m-Travel.com and Travel Distribution News

Archives for May 2006

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Worldspan appoints Brian Staunton as regional manager UK & Ireland

Worldspan has announced the promotion of Brian Staunton to the newly created position of regional manager - UK & Ireland.

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Kayak.com introduces airfare Flexible Search functionality

Travel search engine Kayak.com has launched Flexible Search functionality to help consumers find lower priced airfares on alternate dates.

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Dolphin Dynamics to introduce the new Dolphin TravelScanner product at EyeforTravel TDS Europe 2006

Building on the success of booking engine for web fares Dolphin FlightScanner, Dolphin Dynamics is gearing for the introduction of Dolphin TravelScanner, to be shown for the first time at EyeforTravel’s Travel Distribution Summit Europe 2006. The event is scheduled at Business Design Centre, London on June 5 and 6.

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Separation of Cendant into four companies continues on schedule

Cendant Corporation has commenced meetings with institutional investors in connection with the planned spin-off of Realogy Corporation. The company also announced progress in pursuing its alternative plan to sell Travelport, rather than spin it off, making a sale of Travelport the more likely alternative.

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Interview with Lee Lai Huat, chief executive officer, HolidayCity.com

HolidayCity.com recorded 190,000 room bookings with a transaction value of US$25 million in 2005.

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More travellers are booking hotels with longer lead times: Zuji’s 1Q Online Travel Report

More travellers are booking hotels with longer lead times than they were for the same periods in 2004 and 2006, according to Zuji’s Online Travel Report on online hotel and flight booking trends for the first quarter of this year.

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EyeforTravel editorial special – Travel Distribution Summit Europe 2006

It’s time for the mega event. EyeforTravel’s Travel Distribution Summit Europe 2006 is scheduled to take place at Business Design Centre, London on June 5 and 6. 

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Ctrip.com open to inorganic growth in Asia

Online travel company Ctrip.com International Ltd. has indicated about its plans to buy companies in Hong Kong, South Korea and across Asia “to tap rising spending on international travel by Chinese consumers”.

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Permira risks controversy with Hogg Robinson flotation: media

Private-equity group, Permira, is preparing a £500m flotation of business-travel firm Hogg Robinson, employing a controversial technique that has been scrutinised by the Financial Services Authority (FSA).

Continue reading "Permira risks controversy with Hogg Robinson flotation: media "

RevPAR for Western Europe overall showed a downward trend in April

For the first time this year, RevPAR for Western Europe overall showed a downward trend in April, as per the performance results shared by The Bench, European Performance Monitor, April 2006.

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Interview with Dale A. Brill, chief marketing officer, Visit Florida

Dale A. Brill, chief marketing officer, Visit Florida says the organisation doesn’t use visitflorida.org to market to consumers.

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Wotif.com set for debut on ASX, mulls overseas expansion

Online accommodation website Wotif.com, which is set for debut on the Australian Stock Exchange (ASX) later this week, is considering the possibility of expanding overseas.

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Customer Support Consultant – Online Booking Tools - Permanent

Our client is a Technology provider into the business travel market and currently looking for a application support consultant to build & maintain strong relationship with clients in the UK, work towards the SLA's, provide training and bring solutions to customers. You must have knowledge of GDS's ( Galileo, Sabre and Amadeus), proven problem solving experience, good understanding of travel presses and ticketing and experience of using customer relation management tools.

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Interview with Ken Leeder, chief executive officer, RealTravel

Ken Leeder had recently shared that travel blogging is really taking off. The founder and chief executive officer of RealTravel also acknowledged that the company is “experiencing rapid growth”.

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easyJet supports OFT inquiry into the UK airports market

Low-fares airline easyJet has welcomed the announcement from the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) to consider an inquiry into the UK airports market with a view to establishing whether the current market structure works well for consumers.

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Soaring fuel costs won’t deter travelers this summer: TripAdvisor Survey

Travel community TripAdvisor has found that great majority of travelers are taking vacation this summer and intend to spend at least half their annual vacation time during that period in its summer travel survey of more than 2300 respondents.

Continue reading "Soaring fuel costs won’t deter travelers this summer: TripAdvisor Survey"

eMarketing launches the first-ever electronic brochure for travel agents

eMarketing, an electronic marketing firm specialising in travel industry applications, has introduced what is being termed as “the first-ever electronic brochure (eBrochure) designed for travel agents”.

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B. Ben Baldanza appointed as chief executive officer of Spirit Airlines

Spirit Airlines has announced that B. Ben Baldanza will assume the position of chief executive officer. Baldanza joined the company as president in January 2005.

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Virgin Holidays introduces a new web self-service tool for agents

Asserting its expertise in web travel technology, Virgin Holidays has launched an online self-service tool for travel agents.

Continue reading "Virgin Holidays introduces a new web self-service tool for agents "

Product Manager (Web Based) Online Booking Tools - Permanent

Product Manager, GDS, online booking, business travel, air products, reservation systems. Our client is a large international market leader in providing travel management to the corporate industry. We are looking for a Product Manager to be responsible for two major online based products designed for corporate business travellers. You will have the following responsibilities: International product management, life cycle management, support the operation and the sales team and get involved in project and product. Budget management. For this great opportunity, you will have a good understanding of business travel processes and market or GDS/airline booking systems, high negotiation skills, good understanding of technical Processes and product development and strong communication skills to team members and clients.

