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 news article

900,000 FOOTBALL-WATCHING VISITORS SPEND £706 MILLION WHILE IN BRITAIN

VisitBritain welcomes the world to watch our world-class football

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 news article

Canada Specialist Program breaks the 10,000-member barrier

Travel agents around the world are flocking to sign up for CTC’s education tool

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 news article

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 news article

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 news article

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 news article

Estonian Air’s aircraft carrying “Welcome to Estonia” brand elements attracts neighbours to visit Estonia

Estonian Air’s aircraft carrying “Welcome to Estonia” brand elements attracts neighbours to visit Estonia

2012-10-16 — /travelprnews.com/ — In the framework of an ongoing co-operation between Estonian Air and EAS (Enterprise Estonia), one of the Saab SF340 aircraft in Estonian Air fleet was given a special livery to attract tourists from the regional destinations of Estonian Air to spend winter holidays in Estonia. This is a continuation of the marketing… Read the full news article

Schiphol acclaimed best airport by Canadian travel agents

2012-10-15 — /travelprnews.com/ — Today marks the eighth year in a row that Amsterdam Airport Schiphol has been acclaimed best airport by Canadian travel agents. With this prize Amsterdam once again leaves not only London Heathrow but also Canada’s two largest airports, Toronto and Vancouver, trailing. These awards are organised every year by Baxter Travel Media…. Read the full news article

Travelzoo Announces Preliminary Financial Results and Growth Plans

NEW YORK, 2012-10-15 — /travelprnews.com/ —  Travelzoo Inc. (NASDAQ: TZOO), a global Internet media company, today announced certain preliminary financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2012 and announced that the Company is in negotiations to acquire a hotel booking website. Travelzoo expects to report revenues in the range of $35.0 million to $35.5 million for… Read the full news article

GBTA and Egencia® Study Shows Travel Professionals Gaining Control of Travel Policies in Europe

Report Ranks Top 10 Most Important Factors in Defining Policy  Alexandria, Va., Bellevue, Wash., Paris, London, Munich, 2012-10-15 — /travelprnews.com/ — Travel professionals are playing an increasingly large and influential role in shaping and controlling business travel policy, aided by online booking tools and fueled by a growing focus on cost-saving efforts, according to a new… Read the full news article

VisitEngland Announces New Commitment to UK Travel Trade at the 2012 ABTA Travel Convention

New Strategy Unveiled to Drive Domestic Business Through the Trade 2012-10-12 — /travelprnews.com/ — VisitEngland’s Chairman Penelope Viscountess Cobham, announced today in a speech at the ABTA Travel Convention the national tourist board’s plans to further grow tourism in England by working more closely with the travel trade.   Unveiling a raft of activity aimed at inspiring… Read the full news article

Brand USA and the Japan Association of Travel Agents (JATA)

TOKYO,  2012-10-11 — /travelprnews.com/ — The Japan Association of Travel Agents (JATA) and Brand USA has announced the launch of the Japan-U.S. Tourism Exchange Year.  The nationwide one-year initiative runs from September 2012 through August 2013 to jointly stimulate tourism between the two countries.  The goal of the Japan to U.S. effort is to generate 3.75… Read the full news article

ABTA Welcomes 35 New Members from July to September

2012-10-4 — /travelprnews.com/ — ABTA welcomed the following 35 new Members into the Association from July to September 2012, five trading as retailers, 29 as principals and one in both classes of membership. Once Upon a Dream Ltd, Retailer,  ABTA number P5017 joined 2/7/12 Debbie’s Villas Ltd, Principal, ABTA number Y5238, joined 2/7/12 321 Dive Ltd,… Read the full news article

GBTA and Egencia® Study Shows Travel Professionals Gaining Control of Travel Policies in Asia Pacific Region

Report Ranks Top 10 Most Important Factors in Defining Policy Alexandria, VA and Bellevue, WA – 2012-10-3 — /travelprnews.com/ — Travel professionals are playing an increasingly large and influential role in shaping and controlling business travel policy, aided by online booking tools and fueled by a growing focus on cost-saving efforts, according to a new report… Read the full news article

airberlin strengthens its ancillary offering to travel agents with the Amadeus solution

