m-Travel.com and Travel Distribution News

Archives for September 2007

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Now a site for relevant travel inspiration

A new site, www.hereorthere.com, offering travellers an opportunity to post and share their travel experiences, photos and videos on an online community dedicated to sharing inspiration, is being planned.   

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Using behavioural database to determine exactly which categories of sites are being visited

comScore has announced the UK launch of its comScore Segment Metrix analytical tool.

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ICE introduces multilingual digital brochures, hotels to have auto translations for eight languages

ICE has implemented a new multi-language feature within their online digital brochures.

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Bridging the gap between editorial and UGC

Open Text Corporation has announced new offerings providing Web 2.0 capabilities integrated into the company's RedDot Web Content Management suite.

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Spain set to become Expedia Corporate Travel's sixth European point of sale

Travel management company Expedia Corporate Travel (ECT) is to launch full-service travel offering in Spain.

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FL Group proposes spin-off of the AAdvantage FFP

FL Group, one of American Airlines' largest shareholders, has urged the airline to consider strategic alternatives including the separation of its frequent flyer loyalty programme, AAdvantage, from the main business to "significantly increase shareholder value".

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Web 2.0 developments in the travel industry in Spain:

The Spanish tourist market is transforming.  One has only to look at a few facts: 42% of internet users now purchase travel online and hundreds of thousands of web users create content and videos about tourist services on blogs, social networks or review sites such as Tripadvisor.

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CWT manages record-breaking new sales in 1H

Travel management company Carlson Wagonlit Travel (CWT) has reported strong growth in sales volume in the first half of this year.

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eLong appoints Guangfu Cui as new CEO

Online travel service provider eLong, Inc. has appointed Guangfu Cui as Chief Executive Officer. The appointed will be effective from October 8 this year.

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AA.com to enable customers to change their reservations online

American Airlines has introduced a feature on its website that allows many customers to change their reservations online at anytime, day or night.

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Vayama gets more than one million unique visitors in its first four months

International travel site Vayama has had more than one million unique visitors to the site since its beta launch in June this year.

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Schmap tops 30 million travel guides

Schmap, a publisher of digital travel guides for 200 destinations, has shared that the number of its desktop travel guides downloaded by the traveling public has recently topped 30 million, with three million new Schmap Guides now downloaded each month.

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Ancillary Revenue to be high-margin profit channel for suppliers

From EFT correspondent at the TTi conference

Unsurprisingly, Web 2.0 was the main focus of the TTi conference.  Lively discussion surrounded this topic, as did speculation on how to take advantage of this rapidly growing medium.  An interesting participant in this area was Daniele Mancini, E-Business Director at Costa Cruises.

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Mobile is gaining traction

The European travel market is now mobile.  In developed markets mobile penetration has reached over 100% - that means for every person in the developed travel market there is more than one mobile phone!  With such lucrative untapped market available and the launch of Apple’s iPhone companies have begun to focus their attention on the mobile consumer.  The challenge is now to provide a user-friendly booking system that customers can use on the road, in the park or virtually anywhere.

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Which is the most cost-effective approach to go for mapping and location-based services in China?

China Special: By EFT Correspondent

For a market like China, when it comes to mapping data specifically, it’s important from a global perspective that the data is available in both Chinese and English-language versions, according to Chris Warrick, Managing Director - Multimap Australasia.

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Viator.com gets a makeover, works on expanded content and functionality

Viator.com, an online resource for trip activities, has launched its enhanced website with several new features to help travelers uncover unique trip activities and tours at the best prices. 

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IHG introduces new global development website, offers interactive experience

InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) has launched its new global website for hotel developers.