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Yahoo! and eBay to leverage each other’s strength

In an increasingly competitive Internet search and commerce market, Yahoo! and eBay have decided to tie-up and leverage each other’s strengths.

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Ryanair’s ‘fuel monty’ challenge to LOT, guarantees Polish passengers the lowest fares

Low fares airline Ryanair has announced that its chief executive Michael O’Leary will appear naked in Warsaw’s busiest street if LOT abolishes its fuel surcharges this month.

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ENTER 2007

Connecting Destinations  New Technologies, New Thinking, New Solutions

January 24th – 26th, 2007
Ljubljana, Slovenia

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Amadeus Germany opts for Atos Origin as its IT services partner

IT services provider Atos Origin and Amadeus Germany GmbH have signed a three-year agreement, under which Atos Origin is in charge of the IT support and development for the travel applications specific to Amadeus Germany.

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CWT certified as a global reseller of Amadeus e-Travel Management

Amadeus and business travel management company Carlson Wagonlit Travel (CWT) have signed an agreement certifying CWT as a global reseller of Amadeus e-Travel Management, the most widely deployed online booking solution for global managed travel.

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Online travel package sales rise over 40 percent among consumers requiring multiple products

JupiterResearch has found that there has been a more than 40 percent increase in package sales during 2006 among online travelers requiring multiple products; this comes after relatively flat growth between 2004 and 2005.

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Flexibletrips witnesses surge in regional departures

Dynamic packaging specialists Flexibletrips is witnessing increase in demand for regional departures as “customers recognise the growing benefits of flying from closer to home”.

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New Sales Consultant - Permanent

Our client is a Software house and solutions provider for the Travel, tourism and entertainment industries. We are currently looking for a Senior New Sales Consultant to sell their Products and bespoke application services in to Travel based companies for the UK market. You will work to a 500K per year target into new clients. The ideal candidate will have 2+ years New Sales experience selling IT solutions. Experience of selling in to the Travel marketplace is a big plus. For further info please give us a call on 0870 241 4510.

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American Airlines signs agreement for Farelogix FLX Platform

Farelogix Inc. has signed a distribution agreement to provide a direct connection to American Airlines content via the Farelogix FLX Platform.

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EasyHotel checking out initial public offer: media

Budget hotel chain EasyHotel could be the next part of Stelios Haji-Ioannou’s Easy business empire to go public, reports media.

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Technical Pre-Sales Consultant - Business Travel - Europe - Permanent

Business travel, online booking reservation systems, B2B, travel agency, EMEA, London, Paris, Web, interactive. Our client is an International market leader in providing travel management solutions to the corporate marketplace. we are currently looking for a Technical Pre-Sales Consultant to coordinate, support and manage online self-booking Web based systems initiatives between the sales, account management and implementation teams. You will support the sales team by acting as a Technical Advisor to the sales team, current & potential clients regarding the resolution of complex technical, scientific or engineering issues surrounding the sales process. You will also have the opportunity to be part of a sales team which introduces forefront (IT) technology products into the corporate travel market, throughout the EMEA. The ideal candidate will have some international experience in a B2B environment, product & project management exp, operational exp, business travel exp, overall understanding of technical processes and technical requirement, ROI presentation exp. This position can be based in any major European City, ideally London or Paris.

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Frontier Airlines re-launches its website, eyes increased web bookings

Following research and feedback from customers, Frontier Airlines has launched its new website FrontierAirlines.com.

Continue reading "Frontier Airlines re-launches its website, eyes increased web bookings"

Hotel revenue up 12.9 percent from electronic channels in 1Q

Worldwide electronic hotel revenue from the GDS and key Internet sites combined was up 12.9 percent, according to TravelCLICK’s eMonitor results for the first quarter of this year.

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EntradaUtah.com combines user-contributed “wiki” content with commercial tools

EntradaUtah.com, a provider user-contributed destination travel guides, has introduced a new concept in Internet travel information that combines user-contributed “wiki” content with commercial tools to help tourists jumpstart their vacations. 

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Viator acquires LookTours

Viator, an online resource for tours and activities worldwide, has acquired Las Vegas-based LookTours, a provider of Las Vegas and other major market sightseeing tours and destination activities.

Continue reading "Viator acquires LookTours"

Interview with Michael Gross, chief executive officer, Global Travel International (GTI)

The entire travel industry is moving to acknowledge and court the home-based agent distribution model, says Michael Gross, chief executive officer, Global Travel International (GTI).

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IdeaWorks study finds more than 15 million reward trips during 2005

Frequent flier programmes have a large impact on the US airline industry in terms of travel activity,competitive behaviour, programme revenues, and company balance sheets, according to The IdeaWorks Company.

Continue reading "IdeaWorks study finds more than 15 million reward trips during 2005"

uBid.com and SmartShopper.com introduce private-label comparison shopping tool

uBid.com Holdings, Inc. and SmartShopper.com have launched uBidShopper, a new, downloadable, comparison shopping software service designed for uBid.com customers.

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Cendant appoints Larry Tan as regional corporate sales manager, Asia

Cendant Travel Distribution Services has appointed Larry Tan as regional corporate sales manager, Asia.

