Category Archives: Technology

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.

Sojern announced its Co-Op Marketing Program designed to help Destination Marketing Organisation (DMOs) drive traveller demand in Asia Pacific, Middle East and Europe. The program, which first launched in North America in September 2019, is also expanding in scope. Marketers at DMOs and their partner organisations can now reach customers directly with multichannel digital advertising across video, display, native, Facebook and Instagram. The COVID-19 pandemic has had a massive impact on travel and tourism. This program enables collaboration on digital marketing campaigns between the DMOs, hotels and attractions, to support market recovery together. Early adopter, Linn Totland, Head of B2C Marketing, Fjord Norway, said, “As a DMO, we have been looking for a solution that would make us better equipped to measure the direct impact of destination marketing on the bottom line for the tourism businesses in our region. The tourism industry has been massively affected by Covid-19, and now, more than ever, we need to make sure that our marketing budget is spent wisely and is generating a positive ROAS.” Venessa Chen, Regional Consumer Marketing Manager, Asia at Tourism New Zealand, said, “What sets Sojern apart from other display channels is its strong remarketing capabilities to drive conversions. During tactical campaigns, Sojern effectively remarkets to our audience, pulls them down the purchase funnel and delivers the highest conversions for us and our airline partners.” “With the industry now seeing some early signs of recovery as some destinations gradually re-open travel both domestically and regionally, coordinated cooperation between all industry stakeholders is needed now more than ever in order to build a more resilient, responsible, and sustainable travel and tourism industry,” said Dr. Mario Hardy, CEO, Pacific Asia Travel Association …

Etihad Airways to implement electronic technical logs (eTech logs) for airline operations. The approval from the General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) for implementation on Etihad’s freighter fleet accelerates the journey towards paperless airline operations which is a key initiative for Etihad Airways and the GCAA. The implementation on Etihad’s Boeing 777 freighter fleet follows three months of trials in partnership with the GCAA, where eTech logs replaced paper logbooks currently used by flight crew and engineers to document all flight and maintenance information. Although modern aircraft are technologically advanced, most airlines continue to use paper-based logbooks. By replacing paper documentation, eTech logs provide real-time data capture that can be shared with multiple stakeholders, from the air to the ground – increasing operational efficiency, reducing delays and costs. The eTech logs are another example of Etihad’s investment in innovation to continue enhancing safety outcomes, as they reduce complexity and workload, and improve how Etihad manages compliance requirements. Paul Kear, Senior Vice President Technical, Etihad Airways, said, “This initiative supports Etihad’s innovation and sustainability goals, which are core values for the airline, Abu Dhabi, and the UAE. The digitalisation of our technical logs will go a long way towards enhancing the operational efficiency and airworthiness of our fleet and this is a monumental step forward for aviation in the UAE.” H.E Saif Al Suwaidi, Director General of the GCAA said, “The GCAA have approved Etihad to implement electronic technical logs for their Boeing 777 freighters. This is a historic achievement not just for Etihad but for the aviation industry in the UAE. This initiative supports the GCAA’s vision for paperless operations and we thank Etihad Airways for their pioneering efforts.” Steve Russell, …

Radisson Hotel Group announced the launch of its new Hybrid Solutions incorporating Hybrid Rooms and Hybrid Meetings. Radisson Hotel Group’s Hybrid Meetings combine the best of meeting in person and virtually, offering a reliable image, sound and video conferencing system, dual screens, wireless presentation clicker, high-speed internet connection, and more. As the world continues to adapt to ‘new normals’ and ongoing travel limitations, meeting and event organisers can now choose to offer virtual participation options and hybrid formats that allow for small local gatherings, while also broadcasting to remote attendees and satellite locations. Tim Cordon, Area Senior Vice President, Middle East & Africa, Radisson Hotel Group, said, “With the various government imposed restrictions, travelling to meet in person has become somewhat impossible. However, as a hotel group with hospitality at its core, we certainly understand the importance of connections and the need to adapt and exercise flexibility, which has led to the creation and introduction of Hybrid Solutions.” Radisson Hotel Group has partnered with Zoom, the leader in modern enterprise video communication, to provide a smooth experience for their clients’ virtual and hybrid meetings and events. Specialist in-house event teams will assist clients in delivering a range of events from hybrid multi-site meetings to broadcasting events, ensuring events are efficient, effective, and engaging, with flawless execution and no audio / visual problems. Hybrid Rooms perfectly combine the facilities of a state-of-the-art office with the comforts of a superior hotel room to create a productive, dedicated, and quiet workspace for the business traveller, leisure guest, and local day-guest alike. Hybrid Rooms offer easy connectivity to second screen devices, video-conferencing facilities, wireless enabled keyboard, mouse and loudspeaker, printing services, stationery, unlimited coffee …