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Everything is going to change: the travel 2.0 evolution is upon us…

Social media is growing; Facebook has recorded an incredible year-on-year growth of over 1600% - this is on an existing global client base of 23 million!  It’s most popular travel application, Where I’ve Been, is used by 2.6 million users – that’s 6% of the whole Facebook community.   TripAdvisor’s offering, Cities I’ve Visited, only comes in at half that, but their commitment to the platform highlights social media’s importance in travel.  Web 2.0 is set to increasingly influence the travel industry, even now over 72% of young professional consult user reviews before travelling.  The travel market is ideally suited to this evolution of the web because travellers love to research, review and share.

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“Travel industry needs to perfect the booking procedure in China”

China Special: By EFT Correspondent

China’s Internet user base has crossed 140 million and the Internet population differs from that of the West, as acceptance is disproportionately younger than in more developed countries.

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TUI focuses on its online strategy in China

China Special: By EFT Correspondent

TUI China recently adjusted its local website in Chinese and English in order to highlight the variety of its services and its capacity as a member of the World of TUI.

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WAYN.com develops downloadable desktop application

Travel and lifestyle social networking website WAYN.com (Where Are You Now?) has launched a new product ‘WAYN Desktop’, a downloadable application allowing users to manage their photos and get instant alerts to update them on their account.

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Google not to launch an ad agency

The decision to launch Google Creative Lab by Google isn’t related to launch of an advertising agency, according to a senior executive from the Internet search company.

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CheapTickets launches beta-test of Spanish Telesales Center

To cater to the travel needs of Spanish-dominant speaking adults, CheapTickets.com launched a beta-test to sell travel via Spanish-speaking customer care and telesales agents through a dedicated toll-free number.

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We are all ******ed - there has to be a better way to talk about your climate change strategy

If you are not Al Gore, talking confidently about climate change can be bit of a challenge. Especially if you rely on airplanes (either as your main product or if you are a hotel or holiday operator as a major way to get your customers to your product). Right now the Travel Industry is facing a massive communication challenge.

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Penetration of e-ticketing to result in gradual reduction in cash-based transactions in China

China Special: By EFT Correspondent

Major carriers in China are progressively targeting international travel marketplace and launching international English e-ticketing on their websites.

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Google seeks dismissal of American Airlines suit: media

Google Inc. asked a judge to dismiss American Airlines Inc.’s trademark-infringement suit.

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China Southern Airlines launches new global English website

China Southern Airlines has recently introduced international English e-ticketing on its new global website www.flychinasouthern.com.

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Galileo signs full content agreement with Alitalia

Galileo has signed a new full content agreement with Italian carrier Alitalia.

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Poor infrastructure at airports cost airlines $80m per annum in India

The lack of infrastructure at airports in India is resulting in 5-10 percent more flying time for aircraft, which means a cost of $80 million per annum to the airlines, a senior airline executive in India has pointed out.

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Dohop launches connection platform for airlines

Dohop Ltd. has launched Dohop Connection Platform for airlines, a technology that enables airlines to cross-sell and book connected flights with each other in a seamless way.

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Revenue Management & Pricing – are you underperforming?

The importance of accurate revenue management and pricing in the travel industry has never been more evident. Get it wrong and it will cost your company €€€.  Get it right and it will it will enable you to significantly increase your company’s profits. However, how can companies be sure they are ‘getting it right?’ 

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Automating service fee management can boost service fee revenue by 28 percent

Agencies can increase service fee revenue and productivity by 28 percent and 67 percent respectively by automating the management of service fees.

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WAYN.com signs pact with Hostelworld.com

Travel and lifestyle social networking site WAYN.com (Where Are You Now?) has signed an agreement with Hostelworld.com.

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lastminute.com launches Partnership Programme

lastminute.com is to introduce a new Partnership Programme (incorporating both white label and affiliate deals) with social networking site WAYN.com its first major partner.

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Google comes up with interactive ad format

Google Inc. has introduced Google Gadget Ads, a new interactive ad format that is currently in an expanded beta with a select group of AdWords advertisers worldwide.

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Focus on dynamic packages is shifting towards augmenting RevPar

EFT’s Revenue Management in Travel USA 2007

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Air Berlin to acquire Condor from Thomas Cook

Air Berlin PLC has reportedly agreed with Thomas Cook AG to go ahead with a two-step acquisition of the shares of Condor Flugdienst GmbH by means of a share swap.