Continue reading "Cendant appoints Larry Tan as regional corporate sales manager, Asia"

Sponsorship Sales Manager, UK - London, £50k

Dynamic and proficient individual required to deliver aggressive increases in market share and revenue. Duties to include identifying potential advertisers for sponsorship opportunities, negotiating long and short-term sponsorship deals, and managing all aspects of relationship's portfolios. As well as the account management of advertisers, you will be required to provide market specific data whilst overseeing the entire campaign process from order implementation to finish. Minimum of 5 years sales experience, including 2 years online, and strong relationship building skills essential. Degree level preferred. Must be eligible to work in the EU.

Please apply to eft@gailkenny.com www.gailkenny.com 

Ebookers to close its flagship store in Dublin: media

Online travel agency Ebookers is to close its flagship store in Dublin later this month. The closure of the shop means that Ebookers will become an exclusively online travel agent, supported by a call centre, according to a media report.

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AirPlus posts record 2005 results, served over 30,000 corporate customers

AirPlus International, a provider of business travel payment solutions, has posted a 14 percent increase in transaction volume for 2005 to nearly US$15.5 billion.

Continue reading "AirPlus posts record 2005 results, served over 30,000 corporate customers "

UK Sales and Distribution Manager, UK - London, £excellent package

Our client, a major player in the online travel market, is seeking a sales and distribution manager to provide inspirational leadership whilst covering a wide and diverse range of activities. Responsibilities to include identifying and pursuing new marketing and revenue opportunities in order to deliver sustainable and profitable business. Reporting to the Managing Director, you will be required to manage the marketing budget, take ownership of the advertising revenue channel and be responsible for identifying and developing new sales and distribution channels in order to achieve UK business targets. Managing a team of 5, you will possess exceptional man-management skills and the ability to both manage and set targets. Strong communication, negotiation and analytical skills essential. Preferably degree educated. Must be eligible to work in the EU.

Please apply to eft@gailkenny.com www.gailkenny.com

Kayak.com gears up for European online travel market, completes US$11.5m financing

Travel search engine Kayak.com has completed its $11.5 million Series C financing round led by Accel Partners, a technology-focused private equity firm.

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Kingfisher Airlines ties up with Worldspan

India’s Kingfisher Airlines, launched in May 2005, has signed a participating carrier agreement with Worldspan.

Continue reading "Kingfisher Airlines ties up with Worldspan "

flyglobespan eyes new heights

Two years after flyglobespan.com won a CAA licence to operate its own airline, Tom Dalrymple believes his business has finally arrived on the world stage, according to a media report.

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Interview with Jim Donelly, co-founder and vice-president - Marketing, IgoUgo

Consumer-generated media is becoming more and more commercialised by the day , according to Jim Donelly, co-founder and vice-president marketing, IgoUgo

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Accor ties up with China Southern Airlines for FFP

Accor has joined China Southern Airlines’ Sky Pearl Club Frequent Flier Programme (FFP), with members eligible for mileage points for stays all Accor hotels worldwide. This FFP agreement marks the first co-operation between Accor and China Southern Airlines.

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Improved revenue drives good results: BA

British Airways has posted a pre-tax profit of £620 million for the year to March 31, 2006 (2005: £513 million profit). The pre-tax profit for the fourth quarter was £91 million (2005: £6 million loss).

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Amadeus earns SMP Perimeter certification

Global information security specialist Cybertrust has shared that Amadeus has earned Cybertrust Security Management Program (SMP) Perimeter certification.

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JetBlue projects profitability in following quarters

JetBlue Airways has indicated that airline’s “return to profitability” programme may show results in forthcoming quarters.

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Cathay strengthens ties with Unisys

Cathay Pacific Airways has signed a data centre outsourcing deal with Unisys Australia. The contract is for three years, with an option to extend for another two.

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Expedia decides to review its ad account post 1Q results

Following Expedia’s recent first quarter results, in which its net income took a dip, there are reports related to online travel company placing its ad account under review.

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Bidders line-up for Cendant’s travel services division

Cendant Corp. has reportedly attracted at least three private equity bidders interested in buying the company’s travel services division.

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Hoseasons disapproves Thomson’s ‘internet replacing agents’ claim

UK-based self-catering specialist Hoseasons has refuted Thomson’s recent claim that the Internet is replacing travel agents, and that “the days when people… walked into a travel agent to book are over”.

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NCL posts net loss of US$28.1m in 1Q

NCL Corporation Ltd. has posted a net loss of $28.1 million on total revenues of $422.5 million in the first quarter this year.

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Who Needs Technology Advice?

SourceIT-Travel.com, with help from Equinus, the travel technology consultancy, is once again running a FREE travel technology advice clinic at the Eyefortravel Travel Distribution Summit Europe.

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OTB targets aggressive expansion

UK-based online viewable travel brochure site, www.onlinetravelbrohures.com (OTB), is commemorating its first anniversary with the news that it has achieved 510,000 visitors since its inception – a figure they predict will increase three-fold in the coming year.

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Lodging Interactive launches interactive mapping service

Hospitality Internet sales and marketing company Lodging Interactive has introduced HotelMashups, an interactive mapping service for the hospitality industry.