Travellers can book preferred seats, meals and extra baggage through Amadeus travel agencies as well as on the carrier’s website, amongst other channels. Madrid, Spain, 2012-10-3 — /travelprnews.com/ — airberlin, the second largest carrier in Germany and one of Europe’s leading airlines, has adopted Amadeus Ancillary Services (AAAS) to distribute its ancillary offering to travel agencies,… Read the full news article

ebookers commits to Travelport in France

Migration of www.ebookers.fr successfully completed Langley, 2012-09-26 — /travelprnews.com/ — Travelport, the business services provider to the global travel industry, has announced the successful migration of ebookers, a leading pan-European online travel agency, to their search and shopping product in France.  As a result,  ebookers customers using the French website now have access to the vast array… Read the full news article

Katherine Grainger MBE to speak at 2012 Travel Convention in Turkey

2012-09-19 — /travelprnews.com/ — With only three weeks to go until The 2012 Travel Convention, ABTA is delighted to reveal today that Olympic Gold Medallist Katherine Grainger MBE will be speaking at The Travel Convention. Katherine will be attending the Convention as a special guest of The Telegraph and will be interviewed on stage as part… Read the full news article

Pullman and Sofitel join Travelport’s ‘Lowest Public Rate’ Hotel Programme

Langley, UK, 2012-09-18 — /travelprnews.com/ —Travelport has added two new participants to its Lowest Public Rate Programme that guarantees agents access to the lowest publicly available rate. Both Pullman and Sofitel Hotels are part of the Accor Hotel Group and bring more than 190 hotel properties to the programme. “Joining Travelport’s Lowest Public Rate Programme is… Read the full news article

Tourism Authority of Thailand and Thai Airways International Organize Thailand Visit for Travel Agents from Kolkata, India

In photos: The group of Indian travel agents at Nora Buri Resort & Spa, Ko Samui (top photo); and at Grande Centre Point Ratchdamri in Bangkok (bottom photo).

New Delhi, India, 2012-09-11 — /travelprnews.com/ — The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) New Delhi office and Thai Airways International (Kolkata) jointly organized an Agents’ Educational Trip for Kolkata travel agents to visit Thailand from 07 to 12 August, 2012. The group of 10 agents enjoyed visiting and learning about tourism products in Surat Thani, Ko… Read the full news article

transavia.com makes GDS debut with Travelport

Dutch low cost airline piloting with travel agents in Portugal Langley, UK, 2012-09-06 — /travelprnews.com/ — Travelport, the business services provider to the global travel industry, and transavia.com, the Dutch low cost airline, have today announced a new agreement for the distribution of transavia.com’s content to Travelport-connected agencies. Initially the service is being piloted in Portugal with… Read the full news article

U.S. Travel Association Honors Tourism Marketing Organizations with Awards at ESTO

Diane Shober Named 2012 State Tourism Director of the Year WASHINGTON, D.C., 2012-08-29 — /travelprnews.com/ — Winners of the 2012 Mercury and Destiny awards, State Tourism Director of the Year and DMO Rising Star were announced during the U.S. Travel Association’s annual Educational Seminar for Tourism Organizations (ESTO) conference held in Boston. Mercury and Destiny Awards… Read the full news article

The agoda.com Loving Las Vegas SALE: from USD 35 per night!

Las Vegas, USA - November 30, 2011: The Paris Las Vegas is a hotel and casino in Nevada. Seen on the left are the venues replicas of the Eiffel Tower and the Montgolfier Balloon adorned in bright lights.

2012-08-29 — /travelprnews.com/ — agoda.com, Asia’s leading hotel booking site and part of Nasdaq-listed Priceline Group (Nasdaq: PCLN), today announced special deals on top Las Vegas hotels. Las Vegas is one of the most compelling destinations in the world. Exciting, invigorating and unapologetically over-the-top, this flashy desert outpost lives up to its international reputation as the… Read the full news article

agoda.com celebrates the Singapore F1 in style: from USD 248 per night!