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Thomas Cook UK & Ireland CEO to step down

John Bloodworth has resigned as Chief Executive of the UK and Ireland operation with immediate effect and will leave the board in December.

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What’s in store for business travelers in 2008?

Published airfares will increase up to four percent next year, while hotel average daily room rates in some markets may achieve double-digit increases, according to the BCD Travel 2008 Industry Forecast, powered by Advito.

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Assessing pricing strategy of carriers for business travel segment

Fares for budget airlines grew by 10 percent in the last year and now account for one in eight business travel bookings, according to a survey by Hogg Robinson Group (HRG).

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Avis improves interactive training tool for agents

Avis has enhanced its interactive training tool for agents in order to make it easier for agents to book vehicle rentals.

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Instant airfare tracking for e-ticket confirmation emails

Online travel shopping service Yapta, Inc. has launched what is being described as the travel industry’s first airfare tracking and refund alert service for e-ticket confirmation emails.

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Avis facilitates booking rental online via handheld browser

Avis Rent A Car System, LLC has come up with a new online booking tool.

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Consumers intolerant of e-commerce failures: Survey

A survey has highlighted growing consumer frustration with issues they are encountering when using e-commerce websites.

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Alaska Airlines introduces online ticket reprice and reissue feature

ITA Software has expanded its relationship with Alaska Airlines to support the US launch of the airline’s web-based “Change Itinerary” feature.

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LateRooms.com standardises hotel star ratings

Online accommodation site LateRooms.com has tied up with VisitBritain to bring its star ratings system in line with Britain’s national tourism agency.

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Predicting what customers will buy, when and at what price point

Gilbert Systems has launched its flagship product Proclivity, an advanced patent-pending platform that will help clients’ to anticipate and predict customer behaviour.

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Sabre and Amadeus launch automated payment JV

Sabre Holdings and Amadeus have confirmed the approval and launch of Moneydirect, a JV that will provide an industry solution for secure, automated payment processing, clearing and reconciliation for the travel and tourism industry.

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Sina and Qunar jointly introduce China’s first travel blog platform

Sina.com, China’s largest portal with over 100 million monthly unique visitors, has formed a strategic cooperation with travel search engine Qunar.com.

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Galileo offers its e-ticketing capability to five Chinese carriers

Galileo, a part of Travelport GDS, recently extended its e-ticketing capability to five Chinese carriers in China Eastern, Hainan Airlines, Shandong Airlines, Shanghai Airlines and Xiamen Airlines. Galileo is the first GDS to implement e-ticketing on the latter two carriers.

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A new solution to overcome the challenge of organising your travel

New website TripIt (www.tripit.com), described as the first online service that automatically organises all of one’s travel information into a master travel itinerary, has been launched.

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Will China go for deregulation to create leveled GDS playing field?

China Special: By EFT Correspondent, recently in Shanghai

The China National Tourism Administration decision to liberalise the industry in 1997 by allowing 67 travel agents to operate outbound tours resulted in impressive growth in the country’s travel population, shaping it into one of the leading travel markets in the world.

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Tiger Airways gears up for its operations in Australia

Singapore-based Tiger Airways landed its first plane in Melbourne, signalling a major step towards introduction of its cut-price domestic flight services. The airline plans to start domestic flights in Australia in early December.

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Search engine for budget hotels in Europe

EuroCheapo, a free Internet guide related to budget travel in Europe, has launched CheapoSearch, termed as the first personalised search tool created specifically for budget accommodations.

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Yahoo acquires blog content tracking firm

Yahoo has acquired BuzzTracker, a software from Participate Media that aggregates news, blog postings and other forms of Internet-based content from more than 90,000 sources.

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Yahoo’s social networking initiative plans new approach to online profiles

Yahoo is gearing up to introduce its social network, Mash.

