Washington, D.C., 2013-02-25 — /travelprnews.com/ — Statement by Roger Dow, president and CEO of the U.S. Travel Association, regarding today’s announcement by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) that PreCheck, a trusted traveler program, has expanded to Austin-Bergstrom International, Cleveland Hopkins International, Memphis International, Nashville International and Raleigh-Durham International airports: “We are thrilled to see PreCheck expand… Read the full press release
Category Archives: Travel Agents
PATA Annual Summit to Define and Advance the ‘Complete Visitor Economy’
Bangkok, 2013-02-22 — /travelprnews.com/ — Leaders of the Complete Visitor Economy will gather for the 2013 PATA Annual Summit (2013PAS) in Bangkok April 25-28, 2013. Confirmed speakers include Taleb Rifai, Secretary General, UNWTO; Gloria Guevara, Former Secretary of Tourism, Mexico; Lothar Pehl, Senior VP Operations and Global Initiatives, Starwood Hotels and Resorts; Abid Butt, CEO, Banyan… Read the full press release
U.S. Travel Association Launches 2013 “Travel Blitz”
Grassroots initiative will coordinate travel supporters to engage Members of Congress and reveal travel’s deep economic impact in communities nationwide Washington, D.C., 2013-02-21 — /travelprnews.com/ — Elected officials across the country will hear of travel’s broad and significant economic contributions thanks to a new program the U.S. Travel Association is launching called Travel Blitz. “Those of… Read the full press release
Call for PATA Face of the Future Submissions
Bangkok, 2013-02-20 — /travelprnews.com/ — The Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) Face of the Future award is open for submission until February 28, 2013. The winner will receive exposure global media exposure via PATA Communications channels, a round-trip economy flight to Frankfurt with accommodation to visit the IMEX, May 21- 23, 2013, and an opportunity to attend the PATA… Read the full press release
Travelport renews contract with UAE travel agency SNTTA
Dubai, United Arab Emirates, 2013-02-18 — /travelprnews.com/ — Travelport – the global business services provider to the travel industry – and SNTTA, one of the most reputed travel management companies in the UAE, have jointly announced the renewal of their partnership, which will see SNTTA’s clients continue to benefit from Travelport’s expertise and cutting edge products for… Read the full press release
Travelindex Becomes PATA Preferred Partner
Bangkok, 2013-02-15 — /travelprnews.com/ — The Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) is delighted to welcome Travelindex as the Preferred Partner. Travelindex is an online platform and data repository for the travel industry. It had over 18 million visitors in 2012. Travelindex is fast becoming a leader in B2B and B2C travel relations. The partnership will add value… Read the full press release
Travel Agents “Grow With Marriott”
Agents who complete expanded Hotel Excellence! training can win BIG 2013-02-12 — /travelprnews.com/ — Marriott International, the first hotel company to introduce a comprehensive travel agent education program, announces the launch of updated content to its award-winning Hotel Excellence! (HE!) training program. Now in its 14th year, HE! has been updated to include Marriott’s newest brands,… Read the full press release
ECTAA and Trenitalia working together
2013-02-12 — /travelprnews.com/ — Recognising the increasing importance of rail transport in Europe, ECTAA has agreed to work closer with Trenitalia on the distribution of rail products through travel agents and tour operators. Trenitalia and ECTAA are implementing their strategic partnership agreement to help promote and distribute Trenitalia’s products through travel agents and tour operators in… Read the full press release
GBTA Australia & New Zealand Sells Out in Advance of Inaugural Symposium
Canberra, Australia, 2013-02-04 — /travelprnews.com/ — The Global Business Travel Association (GBTA)—the voice of the global business travel industry – today announced that the inaugural Government Travel Symposium has sold out for delegate attendees. The Symposium will open on Tuesday March 5th with the Fundamentals of Business Travel Management Education and Buyer-Sponsor networking and follows by five dedicated … Read the full press release
Travelport starts 2013 with a win in Poland
INT Travel, a leading IATA accredited agency in southern Poland, switches to Travelport Warsaw, Poland, 2013-02-01 — /travelprnews.com/ — Travelport, the business services provider to the global travel industry, has today announced a new multi-year agreement with INT Travel, one of the largest independent IATA accredited travel agencies in the southern part of Poland. As part of the… Read the full press release
