Tag Archives: OTA

Gulf Air has entered into a strategic partnership with Almatar to enhance digital operations between the two entities. As part of the partnership, Gulf Air will integrate its New Distribution Capability (NDC) API with Almatar’s booking platform, enabling Almatar to offer Gulf Air’s products and services, such as seat selection, additional baggage options, refunds, and reissue services. This will provide travelers with a more advanced, flexible, and seamless booking experience. This partnership shows both companies are committed to improve the customer experience and meeting the evolving needs of travelers in a rapidly growing travel and tourism sector. The partnership marks a key milestone in the digital transformation journeys of both Gulf Air and Almatar. It makes Almatar the first OTA company in Saudi Arabia to collaborate with Gulf Air, setting a new industry standard. Commenting on the partnership, Mr. Jeffrey Goh, Chief Executive Officer of Gulf Air Group, said: “We are excited about this partnership that opens new digital distribution avenues for Gulf Air products. The integration of the NDC system with Almatar’s platform will enhance operational efficiency and improve the way the airline delivers exceptional services to our customers. Gulf Air is dedicated to adopting modern technology to offer flexible and user-friendly travel solutions, solidifying our competitive edge in regional and global markets.” Mr. Goh added that this partnership is a part of Gulf Air’s broader vision of achieving full digital transformation, improving the overall travel experience, and delivering innovative services that meet the expectations of modern travelers. The NDC integration will ensure easier and more transparent access to Gulf Air’s extensive range of services and products. Mr. Youssef Abdullah Al Rajhi, Chairman of Almatar, expressed pride in this partnership, …

musafir.com takes a significant step forward by officially launching its operations in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, aligning with the transformative goals of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030. The office was inaugurated by Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulla Al Thani and Sachin Gadoya, Founders of musafir.com, in the presence of eminent guests from the travel fraternity. musafir.com’s entry into the Saudi Arabian market strategically targets corporate clients, contributing to the Kingdom’s burgeoning tourism and corporate travel sector. The organization aims to deliver tailored travel solutions, seamless booking experiences, and dedicated support to meet the unique needs of businesses in Saudi Arabia. Commenting on this strategic move, Sheikh Al Thani said, ‘Saudi Arabia has experienced an extraordinary surge in tourism revenue, surpassing 37 billion Saudi riyals in the first quarter of 2023. This exemplifies the Kingdom’s commitment to diversify its economy beyond oil. Aligned with this momentum, our new corporate office in KSA is an integral part of our regional expansion strategy, poised to meet the escalating travel demand of our discerning customers. Since our inception in 2007, musafir.com has consistently grown, and this new office propels us toward long-term success.” The new office premises is centrally and strategically located in Aknaz Center, Tahliah Street, Al Olaya in Riyadh and includes a state-of-the-art, multilingual contact centre, which will offer musafir.com’s customers dedicated 24 X 7 support. Sachin Gadoya expressed enthusiasm, stating, “Our entry into Riyadh indicates a significant milestone for musafir.com. With an unwavering commitment to our corporate clientele, we are eager to contribute to the growth and efficiency of travel management for businesses in Saudi Arabia. Additionally, the leisure sector will soon benefit from musafir’s innovative offerings.” As part of musafir.com’s growth …

According to Phocuswright, an increasing number of companies from outside of travel are entering the online travel agency (OTA) space. This comes ahead of the 2023 Phocuswright Conference, which will be themed around what recent powerful advances in technology could mean for the future of the industry – and how travel businesses must adapt to remain relevant. Although outside players are plugging into online travel companies’ platforms, it is mainly the OTAs that will reap the rewards of this trend, according to Phocuswright: “Historically it was travel suppliers who partnered with the OTAs in a bid to supplement their core products,” said Lorraine Sileo, senior analyst, at Phocuswright.  “However, non-travel brands, such as financial institutions, retailers and loyalty clubs, are now partnering with OTAs to sell travel. “These companies now really want to get into the travel business – and technology is enabling them to do so.  Over the past two years, several have launched travel booking platforms or announced ambitious plans to do so, even though the online travel agency market is already near saturation and uber competitive.  The goal for these companies is not to gain substantial revenue directly from travel, but to keep their customers coming back, for example by encouraging card usage and giving customers more ways to earn or redeem loyalty points.  But, for the OTAs, these partnerships can be directly profitable.” This trend is set to benefit the big brands in the OTA space, as many “outside” companies will simply be tapping into their various plug-and-play models without needing much experience or expertise in the travel sector.  Here are three companies in the finance space that are now tapping into OTAs to drive loyalty …