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Accor completes sale of Red Roof Inn

Accor has recently completed the sale of Red Roof Inn to a consortium comprised of Citi's Global Special Situations Group and Westbridge Hospitality Fund, L.P. for US$1.313 billion.

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Starwood signs deal with Agoda

Online travel and discount hotel bookings website Agoda has announced a partnership with Starwood Hotels & Resorts to distribute hotel group’s Asia Pacific properties via Agoda’s websites.

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Ryanair plans to shift its hub to Milan

Ryanair plans to invest $1.2 billion to expand service to Milan, Italy.

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JetBlue appoints Russ Chew as President

JetBlue Airways has appointed Chief Operating Officer Russ Chew as President.

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AirAsia to buy 20 percent stake in AirAsiaX

Low-cost carrier AirAsia is to buy 20 percent stake in AirAsia X for $11.62 million in cash.

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Web-based CRM tool for agents

A web- based software that handles all aspects of customer relationship management has been introduced for travel agents.

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New player in global luxury holiday in India, eyes US$24m biz in three years

Indian business conglomerate Sahara India Pariwar is to enter the global luxury holiday segment with new company Paradiso.

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Behaviourally receptive audience delivers higher value: study

More online consumers are consistently more receptive to behaviourally targeted ads than to contextual advertising, according to a new study.

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Assessing the role of travel agents in conduct of global events in China

China Special: By EFT Correspondent, recently in Shanghai

The conduct of Beijing Olympics in 2008 and World Trade Expo in 2010 in China is expected to have a major impact on the travel distribution business.

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Yahoo supplies advertising to a social networking site

Yahoo has signed an exclusive partnership with Bebo to sell its display advertising in the UK and Ireland.

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Eastern European Low Cost Airline online gross bookings grown by €526 million in last 5 years

Since 2002 the Eastern Europe region has experienced massive growth in Low Cost Carrier (LCC) online gross bookings, increasing from €2 million to €526 million according to recent EyeforTravel research.  Through their lean cost structures, strong business models and competitive pricing, many LCCs are successfully winning the battle with traditional carriers to gain their share of the rapidly growing online travel market in Eastern Europe.

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Virgin America expand its distribution network

Virgin America and Sabre Travel Network have signed a multi-year distribution agreement that will allow the airline’s fares and inventory to be made available to all Sabre Connected travel agents worldwide.

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Arming agents with tools accessible via mobile devices

Sabre Travel Network has launched Sabre Virtually There mobile services, which brings features found on Virtually There to a leisure or business traveler's cell phone or other web-enabled mobile device.

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MakeMyTrip.com develops “unique search matrix”

Online travel site MakeMyTrip.com has developed a new algorithm, which “supports a first-of-its-kind search matrix making the only website in India that enables users to exercise their choice more optimally and effectively.”

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Pegasus to provide StarCite new transactional capability

Pegasus Solutions, Inc. has signed an agreement to provide its UltraDirect distribution technology to on-demand global meetings management company StarCite Inc..

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Flight Centre to check effectiveness of creative and text content combinations

Travel retailer Flight Centre is to use Maxymiser's multivariate testing to boost conversions to an enquiry from its UK web operation.

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New Speakers Announced for the Travel Distribution Summit North America 2007

Since publishing the agendas for the Travel Distribution Summit North America, EyeforTravel has recently added over 20 new speakers to the event.  Air Canada, American Airlines, Walt Disney, Marriott, WestJet and Harrah’s Entertainment are all sending expert representatives, to this unique networking forum, being held on 9-10th October in Las Vegas.    For more information click here: www.eyefortravel.com/tdsusa2007

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LOT Polish Airlines opts for ITA Software’s airfare pricing and shopping system

LOT Polish Airlines, a member of the Star Alliance, has implemented ITA Software’s airfare pricing and shopping system, QPX.

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Groople offers Hotel Hotline a customised booking solution

Online group travel booking and planning site Groople has partnered with Hotel Hotline, an online hotel reservation site, to offer customised booking solution.

