Category Archives: Technology

Sabre Corporation and Spotnana announced a significant expansion of their existing partnership with the integration of Sabre’s New Distribution Capability (NDC) content. This extended collaboration empowers travel management companies (TMCs) and corporate travelers with a wider range of travel options, including personalized offers and bundled services. This not only simplifies the booking experience but also provides TMCs and corporate buyers with increased flexibility in choosing how to source and manage NDC content. The integration seamlessly blends NDC content with existing booking functionalities within Spotnana’s Travel-as-a-Service platform. TMCs can effortlessly compare and book NDC offers alongside traditional options, streamlining the entire booking process. Spotnana’s platform also supports comprehensive NDC servicing capabilities, ensuring a smooth post-booking experience. “Spotnana is committed to delivering a frictionless travel experience for corporate travelers, and this expanded partnership with Sabre is a significant step forward,” said Bill Brindle, Vice President, Content and Commercials at Spotnana “By integrating Sabre’s NDC content, we’re empowering travel management companies to offer their clients a wider variety of flight options, including more choices for amenities and preferred seating, while streamlining the shopping booking process..” This partnership reinforces both companies’ commitment to an open platform approach. Spotnana’s travel platform works with any source of content, including NDC content from multiple providers, allowing TMCs to thrive in a dynamic landscape. Sabre’s API-first approach allows travel agencies, corporations and online booking tools to flexibly access the content from leading airlines, striking the right balance between personalization, policy and price. “Sabre is a leader in NDC adoption, and we are constantly seeking new ways to bring the benefits of this technology to the corporate travel sector,” said Kathy Morgan, Vice President, Product Management at Sabre Travel Solutions. …

Travelport announced a new partnership with AJet (formerly AnadoluJet), the low-cost carrier (LCC) brand from Turkish Airlines, that brings more enriched multi-source content to agency customers. As part of the new agreement, Travelport delivered simplified access to AJet’s wide range of content in the Travelport+ platform so that agents can easily shop, compare and book domestic and international fares from AJet. In March 2024, Turkish Airlines re-launched AnadoluJet ticket sales under the new brand AJet, which aims to make the airline experience more modern, comfortable, and accessible for travelers. “Travelport+ will propel our growth in the market as we introduce new routes and cater to more passengers with our fleet of modern eco-friendly aircrafts,” said Kerem Sarp, Chief Executive Officer at AJet. “We value our new partnership because Travelport shares our vision of creating modern experiences for travelers, aligning closely with our priorities as we expand our offerings for agencies and travelers. We currently operate 173 routes, covering 89 destinations across 32 countries with our Istanbul SAW and Ankara ESB airport hubs. Additionally, we are considering increasing our aircraft fleet to 100 by the end of the year.” “Adding LCC content from AJet to Travelport+ provides our agency customers with greater selling opportunities and more choice for travelers flying within Türkiye and to destinations across Europe and Middle East,” said Jason Clarke, Chief Commercial Officer, Travel Partners at Travelport. “Travelport will help AJet reach new markets and more customers with our ability to deliver multi-source content and modern merchandizing tools that agencies need to sell the right offers to the right customers at the right time.” AJet’s LCC content and agent servicing capabilities are now available to Travelport agency customers …