Continue reading "Lodging Interactive launches interactive mapping service "

American Airlines plans to cut fuel consumption by 30 million gallons in 2006

American Airlines chief executive officer Gerard Arpey has indicated that the airline needs cut costs by more than $1 billion this year just to keep costs even with 2005.

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Delta signs agreements with Galileo, CheapTickets

Galileo International has signed a seven-year, full content agreement with Delta Air Lines.

Continue reading "Delta signs agreements with Galileo, CheapTickets "

Ctrip shares 1Q results

Sharing its first quarter results, online travel company Ctrip.com has posted total revenues worth US$21 million during the three-month period. The figure represents a 61 percent increase from the same period in 2005 and one percent increase from the fourth quarter of 2005.

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“Realistic, actionable CRM is foundational to all of Travelocity’s Customer Championship strategies”

By EyeforTravel.com Correspondent

Marketing in the online travel space is definitely focused on utilising better business and customer insight -    even to the one-to-one customer level, says Laura Johnston, vice-president, CRM/Loyalty Marketing Department, Travelocity.

Continue reading "“Realistic, actionable CRM is foundational to all of Travelocity’s Customer Championship strategies”"

Martinair chooses Worldspan’s Rapid Reprice technology

Netherlands’ airline Martinair has chosen to implement Worldspan’s Rapid Reprice technology, strengthening its technology partnership with Worldspan.

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TripAdvisor appoints Marc Charron as managing director Europe

TripAdvisor has recently appointed Marc Charron as managing director Europe. In this newly created position, he will lead TripAdvisor’s rollout of dedicated local language sites and manage operations across Europe.   

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Rearden Commerce to integrate FlightStats real-time data

Rearden Commerce is to integrate FlightStats real-time data for airport, airline and flight status into its automated traveler notifications. 

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British online holiday shops regularly closed for business: research

WatchMouse Research has found that 79 percent of British vacation booking sites are unavailable for more than one hour per month. 

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Cheapflights opts for Percussion Software’s enterprise content management solution

Cheapflights has chosen Percussion Software’s enterprise content management solution Rhythmyx to improve the timing and delivery of content such as resort information and special timed offers.

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Travel websites are effectively becoming virtual travel agents: Thomson

More than half of all holidays and flights are expected to be booked online next year, the first time when web sales overtake the high street, according to Thomson, which attributed such development to travel industry figures. Travel websites are replacing travel agents as the most popular way to book a holiday,  the company said.

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Involving customers via technology

UK’s travel company Thomson has shared plans for its new initiative Thomson Labs, where the company will showcase new ideas to existing customers and give them the opportunity to help develop travel technology of the future.

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Sabre signs deal with Continental, strengthens ties with THAI

Continental Airlines has signed a new five-year, full content agreements with Sabre Travel Network and Travelocity.

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Continental and Expedia sign five-year pact

Continental Airlines and online travel company Expedia, Inc. have signed a new five-year strategic partnership.

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InterContinental Hotels posts strong performance in 1Q

Terming its performance as “strong” one, InterContinental Hotels has shared that the outlook for the rest of the year remains positive.

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Mobissimo comes to India, targets number one slot by 2006-end

Travel search engine Mobissimo, Inc. has forayed into India with the launch of www.Mobissimo.in.

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Travel agent portal from Hilton Hotels

Hilton Family of Hotels has launched a new travel agent information and booking portal, available at www.hiltontravelagents.com.

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Win Custom designed digital brochure package from ICE Portal worth USD$4,000

All attendees for the free to attend seminar "How to auction & sell travel products successfully via eBay - Cultuzz GmbH" are eligible to enter to win the following prizes:

Continue reading "Win Custom designed digital brochure package from ICE Portal worth USD$4,000 "

HolidayCity plans global advertising campaign

By EyeforTravel.com Correspondent

Internet-based accommodation reservation service HolidayCity (holidaycity.com) is in the midst of planning an aggressive global advertising campaign and venturing into co-sponsorship opportunities with its hotel partners.

Continue reading "HolidayCity plans global advertising campaign "

Galileo response to unclaimed commission story

Response to Net Trans release: agents failing to claim £20m in hotel commissions
Author: Patrick Lukan, country manager, Galileo UK

Continue reading "Galileo response to unclaimed commission story"

Hilton ties up with Hotelzon

Hilton has tied up with hotel reservation company Hotelzon to broaden its reach in the corporate travel market.

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Amadeus targets North American hoteliers

Amadeus has announced the availability of a full suite of technology solutions for the North American hospitality industry. The company had decided that revenue management technology will be the first focus for Amadeus in helping hoteliers increase revenue and streamline operations.

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Iberia loss widens in 1Q

Iberia has posted a loss of around 45 million euros ($58 million) as it shared the consolidated results for the first quarter of 2006.

Continue reading "Iberia loss widens in 1Q"

Value of a frequent flier mile jumps in 2005, reward availability remains a consumer complaint

The value of a frequent flier mile seems to be increasing, and yet other measures suggest a troubled mileage marketplace, according to IdeaWorks in its new analysis of frequent flier mile.

Continue reading "Value of a frequent flier mile jumps in 2005, reward availability remains a consumer complaint"

Worldspan shares 1Q results

Worldspan has posted revenues worth $262.1 million, operating income of $54.3 million and net income of $36.5 million in the first quarter.

