Tag Archives: Antoine Medawar

Amadeus recently welcomed travel industry leaders to an exclusive gathering in the Amadeus Majlis at Arabian Nights Village, located in the heart of Abu Dhabi’s desert. Hosted by Antoine Medawar, Senior Vice President Retail MEA at Amadeus, and Ernesto Sanchez Beaumont, Managing Director of Amadeus Gulf, the industry leaders discussed the future of the travel industry, the role of new distribution capability (NDC) in travel, and the impact of digital technologies in the industry. They were joined by members of the Amadeus Gulf team. Antoine Medawar, Senior Vice President Retail MEA at Amadeus, said, “As the travel industry continues to evolve and become increasingly complex, we are further committed to connecting with our customers to determine how we can best address the challenges they face with their business. With the increased investment in digital technologies to drive innovation, our customers are becoming more specialised to better serve travelers, underlining the need for the industry to be digital-first and customer-centric.” Ernesto Sanchez Beaumont, Managing Director of Amadeus Gulf, said, “With all the changes taking place in the industry landscape, the most important factor in building a competitive edge is the ability of travel companies to embrace new sales and travel distribution models. By providing our customers with access to more content and advanced technology, we are helping them to remain competitive and to sell travel in an efficient, and personalised way. By working closely together, the industry can unlock new value for travelers, and generate more business for all.”

Amadeus has announced that it will be repositioning its offerings in Bahrain by transitioning its local customers to a new distributor entity under the name of Amadeus Bahrain. The new company will be the exclusive distributor of Amadeus solutions throughout the Kingdom, providing local airlines, airports, hotels, travel agencies, and other travel players with access to the full breadth of Amadeus technology. Travel companies in Bahrain had previously worked directly with Amadeus Gulf, a regional joint venture that continues overseeing the company’s operations in the UAE and Oman. The new Amadeus Bahrain entity will be headed by longtime industry veteran and Bahrain resident Daniel Naoumovitch, who joins in the capacity of Managing Director. Additional Amadeus support staff will transfer to the new entity, with all Amadeus contracts in Bahrain remaining unchanged and assigned to the new entity, ensuring a seamless transition of operations. Antoine Medawar, Senior Vice President—Retail, Middle East and Africa said, “We are fully committed to the high standards of service and support that Amadeus is known for, and believe this move will enable us to enhance those offerings in the future.” Bahrain’s tourism industry is booming as the Kingdom expects to welcome 15 million annual visitors by 2020 – equivalent to roughly nine times the Kingdom’s population. The sector also accounts for approximately 9.7 per cent of the country’s GDP, with tourism revenues projected to top $1 billion by 2020, according to recent figures from the Bahrain Economic Development Board. Daniel Naoumovitch, Managing Director, Amadeus Bahrain added, “I am thrilled to be part of the Amadeus family and the new organisation being established in Bahrain. We look forward to energising Bahrain’s rapidly expanding travel industry by capitalising on …

As corporate travel behaviour continues to evolve in the Middle East, Amadeus has launched a new corporate self-booking tool to support business travellers in the Middle East and North Africa in managing busy schedules while reducing travel costs. The engine was designed taking into account feedback from travel management companies and business travel trends in the region, recognising that today’s business travellers require the latest technologies to keep them connected, productive and on the move. Amadeus Online Corporate Traveller uses automated processes to integrate all phases of travel management, thereby uniting the business traveller, travel management companies, travel managers, and financial officers with one ultimate shared destination – business success. It is being launched in partnership with BirdRes, a leading B2B application developer including automation tools, which is also a reseller of Amadeus products in India. Antoine Medawar, Vice President, Amadeus MENA, said, “Corporate travellers in the region require quick and convenient tools that meet their business needs—and often demanding schedules. The Amadeus Online Corporate Traveller fulfils these requirements by connecting the traveller with every person involved in the booking process, from the finance team through to the travel management company. This will deliver a seamless experience to the end user while enabling all involved to benefit from more streamlined processes.” Ankur Bhatia, Director, BirdRes, said, “One-stop solutions are in demand in the MENA region as travel management companies seek the most convenient way of meeting the varied needs of their customers. The Amadeus Online Corporate Traveller is suited to the region’s latest travel policies, demonstrating a deep understanding of consumer preferences and needs.”

Over 100 experts gathered at the recent Amadeus Fly by Digital Summit in Dubai to improve the travel experience in what is one of the world’s fastest growing tourism and passenger hubs. The conference focused on supporting industry players to better attract, showcase, sell and service travellers in the region as more and more commerce moves into the digital realm. Keynote speakers included executives from Google, PayFort, Musafir, Souqalmal.com and Amadeus, amongst others. “By connecting the industry, harnessing bold technologies and finding new ways to make travel more rewarding, the Middle East’s online travel industry can sustain its recent momentum. It will also be prepared for the future Arab traveller, born in the Internet era, who demands different approaches across devices,” says Antoine Medawar, Vice President for Middle East and North Africa at Amadeus. Amadeus also previewed findings from the third edition of the Middle East Online Travel Overview study—a special project conducted by Phocuswright and co-sponsored by Amadeus—which provides an overall assessment on the health of the Middle East digital travel market.

Al Tayyar Travel Group and Amadeus have signed a new partnership agreement. The extended deal significantly boosts the strategic co-operation between the two parties and reaffirms Al Tayyar Travel Group’s commitment to expand their online business. To achieve this, Al Tayyar Travel Group will take advantage of Amadeus cutting-edge technology and cost customized solutions such as the Premium Online Support, 24/7 contact with Amadeus experts, ATC Shopper Online, Booking and offline quality control check, etc. The agreement extension up to 2020 will expand the two parties’ collaboration from the local to the MENA level. Commenting on the agreement, Abdullah Bin Nasser Al-Dawood, Managing Director and CEO, Al Tayyar Travel Group, said: “Al Tayyar Travel Group has been leading the travel and tourism industry in the region by offering quality services. We are excited to perform the new online strategy with one of the pioneering entity in the field: Amadeus. This strategy aimed at enhancing our business and providing travelers with enjoyable lifetime experiences.” Antoine Medawar, Vice President, Amadeus MENA, said: “We are happy to extend our contract with Al Tayyar Travel Group as it further enriches our firm partnership.  Al Tayyar Travel Group is a thriving company that is committed to service excellence. As Amadeus takes its strategic partnership with Al Tayyar to the regional level, the corporate travel sector in the MENA region will benefit from the expertise of two leading players in the travel domain. Amadeus works with Al Tayyar to explore new ways to fulfill the customer needs and offer them exciting new opportunities.”