This is a roundup of product news and announcements for travel distribution in tourism and hospitality for January 2017.
Tuesday 31 January 2017:
CarTrawler and Distribusion sign pact
- CarTrawler will integrate the bus booking technology provider's content into its platform, giving airlines and other third parties access to 200 operators in 2,000 destinations in Europe. CarTrawler powers the ground transportation engines of 95 airlines and 2,000 retailers worldwide.
Thursday 26 January 2017:Sabre distributes Legacy Hotels
- The Africa-focused hotel group will use Sabre Hospitality Solutions technology to expand its network of properties through travel agencies around the world. Legacy has properties in South Africa, Ghana, Zimbabwe, Nigeria and Namibia.
Travelport inks
Flynas partnership
- The Saudi Arabia-based carrier will give Travelport distribution rights for its full content, fares and schedules. The agreement with Flynas, which flies to 30 destinations, includes admission to the Rich Content and Branding platform.
Paxport gets
Lufthansa NDC accreditation
- Personalised offers from the German carrier will be able to Paxport-connected customers following the agreement between the pair. The airline is using NDC standards to connect to intermediaries to distribute content and other ancillaries.
Accomable expands via
Interhome- The vacation rental provider will work with Accomable, a platform for finding hotels and rentals for disabled and elderly people, to help distribute properties to a global audience. Accomable will place more than 100 accessible rentals on the Interhome website.
Wednesday 25 January 2017:British Airways shops with Vayant
- The airline's New Distribution Capability programme will use Vayant's OneSearch air shopping and pricing technology, allowing BA to showcase its content to intermediaries and customers. Vayant already works with a number of carriers including Lufthansa, IcelandAir, Air France-KLM and FlyDubai.
DHISCO signs
LCI-MTC Group- The luxury travel wholesaler will use DHISCO's distribution network to increase its inventory of properties up to 110,000 worldwide. Switzerland-based LCI-MTC feeds 10,000 travel agencies with travel services and packages via its LCI Travel Solutions platform.
Volaris shifts distressed fares via
Caravelo- The Standby Ticket tool will be used by the Mexican airline to offload so-called distress inventory to late-booking passengers, through an integration with the airline's existing passenger reservation platform. The service will initially be introduced on Volaris's domestic market.
Wednesday 18 January 2017:Sabre secures Emirates
- A new distribution deal has been signed between the pair, giving Sabre-connected agencies access to Emirates schedules and fares. The long-term agreement includes use of the Sabre Branded Fares programme.
YouRent strikes
Greystar deal
- US apartment management company will begin placing properties on the YouRent platform, as part of the deal to give it approved vendor status. Globally, Greystar manages 400,000 multi-family units in more than 160 markets.
Meetago secures
Movenpick partnership
- The hotel group is using Meetago's interface on its homepage since the beginning of 2017 so that meeting planners can send requests for more information and book rooms in any of the brand's portfolio of properties. Movenpick operates 83 hotels worldwide, with a further 37 planned by 2020.
Monday 16 January 2017:Sabre renews Mosaid
- Saudi Arabian travel agency Mosaid Travel has renewed its 10-year exclusive relationship with Sabre. Mosaid will use the new Sabre Red Workspace, due to be rolled out across the Middle East this year.
Viator links up with Japan rail expert
- Japan Rail Pass Now, an Australian OTA which specialises in selling Japanese rail tickets and passes, has signed an affiliate deal with Viator, allowing its customers access to Viator's Japanese inventory through a dedicated attractions channel on the site. Cities covered include Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, Hiroshima and Fukuoka.
Europcar confirms Chinese partnership
- Europcar has agreed a reciprocal distribution deal with China's Shouqi, part of the Beijing Tourism Group. Shouqi users can book Europcar’s car rental services outside of China from the Shouqi site while www.europcar.com will be a channel for people holding a Chinese driving license to rent a car in China, or for tourists to book a chauffeur service.
Tuesday 10 January 2017:Travelport signs Al Hashim Travel
- Saudi Arabia-based Al Hashim has signed an exclusive, long-term agreement with Travelport for access to travel product and use of its Smartpoint desktop platform. The agency network has ten branches in the eastern province of the country.
Akbar Travel picks
Sabre- The travel management company will use Sabre for travel content and to power its consumer-facing web platform. Other services in the deal, signed as the company looks to expand further in the Middle East, US and South East Asia, include mobile capabilities
Travelport renews
Finnair partnership
- The Finland flag carrier has signed a new full content agreement, giving Travelport-connected agencies access to its fares and inventory. The package also includes using Travelport's Rich Content and Branding platform.
SiteMinder signs
Barcelo agreement
- The global hotel chain will join SiteMinder's Channel Manager distribution network, giving its portfolio the ability to reach 550 connection partners in 160 countries. Barcelo has 109 properties around the world and plans to almost another 100 in the next five years.
Monday 9 January 2017:HotelREZ puts hotel base on Sabre
- The company's member properties have migrated to Sabre's SynXis Central Reservation System, including a platform-neutral booking engine. HotelRez has a portfolio of over 1,000 independent hotels and small groups around the world.
Sabre gets
Rehlat in the Middle East
- Middle East online travel agency, Rehlat, has selected Sabre to boost its online conversion performance, revenue, and customer satisfaction. Bader Al Bader, president and founder of Rehlat, said Sabre would help it "roll out new capabilities in mobile and social media..."
Thursday 5 January 2017:Volaris connects with Hahn Air
- The Mexico-based airline will use Hahn Air Systems to distribute content to travel agencies via Amadeus, Sabre and Galileo (with Worldspan coming later in 2017), using the H1-Air connection. Volaris is the 62nd carrier to use the H1-Air service.
Wednesday 4 January 2017:Ryanair renews Navitaire until 2025
- The new long-term package will see Amadeus-owned Navitaire continue to handle Ryanair's reservations and ancillary sales, as well as departure control technology. The pair have worked together since 2000, when Ryanair first started shifting from the GDSs for distribution.
China Southern expands
Travelport deal
- The new agreement sees airline use the Digital Media Solutions service for a fourth consecutive year, giving it the opportunity to showcase the brand to 250,000 Travelport-connected travel agencies around the world. This includes sponsored flight marketing, sign-on messages and mailshots. China Southern is an existing user of the Travelport Rich Content and Branding tool.
NB: Travel distribution image via Shutterstock.