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Travelport finalises management team of its GDS business

Travelport Limited, the parent company of the Travelport group of companies, has appointed a new integrated management team to lead its GDS business.

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Dolphin Dynamics adds Pegasus hotel content to TravelScanner

Dolphin Dynamics has signed a deal with Pegasus Solutions, resulting in addition of over 60,000 hotel properties to the portfolio of travel products available on the TravelScanner selling platform.

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Starwood introduces new site to enhance relationship with travel professionals

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. has launched StarwoodPro, a global programme “that offers travel professionals a differentiated and enhanced experience when conducting business with Starwood”.

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Northwest closes in on 100 percent interline e-ticketing

Northwest Airlines is closing on a landmark 100th interline electronic ticket agreement, and could be the first airline in the world to implement its 100th e-ticket accord soon.

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Amadeus e-Travel Management solution makes headway in Greater China

Amadeus’ online travel solution, Amadeus e-Travel Management (AeTM), has been chosen  by Huawei Technologies in Greater China.

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New brand of hotels promises affordable luxury, to debut in Amsterdam

A new concept and a brand of hotels, citizenM, has been established to cater to ` Mobile Citizens’, offering a new type of hotel experience for sophisticated travellers.

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Catering to Chinese carriers’ e-commerce needs

China Special: By EFT Correspondent, recently in Shanghai

Carriers in China have been focusing on expanding their international e-commerce presence in the last couple of years.

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“Brand name of Ctrip should not be underestimated in China”

China Special: By EFT Correspondent, recently in Shanghai

If there is one online travel company in China, which consistently garners accolades for its performance, it has to be Ctrip.com.

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Air New Zealand to terminate its budget subsidiary Freedom Air’s operations

National carrier Air New Zealand is to close its budget subsidiary Freedom Air, citing that competition on routes to and from Australia had forced down prices to a point where there was little difference between the two.

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US Airways appoints Robert Isom as Chief Operating Officer

US Airways has chosen Robert Isom for the newly created position of Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, effective immediately.

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Abacus introduces web-based application for corporate travel managers

Abacus International has launched new offering Abacus TravelSecurity for Asia’s corporate travel managers.

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ebookers to introduce a multimedia marketing campaign

Following the re-launch of ebookers site, the online travel agency is set to introduce a multimedia campaign communicating the new positioning ‘smart bookers are ebookers’.

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Travel application Where I’ve Been launches on MySpace

Where I’ve Been (WIB), a travel application on Facebook.com, has launched its interactive map on MySpace.com.

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Online travel continues to grow in Spain and Portugal’s dynamic travel markets

There is no doubt that the Iberian travel sector has woken up and the region is certainly beginning to reap the rewards of a huge, international tourism boom. Millions of visitors are attracted to the region every year and the travel industry is sitting on a potential gold mine. With headlines saying ‘Iberia Earns 74.8 Million Euros In First Half Of 2007’ (etn news) and ‘The number of low cost hotels doubles in Spain in just 4 years’ (Hosteltur), it is clear that this tremendous growth is impacting all travel sectors. Travel companies that figure out how to take part in this boom could certainly experience prosperous times over the next few years.

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Opportunity for agents to capitalise on growth in aviation market in Asia Pacific

The Asia-Pacific region is set to become the largest regional aviation market in the world within the next three years. And the current period of profound change and growth in the industry is a clarion call for travel agents, according to Abacus International.

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Webjet offers A$42.3m to acquire travel.com.au Ltd

Australian online travel agency site Webjet Limited and travel.com.au Limited (TVL) have announced a proposal under which Webjet would acquire 100 percent of the issued shares in TVL under a cash and scrip takeover offer.

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Who’s winning Priceline’s Negotiator vs Travelocity’s Roaming Gnome battle on Web 2.0 arena?

