Tag Archives: Travelport

Travelport further deepened its collaboration with Singapore Airlines (SIA) and the travel agency community on the implementation of SIA’s KrisConnect Programme – the airline’s initiative to leverage IATA’s New Distribution Capability (NDC) standard. Damian Hickey, Global Vice President & Global Head of Air Travel Partners, briefed representatives of around 200 agencies on Travelport’s NDC implementation roadmap for SIA at the launch of the airline’s expanded KrisConnect Programme in Singapore. He also offered a preview of the intuitive new NDC-enabled process which agencies can soon expect, as Travelport prepares to launch the next phase of its NDC delivery shortly. Since KrisConnect was first launched in late 2018, Travelport has been working extensively with SIA to integrate its NDC content, ahead of general availability from April 2020. Functionality is expected to be launched through Travelport’s NDC-enabled points-of-sale, starting with initial pilots with a small group of agency customers in the coming months. Agencies connecting to KrisConnect through Travelport will gain access to customised offerings that are tailored to customers’ needs and preferences. SIA has advised that they will also benefit from a wider range of fares and other content come April 2020. All of this will be delivered through an intuitive, user-friendly interface integrated into the Travelport systems they are already familiar with. This latest collaboration builds on Travelport’s leading momentum in rolling out NDC capabilities for the industry. Travelport was the first GDS to make a live NDC booking in October 2018, and is already connected to six airlines’ NDC content.

Travelport has announced the development of a blockchain solution to enhance the hotel commission reconciliation process. Working with IBM Services and BCD Travel, as well as a number of high-profile hotel chains, the blockchain technology solution aims to optimise hotel commission processing on a distributed ledger by managing reconciliation, tracking and accounting for commission payments owed from hotel chains for services purchased by travellers via booking agencies. Ross Vinograd, Senior Product Director, Travelport, said: “Blockchain technology applied to commission reconciliation has the potential to deliver real ROI to both a travel agency and the hotel. Traveller modifications at property, no shows, and complimentary room nights are just a few examples that drive commission discrepancies which in turn generate escalations, cost, and revenue loss. Our aim is to put the lifecycle of a booking on the blockchain and we believe doing so will drive transparency, trust, and ultimately booking volume.” Kurt Wedgwood, IBM Blockchain Leader-Travel, added: “Global distribution companies and providers would benefit from this use of blockchain technology to remove their never-ending work of reconciliation to spend that time adding new experiences and insights for the traveller. Eliminating the hours spent addressing dollars in dispute or the timeliness and accuracy of information allows all participants to focus on what matters most: the traveller.”  

As the next step in its continuing support for Qantas’ New Distribution Capability, including the Qantas Distribution Platform (QDP), Travelport, a leading technology company serving the travel industry, has begun handling its first bookings with Qantas using IATA’s New Distribution Capability (NDC) standard. The bookings are being made through Travelport Smartpoint in a live production test environment as Qantas prepares distribution of differentiated NDC content from late 2019. This NDC connection to Qantas is the first by any GDS to the carrier and enables live bookings of NDC content to be made by selected agency partners taking part in the testing programme, including ATPI Corporate Travel, Globetrotter and Travel Beyond. The development is part of the airline’s plans for the QDP which is dedicated to offering an improved customer experience through enhanced and personalised content tailored to meet travellers’ unique needs. Having been the first GDS to make a live NDC booking in October 2018, Travelport has already connected to five European airlines’ NDC content. It will follow up with an API NDC connection channel through Travelport’s Trip Service API with Qantas’ content among the first to be available through this channel. The Trip Service API is also currently part of a testing programme with an Australia-based online travel agency successfully coding to it. Scott Barber, Managing Director Australia and New Zealand at Travelport, commented, “Qantas shares our vision that NDC has the potential to enhance the travel experience for its customers, offering personalised and differentiated choice and a seamless booking experience.” Peter Muller, International Board Director at ATPI Corporate Travel, added, “It’s great to be part of the team pioneering NDC for the Asia-Pacific region. We’re pleased to see …