GBTA Announces New RFP Guide To Strategic Meetings Management
Alexandria, VA, 2013-01-31 — /travelprnews.com/ — The GBTA Foundation, the research and education arm of the Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) today announced the creation of a new RFP Guide to Strategic Meetings Management (SMM). This guide will represent a standard set of topics for an organization to ask vendors to address when soliciting vendor bids for an SMM… Read the full press release
Global Business Travel Association Announces Creation of GBTA Russia
GBTA Operates Across All Four BRIC Countries MOSCOW, 2013-01-29 — /travelprnews.com/ — The Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) — the voice of the global business travel industry — today announced the formation of a GBTA Russia chapter. The development of GBTA Russia means that the association now has activity and membership in all BRIC regions for the first… Read the full press release
Package travel rights: The European Commission examines options
Brussels, 2013-01-28 — /travelprnews.com/ — The European Commission will this week meet with consumer groups and business leaders in the travel industry to discuss the review of the current EU legislation on package holidays. The 1990 Package Travel Directive protects European consumers booking pre-arranged package holidays. For example, the rules ensure that holidaymakers will always get… Read the full press release
The Dutch Association of Travel Agents and Tour Operators commits to UNWTO Code of Ethics
The Dutch Association of Travel Agents and Tour Operators (ANVR), representing 200 tour operators and 1,400 travel agencies in the Netherlands, has pledged to observe the principles of the UNWTO Global Code of Ethics for Tourism (Utrecht, the Netherlands, 9 January 2013). 2013-01-15 — /travelprnews.com/ — The ANVR joins the growing number of tourism companies and… Read the full press release
Travel agency owners are beaming
2013-01-10 — /travelprnews.com/ — Kerstin Müller from Berlin, Karl-Heinz Skrotzki from Gelsenkirchen and Silke and Michael Pollmann from Straelen on the Lower Rhine are overjoyed. The travel agency owners participated in a special raffle for travel agencies – hosted over the past three months by Germany’s second largest airline airberlin – and won the grand prize,… Read the full press release
Travel Guard® – 2012 In Review & 2013 Travel Predictions
2012-12-19 — /travelprnews.com/ — Welcome to the December edition of TRAVEL GUARD UPDATE, a monthly review designed to provide you with up-to-date information on the latest travel trends. This month, we polled travel agents to learn about trends that shaped travel in 2012, and their predictions moving into 2013. We’ll also touch upon New Year’s resolutions and… Read the full press release
Travelport Agent of the Future Announced
Sydney, Australia, 2012-12-18 — /travelprnews.com/ — Travelport, the business services provider to the global travel industry, has announced the 2012 Agent of the Future. Rajina Almeida from Bankstown TAFE in New South Wales has been recognised as Australasia’s most outstanding travel and tourism student from more than 60 tertiary colleges in Australia and New Zealand that offer… Read the full press release
Macau Day held at annual congress of Portuguese Association of Travel Agencies
2012-12-14 — /travelprnews.com/ — The 38th National Congress of the Portuguese Association of Travel Agencies (APAVT) was held December 6 to 9, at the Portuguese historical city of Coimbra, with a Day dedicated to Macau, under the partnership with APAVT as Favorite Destination for 2012. Among the promotions activities organized by Macau Government Tourist Office to… Read the full press release
Travelport launches new merchandising capability
‘Extra Bags’ feature introduced in New Zealand, Australia, Ireland and United Kingdom Auckland, New Zealand, 2012-12-11 — /travelprnews.com/ — Travelport, the business services provider to the global travel industry, today announces a substantial merchandising milestone with the introduction of the new Prepaid Extra Bags feature. The new agreement enables Travelport-connected travel agents in New Zealand, Australia, Ireland… Read the full press release
Swedish Rail Operator SJ joins the Amadeus Rail GDS
2012-12-06 — /travelprnews.com/ — Swedish Rail Operator SJ joins the Amadeus Rail GDS • SJ to extend its distribution strategy through the offline and online travel agency solutions benefiting from the multi-channel capabilities of the Amadeus’ Global Rail Sales Platform • Contract signing follows several recent landmark partnership deals agreed between Amadeus Rail and other leading… Read the full press release
Travelport appoints Head of Commercial Strategy for MEA