Continue reading "Worldspan shares 1Q results "

Industry Research - can it future proof your business

Research is often the critical first step to business innovation and new business models and much of today’s electronic business landscape was forecast and developed in universities and research centres. This year for the first time, the Travel Distribution Summit, Europe, will be complemented by a research conference. Where researchers from around the world will be presenting some of the most up-to-date and insightful work form the world of eTourism.

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Expedia and Amadeus commence new partnership

Online travel company Expedia, Inc. has announced the activation of a long-term technology partnership with Amadeus IT Group.

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Jetstar Airways renews its outsourcing agreement with Navitaire

As part of its international expansion plans, Jetstar Airways has renewed its outsourcing agreement for Navitaire’s reservations and revenue management systems, enhancing services provided under a previous multi-year contract.

Continue reading "Jetstar Airways renews its outsourcing agreement with Navitaire"

eLong posts US$1.3m net loss in 1Q

eLong, Inc. has recorded a net loss of US$1.3 million for the first quarter of 2006, compared to a net loss of US$1.2 million in the corresponding period a year ago, and a net loss of US$1.1 million in the fourth quarter of 2005.

Continue reading "eLong posts US$1.3m net loss in 1Q"

Expedia 1Q net income takes a dip, share go downwards

Expedia has acknowledged that the company didn’t generate the revenues to offset the increased expenses as the company shared its first quarter results.

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We must act today so as to be among the winners again tomorrow: Lufthansa’s Wolfgang Mayrhuber

In the first three months, Lufthansa Group’s revenues rose year-on-year by 13.9 percent to 4.4 billion euros. Operating expenses rose in parallel with the increased revenues to 4.8 billion euros.

Continue reading "We must act today so as to be among the winners again tomorrow: Lufthansa’s Wolfgang Mayrhuber"

Cendant spins off Wyndham, Travelport next in line

Cendant Corporation has announced that Wyndham Worldwide Corporation, its wholly owned subsidiary and intended parent company of its Hospitality Services businesses, has filed a registration statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The separation of Wyndham continues to be expected in the summer of 2006.

Continue reading "Cendant spins off Wyndham, Travelport next in line "

Northwest Airlines and Worldspan sign new five-year content agreement

Northwest Airlines and Worldspan have signed a new five-year content distribution agreement designating Worldspan as a preferred distribution channel.

Continue reading "Northwest Airlines and Worldspan sign new five-year content agreement "

eLong draws on global reach and technology platform of Expedia

eLong, Inc., an online travel company in China, and Expedia, which owns 52 percent of eLong, have come up with a 360-degree hotel virtual tour capability and an expanded international hotel offering on elong.com.

Continue reading "eLong draws on global reach and technology platform of Expedia"

Stop running from competition is message from Virgin America to Continental

Virgin America has filed a motion to stop yet another attempt by Continental Airlines to delay the Department of Transportation (DOT) from processing its application to start a new US domestic airline.

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Malev Hungarian Airlines re-launches its online B2B booking service

Offering a useful tool for smaller companies, Malev Hungarian Airlines has worked on its online B2B booking service.

Continue reading "Malev Hungarian Airlines re-launches its online B2B booking service"

Bedbank.net teams up with Kwik Travel

Accommodation specialist Bedbank.net has signed a deal with Kwik Travel to supply homeworkers and high-street retailers its offerings.

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Tui 1Q loss narrows

European travel company Tui has shared that its first-quarter loss narrowed because of a gain from the sale of TQ3 Travel Solutions.

Continue reading "Tui 1Q loss narrows "

US Airways Group reports profitable 1Q, Northwest Airlines Corp. posts net loss of $1.1 billion

The new US Airways Group, Inc. has reported a first quarter 2006 profit before the cumulative effect of a change in accounting principle of $64 million or $0.75 per diluted share.

Continue reading "US Airways Group reports profitable 1Q, Northwest Airlines Corp. posts net loss of $1.1 billion"

Sabre Airline Solutions and Worldspan implement new approach to interline e-ticketing connections

Sabre Airline Solutions and Worldspan have jointly implemented a new message routing technique that streamlines communications links between the global travel industry’s two interline e-ticketing hub providers.

Continue reading "Sabre Airline Solutions and Worldspan implement new approach to interline e-ticketing connections"

HEDNA Conference to Examine Global Hotel Distribution

21 – 23 May 2006
Steigenberger Frankfurter Hof Hotel
Frankfurt, Germany

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Peter Rothwell appointed to the TUI AG executive board

TUI AG has shared that the supervisory board has appointed Peter Rothwell, managing director
of TUI UK and chief executive officer of TUI Northern Europe, to join the TUI AG Executive Board as chief operating officer.

Continue reading "Peter Rothwell appointed to the TUI AG executive board"

Worldspan Trip Manager XE offers new proposition for business travelers

Worldspan has expanded Trip Manager XE, an online corporate travel management solution, with key components of Worldspan Corporate Fleet.

Continue reading "Worldspan Trip Manager XE offers new proposition for business travelers "

Freedom Direct implements Comtec booking and agency management technology

Freedom Direct has implemented an integrated travel selling and management system supplied by Comtec within its UK call-centres and across its extensive network of travel homeworkers.