Sabre Corporation announced the availability of Etihad Airways’ New Distribution Capability (NDC) content through Sabre’s global travel marketplace. The addition of Etihad Airways expands Sabre’s footprint of Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA) region based NDC airlines and broadens travel agencies’ access to real-time content based on offers and orders. Initially, the launch will be rolled out to agencies in Oman and Bahrain, allowing them to shop, book, and service the airline’s NDC offers, with a broader rollout to follow. By integrating and normalizing NDC offers, Sabre gives travel agencies and corporate buyers an efficient way to shop, compare, book and service Etihad’s NDC offers alongside the airline’s traditional options by using application programming interfaces (APIs), Sabre’s travel agency booking application, Sabre Red 360, and Sabre’s online booking tool, GetThere. The airline’s NDC content may include more personalized and diverse travel options, richer content, dynamic pricing, and more customized travel solutions that cater to an increasing demand for tailored travel experiences. “We are excited about the addition of Etihad Airways’ NDC content to our travel marketplace, which demonstrates our ongoing commitment to providing the content our customers want and the scalable capabilities they need,” said Jean-Vincent Teuler, Vice President, Airline Sales for EMEA region at Sabre. “This initiative highlights our dedication to innovation and to operating a compelling travel marketplace that provides efficient access to multiple sources of content, including NDC.” Sabre is one of only a few companies that provide NDC capabilities to address both distribution and airline IT needs. Recently, the company announced SabreMosaicTM, a new passenger service system (PSS)-agnostic offer and order-based airline retailing platform that will help accelerate carriers’ ability to create and retail dynamic, …

Travelport and Emirates announced that New Distribution Capability (NDC) content from Emirates and enhanced NDC servicing capabilities are now available in the Travelport+ platform. With this launch, Travelport’s agency customers will be able to easily view and compare more dynamic NDC offers and ancillaries from Emirates and create a more streamlined, personalized experience for travelers. Travelport’s complete NDC solution for Emirates also provides agents the ability to service NDC bookings, which includes modifications and cancellations. “Agencies using Travelport+ will now have access to better, more enriched content that is only available via the Emirates NDC channel,” said Adnan Kazim, Deputy President and Chief Commercial Officer at Emirates. “The integration of our systems will strengthen the expansion of our reach across the global travel retail community and allow them to offer travelers more choice among our best-in-class products and services.” “We are leading the way in delivering Emirates’ NDC content to travel retailers and giving agents the ability to compare and book the best offers and ancillaries available from Emirates on Travelport+,” said Jason Clarke, Chief Commercial Officer, Travel Partners at Travelport. “This pivotal NDC milestone with Emirates proves Travelport is at the forefront of modern retailing with our ability to provide the best content and cutting-edge tools that agents require to create superior booking and servicing experiences for their customers.” Travelport’s NDC content and servicing solution for Emirates has first become available to all agency customers located in Australia, Indonesia, the United Arab Emirates, and the United Kingdom. Access to Emirates NDC solution in Travelport+ will expand to agency customers located in additional countries in the coming weeks.

Sabre Hospitality announced the launch of SynXis Concierge.AI, an innovative solution harnessing the power of Generative AI to transform customer service for hoteliers. SynXis Concierge.AI represents Sabre Hospitality’s first deployment of Generative AI, a technology that generates new content from inputs such as text, images, and code. Drawing on Sabre’s extensive data resources, Concierge.AI provides immediate, detailed, and accurate responses to specific queries, ensuring that effectiveness is no longer solely dependent on support agent knowledge and experience. Initially, SynXis Concierge.AI is being utilized by Sabre’s Customer Care and Delivery (CCD) team to enhance customer service. The entire CCD team is equipped with Concierge.AI, poised to handle a variety of customer interactions including questions, requests, and problem resolution. “SynXis Concierge.AI will significantly elevate the customer service experience by providing swift and accurate resolutions,” said Scott Wilson, President, Sabre Hospitality. “This innovation underscores our commitment to leveraging cutting-edge technology to meet and exceed our customers’ expectations.” Sabre Hospitality’s plans for SynXis Concierge.AI, include integration into the Community Portal to enhance self-service capabilities. Sabre is also exploring its application in existing products to drive operational efficiency and optimize conversions. “Generative AI represents a monumental leap in technology for the hospitality industry,” said Amy Read, VP of Innovation at Sabre Hospitality. “With SynXis Concierge.AI, we are not only revolutionizing customer service but also unlocking new opportunities for driving operational efficiency and personalizing the guest experience. We have the data and connectivity to maximize Generative AI’s potential, and we are fully committed to continuous innovation, helping our customers achieve their fullest potential with this transforming technology.”