This year’s Arabian Travel Awards, to be held on October 22, 2019, will be hosted at The Westin Mina Seyahi Beach Resort & Marina. Tolga Lacin, General Manager, The Westin Mina Seyahi Beach Resort & Marina said, “We are very excited with this new partnership and believe that we will go a long way in creating an impact in the industry. Arabian Travel Awards is extremely important as it recognises and celebrates the hard work of those behind the success of the travel and hospitality industry in the GCC and the Middle East. We, at The Westin Mina Seyahi, truly believe that recognition always helps motivate people and gives them an opportunity to exceed expectations. Happy associates lead to happy customers.” Through such recognition, Arabian Travel Awards promotes tourism in the region, bringing to the fore new areas and technologies that cater to the needs of the modern traveller. The awards are fair & unbiased and follow a systematic method of internet-based voting. They will be divided into four categories — Personal Awards, Business Awards, Trending Awards and Partner Awards. “We are very happy to have The Westin Dubai Mina Seyahi Beach Resort & Marina come on board as our hospitality partner for the third edition of Arabian Travel Awards. This partnership reinforces our commitment to the industry and makes it a unique experience for those who will be invited to share their success with professionals in different areas in the travel, tourism and hospitality arena. Every year, we seek new associations and opportunities so that the best is provided as a vehicle of information. We hope that this association will scale new heights,” stated Nikhil Jeet, Director, Arabian Travel Awards. Technology is …

The coveted, Arabian Travel Awards, on June 13, 2019, announced its partnership with Travelport, a leading travel commerce platform, for its annual award ceremony in September this year.  Arabian Travel Awards is a platform for the Middle East to recognize those behind the success of the travel and hospitality industry and to reward their continued hard work. Travelport continues to be the technology partner for the third consecutive award ceremony, reinforcing the ties between these two leading brands in the Middle East. Kathryn Wallington, Travelport’s Country Manager for the UAE, commented, “We are delighted to partner with Arabian Travel Awards 2019 for the third consecutive year as the technology partner. In the past year, Travelport has worked closely with customers and partners to launch a series of innovative solutions in travel distribution and emerging technologies, such as mobile, AR/VR, blockchain etc. Meanwhile, we have solidified our leading position in rich content with over 270 airlines currently benefiting from Travelport’s Rich Content and Branding merchandising. We also have a solid roadmap to embrace IATA’s New Distribution Capability (NDC).” Arabian Travel Awards are fair and unbiased, following a systematic method of internet-based voting. These awards are supported by media partners Travel TV.News, TravTalk Middle East, tourismbreakingnews and TravTalk India. “This is the third consecutive year that Travelport is coming onboard as our technology partner at the Arabian Travel Awards and we are very excited to welcome them. Having one the world’s biggest GDS platform as a partner is not a mean feat to achieve and we are happy that our association has only grown over the years. This is also a great opportunity for our award winners who will be recognized on …

Travelport has reached a full content agreement with Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) under which the former will expand availability of PIA’s content to Travelport-connected agencies in the Americas and Asia Pacific, as well as continue to provide access across Europe, the Middle East and Africa. In doing so, over 68,000 agencies globally servicing hundreds of millions of travellers will now have real-time access to search, sell, and book the airlines’ full content and inventory. As the first global distribution system (GDS) to manage the live booking of flights using the International Air Transport Association’s (IATA) New Distribution Capability (NDC) technical standard, Travelport will soon further help PIA by giving it the opportunity to create NDC connections and display NDC-based airline content on its platform. Commenting on the new deal, Ali Tahir, Chief Commercial Officer at Pakistan International Airlines, said, “Travelport has been a valued partner to PIA for a number of years. By expanding our relationship with the company to cover the Americas and Asia-Pacific, two strategically important regions for us, we will provide our loyal customers with greater access to our flights and open up significant new growth opportunities for our business.” David Gomes, Head of Middle East, Africa, Turkey and Pakistan, Air – Travel Partners, Travelport, added, “PIA is highly valued by travel agencies in all corners of the world due it its vast international network, high quality service and large customer base. We are delighted the airline has chosen to expand its partnership with us. We are fully committed to supporting the company in achieving its international growth objectives and look forward to continuing to work with its world-class team.”

