New air platform vindicates Travelport stance, says GDS boss

Travelport chief executive Gordon Wilson hailed the company's new platform unveiled yesterday as a first for global distribution systems (GDSs).

Speaking at the World Travel and Tourism Council summit in Abu Dhabi, Wilson said: "Everything will be on one screen."

Wilson told Travel Weekly: "We are working with easyJet, British Airways, Air Canada, Air New Zealand, KLM. There will be so much content."

Travelport, parent of GDSs Worldspan and Galileo, argues the platform will let airlines distribute however they choose and differentiate services while aggregating everything on a single screen for agents.

Wilson said: "We don't want customers worrying about the plumbing."

Travelport is working to incorporate American Airlines' direct connect technology into the platform after the companies signed a new distribution agreement and dropped their competing legal claims in the US last month.

Wilson said: "We reached a long-term agreement acceptable to both parties, with a guarantee of access to all existing and future content.

"American Airlines will plug their technology into our Universal Desktop. We are working on the plans with American at the moment.

"The capability is in place and should be available within months."

Wilson said the deal "vindicated" Travelport's stance through the dispute with American, transatlantic partner of British Airways.

"We always said it was never a question of technology," he said. "We were not the logjam."

He declined to discuss the duration of the deal with American, but the agreement is believed to be for a minimum five years. Wilson said 70% of Travelport customers moved to one of the company's new desktops in the past year.

http://www.travelweekly.co.uk/Articles/2013/04/12/43721/new+air+platform+vindicates+travelport+stance+says+gds+boss.html

Travelport have announced a new platform for their global distribution systems. This is seen as a step forward for the organisations. As you may already know, Travelport own and run Worldspan and Galileo. According to the chief executive Gordon Wilson, everything will be on one screen meaning it is more accessible for those who are using, especially in the travel agents. Travelport have agreed a long term contract with American Airlines and already have negotiations with British Airways. This is a great opportunity. I believe that with this new system, technology has progressed forward and will continue to develop.  

TripAdvisor thrashes competitors on Google

TripAdvisor was the most visible website on Google for foreign hotel searches last month, according to a report by Greenlight.

It found that the travel review site ranked top for 144 keywords, including 'Dubai hotels', in long-haul searches. In the short-haul market, it ranked top for six keywords, including 'Rome hotels'.

TripAdvisor achieved a 68% share of voice in long-haul searches, thrashing its competitors. Expedia ranked second, with only a 26% share, followed by Marriott and Laterooms.com, which each achieved a 17% share.

In short-haul searches, TripAdvisor achieved a 52% share, followed by Laterooms.com with 33% and Expedia with 31%.

Earlier this week we reported that TripAdvisor was the most influential hotel-related website on social media.

For the full report, go to http://www.greenlightdigital.com/gossip/sector-reports-hotels/hotels-sector-report-issue-15-february-2013-1/

http://www.travelmole.com/news_feature.php?news_id=2005776&c=setreg&region=2

Many people already know or have heard of TripAdvisor. It is seen as the leading online website for travellers to view hotels, destinations, attractions, all of which is accessible through the click of a button. There have been many competition who have tried to rival TripAdvisor but have failed to compete. The reputation of TripAdvisor is impressive and I believe there is room for improvement. With the fast growing technology, can the most influential advisor for travellers improve? 

North Korea joins the social media revolution

Social media might be old news to the Western world but in North Korea the revolution is only just beginning. This week a bureau chief for the Associated Press in Pyongyang posted the country's first ever photos via Instagram. The images showed everyday scenes including commuters on their way to work, propaganda posters and the city skyline. This is a giant leap for the secretive country that has only one 3G mobile operator, jointly run by a State-owned businesses.

Thanks to the smart phone and tablet generation, record numbers are choosing to visit newspapers online over print. In January alone the Mail Online reported an 11% increase in monthly unique users, reaching the dizzy heights of 126,753,431 browsers. Similarly, The Guardian attracted a digital audience of over 77 million, an increase of 14% year-on-year.