Unifree Duty Free has implemented state-of-the-art retail technologies at the New Istanbul Airport. These solutions – which rely on a cutting-edge network infrastructure from Swiss structured cabling specialist R&M – include three-dimensional holograms, enhanced digital signage systems, and touch-free digital shopping technologies.Offering an example of how its technology innovations strongly position Istanbul Grand Airport to ensure the safety and well-being of the ninety million travellers expected to visit the Duty Free zone annually, Osman Ayhan, Director of Information Technology at Unifree Duty Free said, “Enhanced digital signage systems give customers the opportunity to virtually try on luxury watches, jewellery and suits before they decide whether to buy or not.” This touch-free experience will be especially important to travellers in the post-COVID world. Ayhan explained that the decision to partner with R&M was based on a highly-positive recommendation from the airport’s IT department which has itself utilised 5,400 km of copper cablings and 3,270 km of fiber-optic cabling from R&M for connectivity of critical airport IT systems. “R&M is characterised by its quality, innovation, fast delivery times, expertise, flexibility and modular products. We also see the team spirit at R&M, the back-office support and the special training of installers on-site as a distinct advantage,” he said. “We are extremely proud to expand R&M’s footprint at the world’s largest airport. Unifree has demonstrated a commitment to pioneering the new digital shopping experiences that will be essential to travellers in the coming months and years. The technologies we have provided serve as a reliable platform on which the company can continue to innovate with confidence in the performance, security and reliability of the underlying systems,” said Nabil Khalil, Executive Vice-President of R&M Middle …

Seera Group has launched a new data portal for industry partners, which offers comprehensive insights on future searches, bookings and traveller behaviour. The portal has been designed to enable tourism boards and other industry partners to further understand the customer journey at every touchpoint and make projections for strategic campaigns. Louise Blake, VP of Data and Analytics at Seera Group said, “These insights will enable a deeper understanding of the target audience and behaviours, helping our partners deliver further value. Through this portal, traveller preferences and activities can be tracked by VisitBritain, which will help them to foster a deeper experience for the guests by providing an enhanced personalised journey.” Sofia Santos, Country Manager GCC for VisitBritain, said, “Tourism is also an extremely competitive global industry and initiatives such as Seera’s innovative insights portal, supporting us to access real-time data on travellers’ preferences and future booking patterns, will help to position Britain as the destination of choice for visitors from Saudi Arabia when the time comes to promote travel once more working with strategic partners across the region.” Abdullah Aldawood, CEO of Seera Group added, “During these times, where the travel sector has faced an unprecedented level of impact due to COVID-19, it is more important than ever that industry partners come together to support each other and create an enhanced experience for travellers. We’re delighted to strengthen our association with VisitBritain, which will support its goal in positioning Britain as a destination of choice for the region’s travellers. It will be of tremendous value, especially as travel returns to normalcy, and travellers will invariably have new preferences in terms of how and where they travel to, stay and spend …

Travelport announced the renewal of a multi-year content agreement with Korean Air, the country’s largest airline and national carrier.Under the agreement, Travelport will continue to provide Korean Air’s content and inventory to more than 68,000 Travelport-connected agencies around the world, enabling them to search, sell and book the airline’s fares. Kenneth Chang, Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer, Korean Air, commented, “As travel recovers, Korean Air fully intends to be leading the way. Our partnership with Travelport has proven itself many times over, and its global network remains a cornerstone of our plans for international growth.” Sue Carter, Head of Asia Pacific, Air Partners at Travelport, added, “We’re extremely pleased to continue supporting Korean Air’s ambitions to be a global aviation leader with our technology solutions. Taking advantage of cutting-edge advancements like New Distribution Capability will be crucial for airlines to lead in a world of heightened traveller expectations, and we look forward to further extending our support with Korean Air in time to come.” In addition to providing Korean Air content to travel agencies around the world, Travelport is also supporting Korean Air’s organization-wide digital transformation with its Data and Business Intelligence, as well as Airline Insight solutions. These tools provide timely analysis and insights which help airlines recognise and respond to market trends swiftly. A founding member of the SkyTeam airline alliance, Korean Air was recently rated one of the top three airlines in the world in the 2020 Tripadvisor Travelers’ Choice Awards for Airlines.