Continue reading "Freedom Direct implements Comtec booking and agency management technology"

gta launches new online rail booking tool in key markets

Gullivers Travel Associates (gta) has launched a new online rail booking tool enabling travel agents in Asia, Australia and the Middle East to simplify their back office processes and instantly book European rail passes for their customers.

Continue reading "gta launches new online rail booking tool in key markets "

Silverjet raises £25 million for its venture

Silverjet, which emerged as a new business class airline for the London-New York route last month, has reportedly raised £25.3 million from an initial public offering of shares.

Continue reading "Silverjet raises £25 million for its venture"

Priceline Europe launches marketing initiative

Priceline Europe has launched a new online marketing programme designed to encourage international tourists to visit select US, Canadian, Caribbean and Mexican destinations and patronise hotels that have partnered with Priceline Europe.

Continue reading "Priceline Europe launches marketing initiative "

Ctrip.com ties up with Google for hotel information in China

China’s online travel service company Ctrip.com has entered into an agreement with Google. The tie-up will enable Ctrip.com to upgrade search power for hotel information in China.

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Travelocity Business enhances its offering by sharing relevant data

In order to increase the productivity of the business travelers, Travelocity Business has decided to issue individual e-mail statements to business travelers that clearly outline all of their recent travel and transaction activity.

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Expedia Corporate Travel announces new business intelligence initiative

Expedia Corporate Travel has shared its plans of launching a new business intelligence initiative, built in-house, to offer customers an integrated reporting and analysis solution.

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Genesis Travel Distribution System reaches Mexico

The Genesis Travel Distribution System has launched its agency-owned and managed platform in Mexico.

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American Express forms new global advisory services unit

In its endeavour to enable its clients maximise the billions spent on corporate travel and meetings annually, American Express has formed a global advisory services unit within the company’s Business Travel division.

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Expedia Corporate Travel to offer business travelers an improved search experience

Expedia Corporate Travel has come up with its enhanced flight search platform enabling business travelers to search for flights with more targeted and detailed search criteria.

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GetThere refines booking path for business travelers

Online corporate travel reservation technology GetThere has introduced new user interface options for business travelers.

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Worldspan and Air France sign deal

Continuing its contract-signing spree, travel technology Worldspan has signed a new multi-year full content agreement with Air France.

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Couple of major developments for PIA

In couple of major developments in Pakistan, Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has contracted with Sabre Airline Solutions for Sabre WiseVision Sales Essentials and Abacus International will be the first GDS to bring the convenience of electronic ticketing (e-ticketing) to travellers and agents in the Pakistan.

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Finnair PLC, SAS AB post first-quarter net loss

Finnair’s result for January-March was four million euros in the red, while Scandinavian airline operator SAS AB shared that its net loss for the first quarter widened by nine percent.

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Interview with Jay Jones, senior vice-president Sabre Travel Network, Latin America & Caribbean Division

“For us, the traditional GDS model is a thing of the past,” Jones had recently told EyeforTravel.com’s Ritesh Gupta in an interview.

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Improvement in airline sector tipped to continue: analysts

Airlines across the industry are sharing higher traffic numbers for April, as planes are flying at their fullest levels since the 1940’s, according to a recent report by AP.

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Coping with emergence of the likes of MAXjet and Eos Airlines

An interesting battle is brewing among traditional and new carriers for tapping some of the world’s most popular routes between the US and the UK, ones already termed as “what may be the industry’s last dependable cash cow”.

Continue reading "Coping with emergence of the likes of MAXjet and Eos Airlines "

nuTravel Technology Solutions becomes ABC Corporate Services’ supplier partner

nuTravel Technology Solutions has signed a five-year agreement with ABC Corporate Services.

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Travelocity global gross travel booked was $2.5 billion in 1Q

Sabre Holdings Corporation has reported US$700 million in revenues, up 20 percent year over year, during the first quarter of this year.

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Interview with Jeffrey Weinstock, vice-president - International Sales/Marketing, Carnival Cruise Lines

Weinstock recently termed Latin America as a market of enormous importance for Carnival Cruise Lines.

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Worldspan e-Pricing reaches the UK

Worldspan travel agency, airline and online customers throughout the UK have been introduced to low-fare shopping technology, Worldspan e-Pricing, termed as the GDS industry’s first multi-server-based shopping technology built on the Microsoft Windows platform and first to offer flexible shopping options through a GDS.

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Air Berlin postpones its listing on the Frankfurt stock exchange

German low-cost airline Air Berlin has decided to postpone its listing on the Frankfurt stock exchange by nearly a week.

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Rezidor SAS Hospitality appoints Cyril Casabo as global sales director, North America

Rezidor SAS Hospitality has appointed Cyril Casabo as global sales director, North America. Making the announcement, the company acknowledged the fact that the US market has become a top priority for Rezidor SAS.

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Free registration is now open for the Travel Distribution Expo

This is your chance to meet over 80 top travel solutions providers, all
showcasing the latest in travel technology, marketing and pricing.
CLICK HERE FOR FAST-TRACK REGISTRATION FOR THE FREE EXPO!
http://www.eyefortravel.com/tds2006/visitor/seminar_booking.asp)

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Job Vacancy - PowerBuilder Developer - Gdansk, Poland

StaySystems, a developer of reservation systems for the hotel industry seeks developer with industry knowledge.  Knowledge of EAServer, PB components, ASE, JSP/XML desired.  Candidate should speak Polish and some English. Work from home/Meet via Skype..