Aerial view on Singapore Flyer from Marina Bay Sands resort at night

2012-08-29 — /travelprnews.com/ — agoda.com, Asia’s leading hotel booking site and part of Nasdaq-listed Priceline Group (Nasdaq: PCLN), today announced hard-to-find rooms in some of Singapore’s most stylish hotels for the F1 race weekend. The Singapore F1 is one of the nation’s most exciting and anticipated events. F1 enthusiasts from around the world converge on the… Read the full news article

ALAMO, ENTERPRISE AND NATIONAL LAUNCH FALL “CASH-IN CLUB” PROMOTION FOR U.S. TRAVEL AGENT PARTNERS

“25,000 Point Campaign” Encourages Club Members To Book Fall Reservations; Win Points Towards Visa® Prepaid Cards St. Louis, 2012-08-14 — /travelprnews.com/ — The Alamo Rent A Car, Enterprise Rent-A-Car and National Car Rental brands today announce the Fall promotion for the Cash-In Club agent rewards program for U.S. travel agent partners. With a nod to election year, the “25,000 Point Campaign,”… Read the full news article

2012 AH&LA LODGING SURVEY IDENTIFIES KEY TRENDS IN AMENITIES, FACILITIES, PROGRAMS

Washington, 2012-08-14 — /travelprnews.com/ — The American Hotel & Lodging Association (AH&LA) 2012 Lodging Survey, the most comprehensive industry-wide survey of its kind, polled more than 52,000 U.S. hotel properties regarding in-room amenities, security and technology features, food and beverage options, guest services, sustainability, property offerings, and much more.  Funded by the American Hotel & Lodging Educational Foundation… Read the full news article

agoda.com offers 55 Hotel Deals this 55th Merdeka

2012-08-08 — /travelprnews.com/ — agoda.com, Asia’s leading hotel booking site and part of Nasdaq-listed Priceline Group (Nasdaq: PCLN), today announced exclusive deals on hotels in Malaysia in commemoration of its 55th Merdeka. This year marks the 55th year of Malaysian independence, and to help promote domestic and international travel to this richly multi-cultural country, Agoda.com has secured 55… Read the full news article

Cozmo Travels becomes first Middle East travel agency to sign up for Travelport Universal Desktop™

Dubai, United Arab Emirates,  2012-07-30 — /travelprnews.com/ — Travelport, the business services provider to the global travel industry, has today announced a new agreement with Cozmo Travels, a leading travel management company in the Middle East, which has seen comprehensive testing of Travelport’s ground-breaking Universal Desktop begin at the agency this month. With operations across… Read the full news article

Travelport announces mobile GDS application

Travelport Mobile Agent Developed by a Travelport Developer Network member Langley, UK, 2012-07-25 — /travelprnews.com/ — Travelport, the business services provider to the global travel industry, has today announced the launch of Travelport Mobile Agent through its Developer Network. The mobile app, which enables Travelport-connected agencies to gain full access to the Galileo platform directly on… Read the full news article

agoda.com celebrates National Day with luxury stays from SG210

2012-07-25 — /travelprnews.com/ — agoda.com, Asia’s leading hotel booking site and part of Nasdaq-listed Priceline Group (Nasdaq: PCLN), today announced fantastic hotel specials in honour of National Day. National Day gives Singaporeans the chance not only to celebrate the sovereignty and success of this great city-state, but to take a well-earned break. While the National Day… Read the full news article

GBTA and Egencia® Research Shows Travel Professionals Gaining Control of Travel Policies

Report Ranks Top 10 Most Important Factors in Defining Policy Alexandria, Va. and Bellevue, Wash., 2012-07-24 — /travelprnews.com/ — Travel professionals are playing an increasingly large and influential role in shaping and controlling business travel policy, aided by online booking tools and fueled by a growing focus on cost-saving efforts, according to a new report by the… Read the full news article