Sabre Hospitality and Uplift announced a strategic partnership that leverages Sabre’s SynXis to offer unparalleled payment flexibility to hotels and guests alike. Under this agreement, Sabre Hospitality will integrate the Uplift dynamic pay monthly option into the Sabre SynXis platform, enabling properties across all market tiers to seamlessly adopt a versatile payment model that resonates with guests at every price point. This collaboration underscores Sabre’s commitment to revolutionizing the guest experience by harnessing innovative solutions that enhance payment options and drive customer satisfaction. “At Sabre Hospitality, we pride ourselves on staying at the forefront of technology trends and meeting the dynamic needs of our partners and their customers in an ever-evolving industry,” said Scott Wilson President, Sabre Hospitality. “Our collaboration with Uplift underscores our unwavering commitment to innovation and responsiveness to market demands. By embracing Uplift’s cutting-edge technology, we surpass expectations, providing our clients and their guests with unparalleled convenience and flexibility.” Uplift partners with over 350 of the world’s leading airlines, cruise lines, resorts, and other major travel providers to help more consumers make meaningful purchases and experience the travel they deserve. “We are thrilled to announce our partnership with Sabre Hospitality, a true leader in the hospitality B2B technology space. The travel landscape is constantly evolving, and consumers increasingly seek flexibility in payment options,” said Tom Botts, Chief Commercial Officer, Uplift.” Our partnership with Sabre Hospitality is a testament to our shared vision of addressing these evolving needs. By integrating Uplift into the SynXis platform, we empower hotels to provide their guests with a seamless and convenient payment experience, ultimately enhancing customer satisfaction and loyalty.” This partnership enables Sabre to expand payment flexibility options for their extensive network …

SiteMinder and Cloudbeds have established a strategic partnership to expand connectivity between platforms and create new revenue capabilities for more than 60,000 hoteliers globally. This collaboration will provide Cloudbeds customers with direct access to SiteMinder’s powerful revenue platform, while SiteMinder customers can explore the industry-leading PMS platform offered by Cloudbeds. As a result, this partnership means expanded distribution capabilities and deep actionable insights for hoteliers, enabling them to make better commercial decisions. This partnership aims to set a new benchmark in platform connectivity, delivering an improved onboarding experience and exceptional operational accuracy for mutual hotel users. “In late 2023, we announced our mission of making sophisticated revenue management accessible to every hotel in the world. We are excited to partner with an industry leader like Cloudbeds to propel this mission, by removing the friction that comes with having critical data hidden away in isolated systems,” says Sankar Narayan, CEO and Managing Director at SiteMinder. “This partnership is a testament to the US$50 billion hotel revenue that is processed by SiteMinder’s platform each year as well as the unique position that we hold to completely transform revenue management for the global hotel industry. It continues SiteMinder’s long history of breaking down silos in a highly-fragmented industry.” Adam Harris, CEO at Cloudbeds, explains: “Our partnership with SiteMinder is about two of the hotel industry’s biggest names coming together with a mutual commitment to drive forward deeper connectivity between hotel platforms and create new standards that benefit hoteliers everywhere. This partnership empowers hoteliers worldwide by providing unified visibility and control across our platforms. This is just the beginning. We are excited to deliver incremental revenue opportunities for hoteliers while optimizing and streamlining the …

Speaking at the Bavel Travel Summit taking place in Spain, Maria Sellar from Terrapay called out gender bias in the travel technology industry. During a speech titled ‘Breaking Barriers: Inclusion and Diversity in Travel Industry Leadership!’, Sellar went on to demand the travel technology industry bridges this gap or risks falling behind. Whilst addressing the 200+ crowd of travel tech professionals at the event in Sitges, Spain – organized by B2B travel payments company Voxel – Sellar shared her own experiences of discrimination and highlighted research seen by Terrapay that proved the stark inequality between males and females in the sector, including that: • Only 28% of tech employees are female, but more worryingly still the percentage of women serving as CEOs in technology companies is only roughly 17%. • There’s some evidence things are going backwards: there was a decline of 2.1% in the representation of women in big tech companies between 2020 and 2022! • Between 2016 and 2022, an average of only 15% of tech startup founders were female, according to Startup Genome, 2023. “You only need to look down the list of attendees at travel technology events to see how male dominated it is, there’s not much statistical analysis to be done – and again, when you look at who is speaking on stage or who are the CEOs, the gap is obvious and worrying” commented Sellar, who at B2B travel payments provider Terrapay is the General Manager for Travel. She continued “For anyone with any doubts about the value of gender equality, consider that it isn’t just a moral imperative—it’s a strategic advantage that fosters creativity and a broader range of perspectives, ultimately benefiting the …