Contact pemurray@staysystems.com

Consumer-generated media is becoming more and more commercialised by the day

By EyeforTravel.com Correspondent

Jim Donelly, co-founder and vice-president marketing, IgoUgo says the company will continue to inspire great travel.

Continue reading "Consumer-generated media is becoming more and more commercialised by the day"

Operations Program Manager, UK - London, £60k

This high profile online retailer is looking to recruit a degree educated, self-directed Program Manager who will help define, drive and manage new system implementation as well as supply operations systems across Europe. Project management and software development experience essential, as well as the ability to solve challenging business/technology problems. Must be eligible to work in the EU. Please apply to info@gailkenny.com www.gailkenny.com

Head of Projects, UK, £65k

This leading online retailer is searching for a pro-active Project Manager to plan, direct and co-ordinate the development and successful delivery of various European projects across this matrix organisation. A strong track record with between 8-12 years experience in technical project management and an understanding of the internet based travel retail environment essential.  You need to be able to influence senior management and third party suppliers, so strong negotiation skills are required. Must be eligible to work in the EU. Please apply to info@gailkenny.com www.gailkenny.com

Dolphin Dynamics takes FlightScanner to the next level with the launch of TravelScanner at the Travel Distribution Summit 2006.

Dolphin Dynamics is building on the success of Dolphin FlightScanner, already the most widely used professional booking engine for web fares, with the launch of Dolphin TravelScanner, to be shown for the first time at EyeforTravel’s Travel Distribution Summit next month.

Continue reading "Dolphin Dynamics takes FlightScanner to the next level with the launch of TravelScanner at the Travel Distribution Summit 2006."

Key Account Manager - Italian Markets, UK - London, £45-50k + bonus

Our client, a leading online travel  company , is looking for an experienced account manager with  a good  understanding of the online travel sector in order to develop  their  white  label  products in the Italian market . A minimum of 3 years B2B experience , strong relationship and  problem solving skills , a high intellect and fluency in the Italian language also needed. Must be eligible to work in the EU. Please apply to info@gailkenny.com www.gailkenny.com

Business Analyst, UK - London, £35-40k

This high profile online retailer is looking to recruit a degree educated business analyst to provide analytical support and insight to the marketing and operations team.  You will need to be innovative with a passion to improve current work practices/products/technologies to provide business opportunities and results. To succeed in this role, you will need to be analytical, innovative, goal orientated, with strong attention to detail. Must be generally excited by technology! Must be eligible to work in the EU. Please apply to info@gailkenny.com www.gailkenny.com

Priceline increases full-year earnings guidance post top-line growth in 1Q

Reporting its financial results for the first quarter of 2006, Priceline.com Incorporated shared that its net operating profit was $7.6 million, or 19 cents per share, compared with a profit of $8.4 million, or 21 cents per share, year earlier.

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Finance Manager, UK - London, c£50k

Our client, an online retailer, is looking to recruit a post qualified accountant with 3+ years professional
experience to provide leadership for all finance activities for their subsidiary, ensuring the highest standards of quality management reporting is provided to Head Office. Within this remit is the accountability for year end audit.  You must be able to display excellent financial acumen and commercial awareness.  Knowledge of BSP and travel industry essential. Must be eligible to work in the EU. Please apply to info@gailkenny.com www.gailkenny.com

Senior Account Manager - Search Marketing, UK - London, £45-50k + bonus

Our client, a leading online travel  company , is looking for an experienced account manager with  an excellent  understanding of the online travel sector in order to develop  their  white  label  products with customers who prosper through their expertise in search engine marketing . A minimum of 3 years B2B experience is required along with strong relationship and  problem solving skills , a high intellect and an indepth knowledge of search engine marketing, preferably gained from a client management role. Must be eligible to work in the EU. Please apply to info@gailkenny.com www.gailkenny.com

Business Development Manager, UK - Location flexible, £30-40k basic £60k OTE + car

Our client, a leading supplier of travel technology, is looking for an experienced sales and account management professional. You will have strong communication, relationship and negotiation skills. You will also have a good understanding of technology and the UK leisure travel market, as well as a proven track record in delivering sales growth. Probably educated to degree level, you will also have a good understanding of the online travel sector. This is an excellent opportunity with a progressive and well respected company. Must be eligible to work in the EU. Please apply to info@gailkenny.com www.gailkenny.com

Business Development Manager, Location flexible, £30-40k basic £60k OTE + car

Our client, a leading supplier of travel technology, is looking for an experienced sales and account management professional. You will have strong communication, relationship and negotiation skills. You will also have a good understanding of technology and the UK leisure travel market, as well as a proven track record in delivering sales growth. Probably educated to degree level, you will also have a good understanding of the online travel sector. This is an excellent opportunity with a progressive and well respected company. Must be eligible to work in the UK. Please apply to info@gailkenny.com www.gailkenny.com

VisitBritain opts for TRAVELfusion to power the flight search engine on its website

In an effort to help international travelers to source and book flights when planning their trips to Britain, VisitBritain has chosen TRAVELfusion to power the flight search engine on its website – www.visitbritain.com.