Dubai, 2012-12-05 — /travelprnews.com/ — Travelport, the business services provider to the travel industry, has appointed Stuart Laird-Smith as Head of Commercial Strategy for the Middle East and Africa. Before joining Travelport, Laird-Smith spent four years with South African Airways (SAA) as Head of Commercial and Operations Finance. While at SAA, he spent time working with several… Read the full press release
ABTA Issues Guidance on Medhotels Case
Ruling reinforces the need for agents to understand their business practices 2012-12-05 — /travelprnews.com/ — ABTA has today updated guidance for Members in response to yesterday’s Court of Appeal ruling on an important test case relating to the tax liabilities of UK travel businesses. The decision of the Court of Appeal in the case between HMRC… Read the full press release
AIR FRANCE, KLM, DELTA AND ALITALIA LAUNCH AGENTCONNECT.BIZ, A WEBSITE DEDICATED TO TRAVEL AGENTS
2012-12-05 — /travelprnews.com/ — Air France, KLM, Alitalia and Delta are launching today “AgentConnect.biz”, the new joint website dedicated to travel agents. This website provides them with the necessary tools and information to meet customer requirements, 24/7. Originally launched in 8 countries in Northern Europe, (Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Denmark, Sweden), AgentConnect.biz replaces afkl.biz… Read the full press release
PIA and Travelport Sign Full Content Agreement
New content deal to benefit Galileo and Worldspan users across Europe, Middle East and Africa Dubai, United Arab Emirates and Karachi, Pakistan, 2012-12-03 — /travelprnews.com/ — Travelport, the business services provider to the global travel industry, has announced that is has reached a breakthrough Full Content Agreement with Pakistan’s national carrier, Pakistan International Airlines (PIA). The new… Read the full press release
The French Take 30 Days Off, Americans Take 10: Expedia’s 2012 Vacation Deprivation Study Reveals Stark Differences in National Attitudes Towards Vacation
Japanese, Koreans, Americans and Mexicans take fewest vacation days; French, Spanish, German and Brazilian workers take most BELLEVUE, Wash., 2012-11-29 — /travelprnews.com/ — Expedia.com®, the world’s leading online travel agency, today released the results of the 2012 Vacation Deprivation® study, an annual analysis of vacation habits across multiple countries and continents. The 2012 study was conducted online by Harris… Read the full press release
Top Russian consolidator signs new deal with Travelport
Aviacenter extends agreement with Travelport for a further three years Langley, 2012-11-28 — /travelprnews.com/ — Travelport and Aviacenter, one of Russia’s leading consolidators, have today announced a new contract extending their relationship until at least 2015. As part of the deal, Aviacenter will use both Galileo Web Services and Travelport SmartPoint App™ to deliver a leading service… Read the full press release
New Internet platform for travel agents: www.steigenbergertravelagents.com
2012-11-26 — /travelprnews.com/ — The Steigenberger Hotel Group has launched its own dedicated website for travel agents. Individually tailored hotel offers and information are now available to travel agency and tour operator staff at www.steigenbergertravelagents.com. Good news for travel agents, who have been able to book specially designed offers from the Steigenberger Hotel group since 22… Read the full press release
VisitBritain, JAPANESE OUTBOUND TOURISM GROWING ONCE AGAIN
Bond, Manchester United’s Kagawa and GREAT activity lead to 30% increase by 2020 2012-11-22 — /travelprnews.com/ — VisitBritain is leading a tourism delegation to Japan, the home of 1.7 million High Net Worth Individuals second only to US, to build on the profile Britain received in 2012. The national tourism agency will introduce key travel trade… Read the full press release
CAA and OFT consult on consumer rights GUIDANCE FOR TRAVEL SECTOR
2012-11-19 — /travelprnews.com/ — Holidaymakers booking in the UK should have access to fair, clear and transparent information at the right time according to draft guidance for travel agents, tour operators and price comparison websites published today for consultation by the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and the Office of Fair Trading (OFT). The joint guidance… Read the full press release
Maldives takes part in DEMA Dive Show 2012, USA
2012-11-19 — /travelprnews.com/ — Maldives Marketing and PR Corporation (MMPRC) together with representatives from Maldives Tourism Industry have participated in the 36th Annual DEMA (Dive Equipment and Marketing Association) Dive Show 2012 which took place in Las Vegas USA, from 14th – 17th November 2012. DEMA Dive Show is WORLD’S ONLY international event for the scuba diving industry focused for trade… Read the full press release