There's nothing more frustrating than spending your hard earned cash on what you think is a great deal, only to find the price drops the next day. Travel is an expensive experience - so finding the best deal on a hotel is key. Tingo aims to prevent this infuriating predicament by checking hotel prices and automatically sending you a refund if the price drops. Instead of making that angry complaint, you'll get free room upgrades and extra cash to reallocate on your trip without even so much as a phone call. This situation seems to arise on a number of occasions, a quick Tingo search shows that in just 30 days, 237 hotels in NYC saw prices drop! In such cases, the clever bods at Tingo automatically rebooks your reservation time and refunds the difference on your credit card. There have been questions raised as to the sustainability & viability of the business model - will it last? We at Siren Communications certainly hope so, we're always on the lookout for the best holiday deal!

Twitter users will be prosecuted after images supposedly showing James Bulger killer, Jon Venables, who was released from jail on license with a new identity, appeared on the social networking site. Although the images were deleted swiftly after the posts appeared, charges will be bought for contempt of court against users who were involved, marking a new era for social media usage and the legal system.

http://www.travelmole.com/news_feature.php?news_id=2005371&c=setreg&region=2

Social media is expanding day by day. Many websites such as Facebook and Twitter have managed to gain many users across the globe. I believe there are over 1 billion users on Facebook alone! However, some social networking sites have not been available for many countries such as North Korea. This is the beginning for the country that has been stipulated in current news. Instagram has been accepted in the country meaning more people are able to use 3G mobile for the first time. 

Moreover, Tingo has been introduced for the first time which helps find the best deal on a hotel!. You can automatically get refunds if the cost of the hotel drops. How great is that? I wish the same could be said for most things. 

ArrivalGuides secures two tourism partnerships

Travel industry online destination information network ArrivalGuides has secured partnerships with Fáilte Ireland and Destination NSW in Australia.

Fáilte Ireland will take over the responsibility for the existing four Irish destinations in the ArrivalGuides network and add a further seven. A Dublin guide is currently published in partnership with Visit Dublin.

Destination NSW will take over the responsibility for the destination guide for Sydney, and add a further nine local destinations in New South Wales.

The system allows destinations to update content directly and then see it live with more than 170 travel companies, including Qatar Airways, Ryanair, Air Berlin, Flybe, Hotels.com, Booking.com, Odigeo Nordic, Tiger Airways, Jetstar, Webjet and Harvey World Travel. Recent additions include one of the leading Chinese OTA’s eLong, HomeAway UK and Zuji.

Chief executive Magnus Aideborn said: “We are already today the leading global provider of constantly updated high-quality destination information generated by the leading local experts, the official tourist bureaus.

“Partnership with national and regional tourist offices will allow us to add new destinations at a greater speed than working directly with each destination.”

http://www.travolution.co.uk/articles/2013/04/16/6641/arrivalguides-secures-two-tourism-partnerships.html

The revolution of information being online has generated speculations and with the introduction to ArrivalGuides, this can help with information networking. The company has secured partnerships with companies in Australia which allows you to be updated with a destination guide for many places in the country. They are already the leading provider for information and with the partnerships, this will allow them to add better speed in terms of working with the destinations. 

In-flight mobile operator AeroMobile unveils revamped site

Mobile phone operator for the aviation industryAeroMobile has developed a new-look website to raise its profile with consumers.

The AeroMobile.net site provides information on in-flight connectivity in one place, including details of which airlines offer the service.

An increased presence for social media is featured following the launch of AeroMobile’s Twitter feed earlier this year and to encourage consumers to tweet @AeroMobile at 30,000ft.

The site, created by UK-based design agency Tobasgo Creative, also features updated news and blog posts, an FAQ section covering issues such as safety and cost, and a step-by-step guide to using mobile devices in flight.

Chief executive Kevin Rogers said: “This represents an important step-change for AeroMobile; with an established service and increasing airline and mobile phone partners, now is the time to start engaging with the public.

“Our aim is to raise awareness; we want people to know that they can use their mobile phones and tablets in flight, that it’s perfectly safe and it doesn’t cost the earth.

“The look and feel of the website will be carried through all of our consumer-facing communication - online and offline - to help raise awareness and increase engagement.”

http://www.travolution.co.uk/articles/2013/04/16/6640/in-flight-mobile-operator-aeromobile-unveils-revamped-site.html

Now this is exactly what many consumers are looking for. AeroMobile have been developing their new website for its customers. The company provides information on in-flight connectivity. The information includes which airlines can offer the service. Accoring to AeroMobile, Twitter feeds were encourage from 30,000 ft. This is a step forward for the company who look to engage with the public. Providing mobiles as well as tablets will be perfect for many passengers, such as business travellers. 