An analysis, aptly depicting how online travel sites are trying to nudge ahead of the competition, has highlighted that an interesting battle has emerged between Priceline’s Negotiator and Travelocity’s Roaming Gnome.

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Enabling filing of private fares in the distribution system

Amadeus has launched new generation IT solutions for filing private fares in the distribution system.

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TravelSky gets ready for the 2008 Olympics with major computer system upgrade

Unisys China Limited, a subsidiary of Unisys Corporation, has signed a contract to upgrade computer systems for TravelSky Technology Limited.

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Yahoo buys online analytics ad marketing firm for $300m

Yahoo Inc has struck a deal to buy BlueLithium, the fifth-largest US online ad network, for $300 million in cash.

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Orbitz takes social networking to work in and around airports

Orbitz Worldwide, Inc. has introduced a new concept in OrbitzTLC Traveler Update, a user-generated service enabling travelers to share real-time information regarding what’s happening in and around the US-based top airports.

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Limelight’s CDN to drive lonelyplanet.tv travel video channel

Lonely Planet has chosen Limelight’s advanced content delivery network (CDN) service to drive its new lonelyplanet.tv travel video channel.

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Enabling smaller hotels to benchmark their rates against competitors

Rate Tiger has launched Lite and Pro versions of its RT Shopper and RT Allocator products.

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Tour operators lose High Court challenge against the Government’s APD

A group of tour operators has lost its High Court challenge against the way the government’s “green” tax on air travel was introduced, according to media reports.

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Worldspan to distribute GTA’s global hotel content

Worldspan GDS is to join Galileo GDS business to make Gullivers Travel Associates’ (GTA) hotel inventory bookable by Worldspan users.

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Suppliers Are Winning The Battle For Online Revenues

There seems to be an Anti-OTA feeling in the air.  In well-publicized moves, big brands, like ICHG, have pulled their inventory from leading online agencies.  So as major hotels and airlines brands are concentrating on driving direct bookings, where does this leave the OTAs?  What is their role in the distribution landscape?  Do the suppliers have all the power and potential for growth?

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Technology’s role in handling individual transactional uniqueness

EFT’s CRM Technology for Travel USA 2007 Special

CRM for Hilton stands for striving for true customer centricity, putting the customer at the center of its decision-making process. The organisation focuses on effectively utilising and integrating insights collected from consumers.

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Accor Hospitality signs distribution contract with GHRS

GHRS has expanded its distribution network by signing a contract with Accor Hospitality.

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First Choice to offer “hassle-free” online experience with Empirix’s software

First Choice has chosen Empirix Inc.’s software to ensure its customer-facing e-commerce transactions operate flawlessly.

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Kayak.co.uk offers a new tool for planning long weekend trips

Travel search site Kayak.co.uk has worked on design enhancements and functionality launches based on user feedback.

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How British holiday goers plan to use Internet for trips?

British holiday goers are increasingly using the Internet to research and book holidays online, with 40 percent of respondents choosing not to visit a travel agent in the last two years. This finding was shared by a study from an independent digital consultancy Logan Tod & Co.

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“Chinese consumer are evolving towards maturity”: eLong’s Henrik Kjellberg

China Special: By EFT Correspondent

Recently, when eLong, Inc. had shared its second quarter results, the online travel service provider in China had shared that while the top-line results were in line with expectations, the company wasn’t  nearly satisfied with its performance.

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Flight change functionality introduced on Continental’s site

Continental Airlines has implemented a new functionality at continental.com that allows customers to change flights online.

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Sabre working on a universal rail booking product

Sabre Travel Network is developing what is being described as the world’s first universal rail booking product, the Sabre Rail Platform.

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Accor’s 1H net profit more than doubles to €596 million

Accor has stated that its consolidated revenue rose by a reported 8.8 percent to €4,015 million in the first six months of 2007.

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SIA acquires $918 million stake in China Eastern Air

Singapore Airlines and its parent Temasek will pay US$918 million for a combined 24 percent stake in China Eastern Airlines.

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