This is a roundup of product news and announcements for travel SYSTEMS in tourism and hospitality for February 2014...
Friday 28 February 2014:Farelogix and
ThoughtWorks link up
- The companies will still pursue their own individual businesses, while also offering turnkey solutions to clients that involve Farelogix's merchandising solutions and ThoughtWorks' software expertise.
Thursday 27 February 2014:eRevMax adds metasearch channels
- eRevMax has partnered with World Independent Hotel Promotion (WIHP) to offer meta-search management capabilities in its RateTiger and Connect products. Now, users of these products can push real time rates and availabilities to metasearch sites like Google Hotel Finder, TripAdvisor, Trivago, Kayak and WeGo.
Tuesday 25 February 2014:Singapore Airlines partners with
Panasonic Avionics- Singapore Airlines and Panasonic Avionics has entered into an agreement that will enable the airline to leverage Panasonic’s Global Communications Services (broadband connectivity) to:
- Improve aircraft location monitoring, view aircraft speed, altitude, real-time aircraft health monitoring, engine data transmission, critical systems monitoring, and detection and communication of issues prior to arrival
- Increase cabin crew and flight deck efficiency with live customer relations management, real-time information about icing, turbulence and other critical weather updates
- Enhance the passenger experience with greater levels of personalization, more robust infotainment
Friday 21 February 2014:Travelport signs technology agreement with The Travel Club
- SmartPoint and Rooms & More services will be included in the partnership to support the Netherlands-based independent chain of travel consultants. The group currently has around 150 members and covers both leisure and business travel markets.
8x8 to provide virtual office and call center to
iCruise- Headquarters and over 60 remote locations around the world will use the 8x8 systems, including cloud-based customer service platforms and CRM tools. The WMPH-owned cruise online travel agency serves around 80,000 passengers a year, but around 80% of customers complete their bookings or request more information over the phone.
Thai Airways gets connected with Airbus fleet
- From mid-February the carrier will allow passengers on its A380s and some A330 aircraft to access wifi services via the OnAir system which has been deployed. Mobile network services via OnAir also expected to come on-board soon.
Wednesday 19 February 2014:Melbourne Airport implements
SITA product
- Melbourne Airport is switching all of its passenger services to SITA’s AirportConnect Open common-use platform that will now power all 275 workstations, including check-in counters and boarding gates, throughout the airport’s international terminal.
Abacus launches TripAlert
- TripAlert, a digital service by Abacus gives travel management companies actionable insights in order to move travellers out of danger should an incident arise that threatens their safety. Abacus has partnered with AidCom to receive data that highlights hotspots where travellers may be vulnerable. The service monitors all the participating agencies’ PNRs for the two days ahead of departure and in-trip.
Oman Air inflight internet usage rises
- Inflight wifi usage on Oman Air is set to double this year, according to its provider OnAir. The airline's OnAir service usages from 2012 to 2013 increased by 45%.
Travelport launches applications to ease booking process
- Travelport has launched two new applications developed especially for its customers in Australia and New Zealand region:
Itinerary Fare Quote App: It enables users to quickly produce customisable itineraries and fare quotes for bookings that exist within the Galileo GDS.
Calendar Sync App: It automatically creates Google calendar events based on host ticketing time limits, and can be conveniently integrated with Microsoft Outlook and mobile devices.
Monday 17 February 2014:Groupize launches group planning third party service
- Targeted at DMOs and tourism boards, Groupize's Private Label Platform integrates into existing web services and allows officials to add online shopping and booking services for group planners. The real-time system also enables cross-selling of hotels and organise RFPs with property owners.
CorporatePay rebrands to
WEX Europe- The moves comes after the travel industry payment provider was acquired by WEX in 2012. WEX Europe will also relaunch its online customer card management portal.
SriLankan Airlines migrates to
Amadeus ALTEA
- The carrier completed the move in 12 months and included the transfer of around 250,000 {NRs and almost one million e-tickets to the Amadeus-hosted platform. SriLankan has also subscribed to the Amadeus Market Information service.
Thursday 13 February 2014:Sabre brings Indian carriers into
GetThere- Travelers using the travel management system can now book Indian airlines, Indigo, SpiceJet and GoAir. Content is available using Air Connect with all the flight options integrated directly into the shopping and booking path. GetThere users can also select and purchase meals for their Indian flights on Indigo and SpiceJet.
Onyx Payments renews
Malmaison partnership
- Onyx's payment processing service, which will also include the Hotel du Vin brand, will give the chain web-based customer service and reporting, as well as commission processing through distribution channels.
Friday 7 February 2014:Vanilla Air selects
IBS products
- All Nippon Airways' LCC carrier Vanilla Air has selected India-based IBS for the implementation of passenger reservations (iFly Res) and flight operations (iFlight Lite) solutions. IBS’ iCargo solution already manages nearly 70% of ANA's cargo in and out of Japan. These solutions will be provided on Software as a Service (SaaS) model and will be hosted out of IBS’ Japan Data Centre.
Saturday 1 February 2014:Datalex picked by
JetBlue for web retailing services
- The Ireland-based technology company will provide its Travel Distribution Platform to the low cost carrier, with deployment of self-service and merchandising tools expected during the second half of 2014.
Travelport launches Queue Control Console in EMEA
- The web-based platform allows agents to organise customer booking files, including managing fare guarantees and no infant passengers. The automated ticketing feeds into existing workflow between the Galileo-connected agent and customer booking.
NB: Send links or releases for travel devices direct to Tnooz
via email.
NB2: Travel systems image via Shutterstock.