Ryanair threatens legal action ovr eDreams PPC campaign

Spanish online travel agent eDreams could find itself in hot water with Europe’s biggest airline Ryanair thanks to a PPC Google campaign that has incurred its wrath.

The low-cost giant has confirmed it considers the advert (pictured) to be a breach of its intellectual property rights and registered trademark.

A Ryanair spokesman told Travolution that it has been aware of this for some time and is “taking the relevant legal steps to combat this misleading practice”.

The eDreams ads are not only targeting Ryanair but similar results come up in paid search SERPS for easyJet and Thomas Cook.

Google rules do not prevent this sort of advertising activity, but major brands are legally able to protect themselves from other firms passing themselves off as the brand owner.

The eDreams strategy appears to take the fairly widespread practice of hijacking brand traffic to an extreme with the use of wording and a url that are clearly designed to look authentic.

Clicking on the ad takes the user through to a landing page dedicated to Ryanair with the carrier’s logo above a search box, offers and information about the airline.

Barcelona-based eDreams is part of the ODIGEO group having merged with Go Voyages in 2011 and founded Opodo and Travelink.

Travolution has contacted eDreams for a comment and is awaiting a response. We are also awaiting a response from easyJet.

http://www.travolution.co.uk/articles/2013/04/12/6639/ryanair-threatens-legal-action-over-edreams-ppc-campaign.html

The online travel agent eDreams are work with Ryanair as the Google campaign helped with the advertising of the company. With eDreams working with Ryanair, this allows customers to click through to the dedicated page to Ryanair and click through any offers and information. This is a great deal for both companies and helps advance in terms of working online, however, this has caused more issues than expected. There are legal actions that Ryanair are taking due to this campaign breaches legislations. 

Territory to lure fossicking tourists online

The Northern Territory Government has launched an online portal to promote the region as a 'fossicking tourism' destination.

Information on gemstone and mineral field locations, land access and permits are included in the new website which hopes to help both landholders and visitors.

NT Minister for Mines and Energy, Willem Westra van Holthe, says the portal will be particularly useful in attracting international tourists.

"You can go and fossick in some areas of the Territory and see nobody else, and that's an experience people from overseas are just clambering over themselves to get to," he said.

"I think this new portal joins the new technology with the age old practice of fossicking, and brings the two together."

The minister says providing better information to tourists may also improve issues surrounding land access.

"Fossickers have been asking for better access to land across the Territory, and we are working on ways we can provide that," he said.

"I guess what we need to make sure is for those people who want to go onto the land to do the right thing.

"Often pastoralists complain about gates being left open, rubbish left lying around.

"It's really important that the relationship is strengthened between the pastoralists and those who go there, so we really need people to do the right thing."

The portal can be accessed on the Department of Mines and Energy webpage at www.nt.gov.au/d/fossicking

http://www.abc.net.au/rural/news/content/201304/s3736880.htm

Nowadays, many companies are looking to go online and promote themselves. This is easy and a fast way of gaining tourists. The Northern Territory Government has launched an online portal to promote the “fossicking tourism”. This allows information on the Information on gemstone and mineral field locations, land access and permits are included in the new website which hopes to help both landholders and visitors. This is a great way for people to experience the people with new technology advancing. 

UK agent fined for misuse of marketing information

A UK travel agent has been fined &#pound;2,600 and ordered to pay &#pound;1,000 costs for breaching the Data Protection Act after using information taken from his previous employer’s marketing database when he set up his own business.Nottingham Crown Court last week found Mr Zbigniew Andrew Soltysik guilty for 13 offences of obtaining, and 13 offences of disclosing, personal information contrary to section 55 of the act. The agent also asked for a further 548 offences of unlawful obtaining and or disclosing of personal information to be taken into consideration. Mr Soltysik, from Mapperley, Nottinghamshire removed a database of customer details from his previous employer Quality Travel in Grantham. He then used the database to send marketing material to Quality Travel’s customers when he and his wife set up their own travel agents, New Style Travel. Quality Travel reported the case to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO). Commenting on the case today the Information Commissioner, Richard Thomas, said: --I am pleased to see that this case was viewed so seriously that it was committed to the crown court for sentencing. Obtaining and disclosing personal information can have serious consequences and data protection laws protect an individual’s right to personal privacy.”He added: --The result of this prosecution by my office sends out the clear message to those engaged in similar activity that such sharp practice in handling personal information, involving invasion of people’s privacy, will not be tolerated by me, or by the Courts.”

http://www.travelmole.com/news_feature.php?news_id=99001&c=setreg&region=2

Travel agents are always looking to market the companies with new information in order to sell the organisation to customers. A UK travel agent was fined £2600 and was ordered to pay £1000 for the breach of the Data Protection Act. They used information from an employers marketing database. This was personal information and he was sending marketing information to Quality Travel's customers to set up a travel agent. This is not the right approach to marketing a company and with peoples privacy handled, this is a breach of all customer rights. 