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Star Alliance seeks clarification on proposed content sharing by GDS ACAP project

Conveying its concern over cooperation between two GDS, the Star Alliance member carriers are seeking both legal and regulatory clarification on the recently announced content sharing deal between two of the  four largest GDS, Amadeus and Sabre.

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Sabre bags contract from Air China

China’s largest commercial airline Air China has chosen Sabre Airline Solutions to provide marketing and analytical technology to analyse booking information to support the carrier’s marketing, sales, strategic network and planning decisions.

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Saving cost by reducing number of business intelligence tools

Hotels group Carlson is cutting costs by reducing the number of business intelligence tools it is using, according to a media report.

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Interview with Mark Burgess, chief executive officer, Sandiego.com

Sandiego.com team is currently re-designing its site around new branding and working a mission to provide a more personalised experience for the web visitor to San Diego.

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S8 ties up with Virgin Group for chain of specialist travel agencies across England

Australian accommodation and travel group S8 has tied up with Virgin Group to launch a new chain of specialist travel agencies across England.

Continue reading "S8 ties up with Virgin Group for chain of specialist travel agencies across England "

Interview with Jim Von Derheide, vice-president - CRM Strategies, Hilton Hotels Corporation

Asks Jim Von Derheide, vice-president - CRM Strategies, Hilton Hotels Corporation about his agenda and plans for future, the response would be sharp and precise.

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“Travel blogging is really taking off”

By EyeforTravel.com Correspondent

RealTravel founder and chief executive officer Ken Leeder feels travel blogging is really taking off. And Leeder is clear about company’s agenda – to be the best in travel blogging.

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Hilton Hotels Corp.’s 1Q profit up

Hilton has reported first quarter 2006 net income of $104 million, compared with $64 million in the 2005 quarter.

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SDL and Worldspan agree upon a technology partnership

Worldspan has chosen SDL International to deliver outsourced localisation services for its corporate travel management solution, Trip Manager XE, a web-based self-booking tool in use by travel agencies and their corporate clients worldwide. 

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Travelocity confirms plans for India

Travelocity has chosen India for expansion of its operations in the Asia Pacific region. The company feels the global trend to book travel online has begun to ‘find its feet’ in India.

Continue reading "Travelocity confirms plans for India "

easyJet full-year outlook improves

Sharing its interim results for the six months till the end of March, low-fares airline easyJet Plc has stated that it has posted pre-tax loss of £40m, better than expectations.

Continue reading "easyJet full-year outlook improves "

Expedia.com to offer real-time travel deal alerts

Online travel agency Expedia.com has introduced a service that allows travelers to set up customised searches for flights, hotels, vacation packages and travel deals and have the results automatically sent to them.

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Interview with Jill Noblett, vice-president - loyalty and direct marketing, Cendant Hotel Group

Jill Noblett feels it is not only important to listen to what consumers say verbally but also to look at what their actions tell us as well.

Continue reading "Interview with Jill Noblett, vice-president - loyalty and direct marketing, Cendant Hotel Group"

Air Malta signs outsourcing deal with SITA, to save over five million euros

Owing to several factors including rising fuel prices and competition from the low cost carriers, Air Malta has recently decided to outsource its entire information and communication technology (ICT) network and signed up with SITA for the same.

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Worldspan offers revenue source for travel agents

Worldspan has stated that it is the first global distribution system (GDS) to link travel agencies to OfficialTravelDocuments.com, a website that addresses the growing need for travel credentials, passports, visas and birth certificates.

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Buy.com ties up with Travelocity to launch its Travel Store

E-commerce company Buy.com has launched its new Travel Store, in a relationship with online travel site Travelocity.com.

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Webjet forms alliance with Travelport, announces technology development of WebMatch

Australia’s online travel service Webjet Limited has entered into a supply and distribution alliance with Travelport.

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easyGroup takes its budget hotel brand to India

easyGroup’s budget hotel company easyHotel Ltd has decided to venture into India. 

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Bezurk.com ties up with Cendant TDS

Asia Pacific travel search engine Bezurk.com has expanded its hotel offering by signing a marketing partnership with Cendant Travel Distribution Services.

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Budget air travel drive the prices down to new low

The true extent of the budget air travel revolution has emerged in newly released government figures which show that fares have plummeted dramatically over the past decade to a record low, reports The Guardian.

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Interview with Rhett Hirko, pricing and distribution manager, Hyatt International

Rhett Hirko, pricing and distribution Manager, Hyatt International says recent major initiatives have been partnering with Expedia/Hotels.com to automate the rate and inventory process; to analyse and determine Internet site participation for Mexico and Latin America hotels; recent highlighting through GDS campaigns; and to continue to maximise Hyatt production in the GDS vs. the competitive set.

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RezStream ready with new online booking engine

RezStream has launched RezStream Booking Engine 3.0, the latest release of its online hotel reservation software.

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Suit accuses Orbitz of stealing info: media

“Worldspan seeks over $50 million from Chicago-based Web travel site,” stated a headline of a media report. According to nwitimes.com, online travel agent Orbitz has been accused of stealing valuable information from the travel technology supplier.

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