Leisure Travellers Want in a COVID-19 World, shows consumers have a healthy appetite for travel despite the ongoing challenges and unknowns that still lie ahead. Ernesto Sanchez Beaumont, Managing Director of Amadeus Gulf, notes, “Millions of travellers are out there dreaming of their next adventure. They need the travel industry to share what measures are being taken to help keep travellers safe. Enabling travellers to successfully navigate the many variables, such as changing border restrictions, airline and hotel capacity adjustments, and other operational twists and turns, will go a long way to get people travelling again.”

Ascott has launched its new ‘Discover ASR’ mobile app for members of its loyalty programme, Ascott Star Rewards (ASR). The new mobile app will unlock a world of conveniences for ASR members, providing greater value and flexibility to enhance their experience with Ascott. The ‘Discover ASR’ mobile app acts as a one-stop 24/7 digital concierge for ASR members, who can search for special deals and book their stay at about 200 participating properties in over 25 countries and more than 85 cities through the mobile app. This includes Ascott’s properties within the Middle East and Turkey: Ascott Park Place Dubai, Citadines Metro Central Dubai, AscottTahlia Jeddah, Ascott Sari Jeddah, Citadines Al Salamah Jeddah, Spectrums Residence Jeddah, AscottRafalOlaya Riyadh, AscottCorniche Al Khobar, Somerset Panorama Muscat, Somerset Al Fateh Bahrain, Somerset West Bay Doha, and Somerset Maslak Istanbul. Kevin Goh, CapitaLand’s Chief Executive Officer for Lodging and Ascott’s Chief Executive Officer, said, “Across our multiple lodging brands, Ascott provides a home away from home for a wide demographic of guests with varying lengths of stay. With the mobile app, ASR members are empowered to shape their own stay experiences through a unified platform in a convenient and effective way.” From a global perspective, Goh further added, “Ascott’s adoption of technology has boosted our operational efficiencies and allowed us to deliver greater value to our business partners and customers. The use of unmanned service robots and self check-in kiosk with facial recognition have enabled us to minimise physical contact while continuing to provide seamless services to guests amid COVID-19.” Discussing further on the launch of the ASR app, Tan Bee Leng, Ascott’s Managing Director, Brand & Marketing, said, “Our members will get to …

Gold Key Media offers a touch-free solution without disrupting the entertainment experience. The digital entertainment platform offers hotel guests touch-free and instant access to the latest local, regional and international newspapers and magazines in 25 languages, e-books, games, audio, and video content. It is the perfect solution for hotels to also display their COVID guidelines, restaurant and room service menus, Spa brochures, local attractions, and other hotel offerings, completely contactless. The platform is also compatible with the Arabic language. The platform has a fully customisable user interface that can be personalised according to the hotel’s brand identity and message. Guests do not need to download a mobile app, nor will any guest data be collected or retained. Access to the platform is via a QR code or URL with no passwords required. Guests can access the platform directly on to their mobile device using Wi-Fi. The system also allows the guest to download the publications to read later if they are checking out. MediaPad is now an essential part of the guest experience at iconic hotels such as Claridges, The Ritz, Gleneagles, The Berkeley, The Dorchester, The Corinthia and Marriott Grosvenor Square. For more information on the platform, visit MediaPad – Profile. For a demonstration video or a live trial, please contact Annie Boslem on annieboslem@yahoo.co.uk

Oman Air has debuted its new website, which delivers a smooth, simple experience for everyone. The refined user experience makes it effortless to create journeys and learn more about appealing destinations in Oman, special offers and travel-related information.The new site, which features a fresh, contemporary design and user interface, provides simplified access to flight options and payment alternatives, along with state-of-the-art security. Mobile users will enjoy an experience which is fully optimised for Apple and Android devices and provides the same ease of use which is accessible via laptop and desktop computers. Content has been expanded and refined to provide improved information in more than four languages including Arabic and English Arabic, about Oman Air’s activities, news and more. To ensure that guests travel safely and efficiently, omanair.com is regularly updated to provide the latest information about travel requirements related to the coronavirus. The new site, which features a simple, effective user interface and an attractive white, gold and blue style, will also increase brand awareness, sales and guest retention, in addition to attracting new guests.

CommonPass, or a COVID-passport, is a technology framework that can be used by apps to verify an individual’s health status. It is being trialled by two airlines across a few sectors in the world. The system hopes to become a fail-safe way to verify a traveller’s health status and tally it against local entry laws. If it works, it could inspire governments to drop bans and quarantines.