Travelport announced a multi-year contract renewal with travel agency, First Diana Travel. The agreement with Travelport will see First Diana Travel continue to benefit from intelligent, fast, and accurate searching and booking of travel content from more than 400 airlines, including low cost and network carriers, more than 650,000 hotel properties and more than 37,000 car rental locations around the world. Consultants at the leading leisure and corporate travel agency will continue to use Travelport Smartpoint as their desktop tool to search beyond rate and availability, enabling them to create and deliver personalised and tailored travel itineraries. Solidifying the fruitful relationship between First Diana Travel and Travelport, Elcheikh Mohamed Ghouzayel, President and Owner of First Diana Travel, said, “We are thrilled to extend our long-term agreement with Travelport. Using its innovative technology has enabled us to exceed our annual targets ahead of time, while delivering an exceptional service to our customers. Our collaboration with Travelport will continue to play an essential role in enabling us to push the boundaries of success for our business.” Kerry Koutsikos, Managing Director, Middle East and Africa at Travelport, said, “As a key customer in Lebanon, we are delighted that First Diana Travel has extended its agreement with Travelport. We look forward to continuing to support its success and evolving needs in today’s highly competitive environment.”

In an aim to cement the longstanding relationship between the two companies, Travelport has renewed a multi-year contract with its Kuwait operator, Travel Technology Services (TTS). TTS will continue to distribute Travelport’s industry-leading products and services in Kuwait as well as content from over 400 airlines, 650,000 hotel properties, 37,000 car rental locations and 14 rail networks worldwide. Raj Krishnan, General Manager, TTS, said, “We are pleased to extend our agreement with Travelport as distributors of its exceptional and innovative technology solutions. We have a highly successful 10-year collaboration with the company and look forward to reaching new heights in the future, which not only benefit both our businesses but the local travel industry in Kuwait.” Kerry Koutsikos, Managing Director, Middle East and Africa at Travelport, said, “We are delighted to extend our highly successful, long-term agreement with TTS. We look forward to continuing to work closely together over the coming years to ensure we not only meet but exceed the expectations of the travel industry in Kuwait, as well as travellers in the country.”

Japan Airlines and Travelport have agreed to form a joint venture to take ownership of Travelport Japan K K (Travelport Japan) and JAL’s 100 per cent owned subsidiary, Axess International Network. Under the unified Travelport Axess brand, the joint venture will operate a Global Distribution System (GDS) tailored to the needs of the Japanese travel industry. The proposed joint venture, which will operate under the brand name Travelport Axess, will combine Axess’ expertise in Japan and Travelport’s global technology leadership. Yoriyuki Kashiwagi, Executive Officer of International Passenger Sales, Japan Airlines, said, “We believe that the future of travel will be transformed by technological innovation. I am confident that Travelport Axess will be able to help Japanese travel agents to respond to growing global demands by offering services based on state-of-the-art technology.” Travelport Axess will continue to offer travel agents services through Axess’ GDS platform, and enable access to Travelport’s GDS platforms, Apollo and Galileo. The proposed joint venture will provide online, mobile and corporate travel propositions including global booking and expense management tools as well as access to New Distribution Capability (NDC) content, offering Japanese travel agencies and their customers the best of locally developed products with best-in-class global connectivity and capabilities. Gordon Wilson, President and Chief Executive Officer, Travelport, commented, “This announcement and our ongoing partnership with Japan Airlines is a significant advance in the provision of state-of-the-art technology for the Japanese travel industry.”

United Airlines will continue its long-standing relationship with Travelport as part of a multi-year agreement that demonstrates a joint commitment to deliver customer support and solutions for the benefit of travellers and travel agents alike. United has already benefited from Travelport’s rich content and branding merchandising solution by differentiating its offerings and dynamically distributing content across the globe. This tool allows customers to easily compare airline offerings and take advantage of United’s comprehensive route network and improved customer experience. Both companies will continue to work together to enhance the delivery of United’s product offering, including ancillaries and fare families, to agencies and corporations through Travelport’s traditional ATPCO and API platforms, including deployment of United content made available consistent with IATA’s New Distribution Capability (NDC) standard. “I’m delighted to announce that our relationship with United has been extended for a multi-year term. United has seen great success with our rich content and branding solution and extended global reach, We look forward to supporting United’s growth, its dedication to providing better experiences for agencies and travelers worldwide and pioneering NDC solutions,” said Damian Hickey, Global Head of Air Travel Partners, Travelport. “While direct volumes through our award-winning website and mobile app continue to grow, we want to be available across a variety of booking channels, and collaborating with Travelport helps us do that,” said Dave Bartels, Vice President of Pricing and Revenue Management, United Airlines. “United is excited to be working together with Travelport on our NDC initiative to provide tailored content to our customers through the Travelport subscriber network, which will allow customers to better customise their travel with different amenities and experiences.”