Amadeus and IAG sign new long-term content agreement

Amadeus, a leading technology partner for the global travel industry, has today signed a new long-term content agreement with International Airlines Group (IAG), one of the world’s largest airline groups.  The agreement, which covers British Airways, Iberia, and Iberia Express, allows Amadeus subscribers to continue to benefit from accessing the same level of fares, availability and functionality as previously.  “Reaching a new content agreement with IAG has been a clear commercial priority for Amadeus for some time, in order to ensure that our subscribers can continue to access British Airways, Iberia and Iberia Express flights,” said Holger Taubmann, Senior Vice President, Distribution, Amadeus.  He continues: “To this end we are delighted to have reached agreement with IAG and we look forward to continuing what has been a long and successful relationship for many more years to come”.  “We are wholly committed to supporting the travel agency channel and we are pleased to have reached a multi-year agreement with Amadeus,” said Silvia Cairo, Head of Group Commercial Planning and Policy, International Airlines Group. “We have a long standing relationship with Amadeus and look forward to working with Amadeus subscribers ever more closely together in the coming years”.  Amadeus plays a critical role in the distribution space ensuring global reach to travel agencies across the world. Today 80% of Amadeus bookings worldwide are made on airlines with which Amadeus has a content agreement.  Amadeus is a leading provider of advanced technology solutions for the global travel industry. Customer groups include travel providers (e.g. airlines, hotels, rail and ferry operators, etc.), travel sellers (travel agencies and websites), and travel buyers (corporations and travel management companies).  Formed in January 2011, IAG is the parent company of British Airways, Iberia and bmi. It is a Spanish registered company with shares traded on the London Stock Exchange and Spanish Stock Exchanges. The corporate head office for IAG is in London, UK. International Airlines Group is one of the world's largest airline groups with 377 aircraft flying to 200 destinations and carrying more than 54 million passengers each year. It is the third largest group in Europe and the sixth largest in the world, based on revenue.  Amadeus are known to be the leading company in terms of the global distribution systems. A long term contract has been signed with International Airlines Group, which is also known to be the largest airline group. The companies include, British Airways, Iberia and Iberia Express. Amadeus has many benefits including accessing the same level of fares, availability and functionality. This is a great negotiation with the IAG group. They will benefit and with one of the leading global distribution systems, customers are able to enjoy a fast and efficient system.

AirAsia blames IT glitch for fares blooper

The AirAsia group has responded to accusations by Australia's consumer watchdog that it misled customers with advertising of its fares for some routes out of Australia. 

The airline is blaming an IT glitch. 

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission is seeking penalties and legal costs from the Kuala Lumpur-based airline. 

The ACCC alleges AirAsia X's website failed to show fares that included all taxes, duties, fees and other mandatory charges for some routes out of Melbourne, Perth and the Gold Coast, the watchdog said. 

In a statement, Air Asia said, "The particular issues with the relevant flights related to whether all taxes and charges were displayed for customers which appears to have arisen from an IT issue in September 2011." 

AirAsia said it was "carefully reviewing the contents of the ACCC's claims". 

The low cost carrier said it had taken corrective action but was unaware of the matter before the ACCC brought its proceedings. 

"As soon as the issue became known to us we resolved the issue on our website," the airline added.

www.travelmole.com/stories/2000080.php

AirAsia have responded to their customer’s information being misled. There have been many glitches with computer systems and airline companies. This one in particular is interesting as AirAsia failed to display their taxes and charges for customers. The company were unaware of the situation but managed to resolve the situation. With advertisements online, it is important that the fares are displayed properly. However, it is becoming more difficult to keep track of the number of people attempting to hack systems. Even though the situation was seen as a “glitch”, many believe that hackers attempted to send a virus into the system.