Visit Qatar and Huawei announced a partnership aimed at improving the tourism experience for Chinese visitors and showcasing Qatar as a leading travel destination in the Chinese market. This collaboration leverages the precise targeting capabilities of Huawei’s advertising platform, Petal Ads, to effectively reach and connect with potential travelers, reinforcing Qatar’s position as an attractive destination for Chinese tourists. The MoU was signed by Eng. Abdulaziz Ali Al Mawlawi, CEO of Visit Qatar, and Justin Chen, Global Head of Petal Ads, Huawei’s consumer cloud, representing Huawei, during Visit Qatar’s pavilion at Arabian Travel Market 2024. As part of this partnership, Visit Qatar and Huawei will develop an integrated travel ecosystem in Qatar, including the integration of Huawei products such as SkyTone for roaming data, Huawei Wallet for payments, Petal Maps for promotion and attractions, and AI-powered travel aids. In addition, visitors will be provided with advanced technologies supported by interactive and immersive tourism experiences that highlight Qatar’s famous tourist attractions. Leveraging the proven capabilities of Petal Ads, the MoU focuses on efforts to make Qatar a leading travel destination for Chinese tourists through joint marketing initiatives and harnessing Huawei’s vast and diverse media resources. This unique partnership also aims to attract the interest of Chinese travelers and direct their attention to Qatar and choose it as a preferred destination in their upcoming travel plans. Commenting on the collaboration, Eng. Abdulaziz Ali Al Mawlawi, CEO of Visit Qatar, said: “Through our strategic partnership with Huawei, we are taking an important step towards attracting more Chinese tourists and investors to Qatar. We also aim to develop a comprehensive travel ecosystem in Qatar and offer advanced technologies to visitors through interactive and immersive …

Bahwan Travel Agencies Oman, and Sabre Corporation announced the renewal of their strategic technology agreement at the Arabian Travel Market in Dubai. This renewal marks a significant milestone in the continued collaboration between the two companies, further solidifying their commitment to leveraging latest technology to drive business growth in Oman and the wider region. Under this renewed agreement, Bahwan Travel Agencies will continue to access Sabre’s portfolio of innovative technology, including its intelligent platform Sabre Red 360. This access enables Bahwan Travel Agencies to harness more data and content, providing clients with an expanded choice from over 400 airlines, 1.6 million lodging options, and numerous tour operators, rail, car, and cruise providers. The extensive marketplace empowers Bahwan Travel Agencies to curate and offer personalized travel packages from suppliers around the globe, significantly enhancing the overall travel experience for its customers. “The agreement renewal with Sabre endorses the robustness of our enduring partnership,” stated Sheikha Amal Suhail Bahwan, Vice Chairperson, Suhail Bahwan Group. “As a pioneer in the travel industry with 50 year’s presence in Oman, we ensure our travel business is empowered by latest technology, innovation and enhanced customer experience. Choosing Sabre as our technology partner is not only a strategic decision but also a logical choice to facilitate the growth of our business, enhance operational efficiency, and consistently add significant value for our customers.” Additionally, Bahwan Travel Agencies will deploy Sabre Automation Hub, Sabre APIs, Automated Exchanges and Refunds, and the Sabre E Ticket Report. These advanced technologies will empower Bahwan Travel Agencies to enhance its online presence, differentiate offerings, and provide customers with a more personalized and seamless travel shopping experience. “Bahwan Travel Agencies commitment to a strong and enduring …