‘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
Category Archives: Travel Agents
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
Gabriel Escarrer Juliá, Chairman of Meliá, first UNWTO awardee for Lifetime Achievement
Palma de Mallorca, 2012-11-15 — /travelprnews.com/ — Gabriel Escarrer Juliá, Chairman and founder of Meliá Hotels International, has been awarded the UNWTO Ulysses Award for Lifetime Achievement, in recognition of a whole life of work and devotion to the hospitality industry. Jointly with Mr. Escarrer, the Chairman of the China National Tourism Administration, Mr. Shao Qiwei, have… Read the full press release
ABTA Research Shows Popularity of Mobile Devices for Online Bookings
2012-11-15 — /travelprnews.com/ — When it comes to booking holidays online many people are using their mobile devices to book, according to the latest research* from ABTA. When asked what device they used when booking a holiday online in the last twelve months (either through a travel agent, tour operator, bookings engine or direct), nearly a… Read the full press release
Copa Airlines Chooses Travelport Rapid Reprice™ Technology to Simplify and Accelerate Ticket Exchanges
Atlanta, 2012-11-13 — /travelprnews.com/ — Travelport, the business services provider to the global travel industry, today announces a new long-term IT services agreement with Panama-based Copa Airlines (NYSE: CPA), the national airline of Panama. Through the agreement, Copa Airlines joins airlines worldwide in saving time and money through the use of Travelport Rapid Reprice technology, the first… Read the full press release
First Anniversary of Travelport Developer Network: Program Provides Commercial and Support Framework to Engage Third Party Developers
Among Anniversary Milestones: Sharp Membership Growth, Development of Innovative Solutions Including Fluential Mobile App to be Featured at PhoCusWright Travel Innovation Summit Atanta, 2012-11-12 — /travelprnews.com/ — Travelport, the business services provider to the global travel industry, today marks the one-year anniversary of its Travelport Developer Network . Travelport’s Developer Network enables third party developer members to… Read the full press release
Travelport launches mobile app for MEA agents
Dubai, United Arab Emirates,2012-11-08 — /travelprnews.com/ — Travel agents in the Middle East and Africa will now be able to manage their bookings on the move, as Travelport has announced the roll-out of its mobile GDS application, Travelport Mobile Agent. The app, available to download from the App Store, will enable Travelport-connected agents to gain full… Read the full press release
EnglandExpert.com – Making England the Specialist Subject of Choice
VisitEngland’s New Online Training Scheme Sees 100 sign-ups in its First Week 2012-11-04 — /travelprnews.com/ — Earlier this month at the ABTA Convention 2012, VisitEngland demonstrated its commitment to the travel trade by launching a new, comprehensive strategy aimed at inspiring and supporting travel agents and operators to sell more English holidays than ever before. Fundamental… Read the full press release
BidTravel Group and Travelport reach new strategic partnership agreement
Johannesburg, South Africa, 2012-11-02 — /travelprnews.com/ — Africa’s largest travel group, BidTravel, has signed a new, strategic agreement with Travelport which will see its franchise businesses in Southern Africa continue to have access to the Galileo GDS platform as well as other extensive industry-leading technology emanating from the Travelport stable. BidTravel, which operates leading travel management company… Read the full press release
Kane Pirie, CEO of Travel Republic, Steps Down from ABTA Board
2012-10-31 — /travelprnews.com/ — ABTA – The Travel Association today announced that Kane Pirie, CEO of Travel Republic, has stepped down from the ABTA Board of Directors. Kane joined the ABTA Board in October 2010 as an appointed (non-elected) Director. John McEwan, ABTA Chairman, said: “Kane has been a highly effective and well respected member of… Read the full press release
Travelport signs long term agreement with eTravel
Johannesburg, South Africa, 2012-10-30 — /travelprnews.com/ — Travelport, the business services provider to the global travel industry, announces that is has signed a new, five-year agreement with eTravel, one of the largest and most respected travel consortiums in South Africa. The new agreement, which takes immediate effect, will see the eTravel group continue to use Travelport’s technology. “The… Read the full press release
ABTA Statement on Bowen Travel
2012-10-25 — /travelprnews.com/ — ABTA is aware of reports that coach operator Bowen Travel Group has applied to go into administration. Bowen Travel is a part of independent travel agents group Hays Travel, and a member of ABTA and the Confederation of Passenger Transport (with whom it is fully bonded). The company sells holidays on behalf… Read the full press release
One year on: Signature Experiences Collection® case studies Vol. 2: Halifax Citadel
It’s a soldier’s life for visitors to this National Historic Site in Nova Scotia that is seeking more ways to attract international visitors 2012-10-25 — /travelprnews.com/ — Atten-shun! Quiet at the back of the ranks there! The ways of the redcoats still live on at the Halifax Citadel, NS. This National Historic Site of Canada gets… Read the full press release
Travel Agents in 2012 – More Valued and More Used
Number of People Booking Foreign Holidays on the High St up 10% in Three Years 2012-10-25 — /travelprnews.com/ — The ABTA 2012 Consumer Travel Trends Survey has found that in the last three years there has been a 10% increase in people booking an overseas holiday through their high street travel agent, with 27% of people… Read the full press release
Online travel to experience solid growth in the Middle East according to new study
Online travel agency bookings set to nearly double by 2014, according to Travelport and PhoCusWright Dubai, 2012-10-23 — /travelprnews.com/ — The online travel industry in the Middle East is flourishing at an unprecedented rate with online bookings growing by nearly a third this year, according to a new Travelport co-sponsored research. According to the study – carried… Read the full press release
900,000 FOOTBALL-WATCHING VISITORS SPEND £706 MILLION WHILE IN BRITAIN
2012-10-22 — /travelprnews.com/ — As the Barclays Premier League kicks off again this week after a high-profile international break, new figures released by national tourism agency VisitBritain show that nearly one million overseas visitors watched a game of football here last year. These 900,000 foreign football tourists spent a substantial £706 million, the equivalent of £785… Read the full press release
Canada Specialist Program breaks the 10,000-member barrier
Travel agents around the world are flocking to sign up for CTC’s education tool 2012-10-18 — /travelprnews.com/ — Canada, your number’s up…and up and up. The Canadian Tourism Commission (CTC)’s state-of-the-art tool for the travel trade around the world now has more than 10,000 fully certified agents, and there is no sign of the education momentum… Read the full press release
Travelport Announces Release of GalileoTerminal in Asia Pacific
New mobile solution offers travel agents access to the Galileo and Apollo GDS platforms anytime, anywhere Singapore, 2012-10-18 — /travelprnews.com/ — Travelport, the business services provider to the global travel industry, today announced the launch of a new, innovative mobile solution for travel agents in the Asia Pacific region. Known as GalileoTerminal, the web-based solution enables travel agents… Read the full press release
Aeromexico Signs Full Content Agreement with Travelport
Expands Partnership with Advertising and Business Intelligence Tools Atlanta, 2012-10-16 — /travelprnews.com/ — Travelport, the business services provider to the global travel industry, and Aeromexico, Mexico’s global airline, today announce a new global full content agreement. The new multi-year deal secures full access to all of Aeromexico’s published fares and seat inventory – including fares available on… Read the full press release
Brand USA Announces Travel Agent Fam Photo Competition
LONDON, 2012-10-16 — /travelprnews.com/ — Brand USA, the new tourism marketing body for the United States of America, has announced the launch of a travel agent photo competition in the UK and Ireland. As part of the competition, the website www.famphotousa.co.uk, has been launched where agents from the UK and Ireland can upload photographs they have taken on… Read the full press release