This is a roundup for product news and announcements for travel DISTRIBUTION in tourism and hospitality for December 2015.
Thursday 24 December 2015:
WestJet and Travelport sit down for ancillaries
- The North American low cost carrier will make its Plus fare seats available to Travelport-connected agencies, with Electronic Miscellaneous Documents capability included. The functionality will run through the Travelport SmartPoint desktop platform.
Thursday 17 December 2015:TrekkSoft and Diviac dive together
- The partnership will give the dive specialist's activity operator customers will be able to tap into TrekkSoft's portfolio of reservation and booking services. Diviac launched its Diviac Travel system earlier this year so providers can get wider access to customers around the world.
Wednesday 16 December 2015:Sabre gives Alas Uruguay distribution debut
- Ahead of its launch, Alas will allow Sabre-connected agencies to search and book fares from the regional carrier which intends to serve destinations in Argentina, Brazil, Chile and Paraguay. Other services included in the agreement: e-ticketing, ticket change and instant booking information.
Sabre gets
Malindo Air agreement
- The Malaysia-based low cost carrier will distribute fares, schedules and availability to Sabre-connected agencies as part of the package. Malindo flies to 40 domestic and regional destinations, including Australia, from its base at Subang Airport in Kuala Lumpur. The carrier connected with Amadeus and Travelport in 2014.
Tuesday 15 December 2015:Travelport renews Aviacenter deal
- The latest long term agreement extends an existing six-year partnership between the pair so that the agency network has access to travel content including air, hotel, rail and car rental. Aviacenter oversees 500 agency locations in Russia and has a client base of 800 corporate customers.
Monday 14 December 2015:Travelport signs with Equatorial Congo Airlines
- The flag carrier of the Republic of Congo will distribute its fares, schedules and availability to all Travelport-connected agencies as part of the long-term agreement. The deal also includes integration with Travelport's Transitional Automated Ticketing technology to allow agencies to issue tickets where Bank Settlement Plan facilities are not available.
Wednesday 10 December
Dohop adds
Aeroflot- Icelandic flight metasearch Dohop.com now includes Russia’s largest airline and Skyteam member, Aeroflot. The agreement will allow travelers to search the carrier's 119 destinations around the world on Dohop.com and finalize the booking directly on the airline’s website.
Kenya Airways and
euroAtlantic deepen
Travelport connections
- Kenya Airways has extended its full content agreement with Travelport, adding its full range of fares and optional services to Travelport’s Travel Commerce Platform. This June Kenya Airways signed-up to Travelport’s Rich Content & Branding program. Elsewhere, Portugal's euroAtlantic Airways has also agreed to use the Rich Content product.
Tuesday 8 December 2015:BeMyGuest creates agent Marketplace
- The APAC-focused tours and activities aggregator will allow travel agencies to connect to its inventory products, including access to net rates. The company claims to have 10,000 activities in 90 countries.
Monday 7 December 2015:Regiondo expands ticket distribution network
- The online ticketing service for attractions, tours and activities is offering its service to operators in English, French and Italian market, with other language provision to follow. The company says it connects suppliers to 200 distribution platforms and initially pay a commission of 8%-12%.
Wednesday 2 December 2015:SiteMinder in with Innsoft
- Users of the Check-Inn system provided by Innsoft will now be able to use the SiteMinder Channel Manager system as part of their distribution strategy. Innsoft produces property and guest management systems to mid-sized and independent hotels.
LeisureLink expands
Springer-Miller rentals
- Springer-Miller customers currently integrated with its Host Hospitality Management System can have distribution into third party consumer sites such as Priceline, Booking.com and Expedia. The two-way integration will handle bookings and pass guest data back to the host.
Tuesday 1 December 2015:RoomsTonite expands with Paytm
- The Indian mobile payment and retail platform will integrate RoomsTonite's inventory and functionality into is mobile app for Android. Paytm's customers (around 100 million) will be able to book late deals at around 4,000 properties in India.
RedAwning gets
Booking.com distribution
- Properties using the RedAwning system to manage their vacation rental reservations will now be available on Booking.com. The company claims it will expect to grow its business through Booking.com by over 200% in the next 12 months.
NB: Travel distribution image via Shutterstock.