p26 technology feb20 17/2/09 18:25 Page 26
news conference report
ttglive.com
Travel Technology Show
February 10-11, 2009■ Earls Court, London
Travel technology companies from around the
world gathered at Earls Court last week to show-
case their latest innovations. By Kay McLellan
Comtec launches
BUSINESS ADVICE.
new agent system
‘Use tech that
COMTEC has launched a new as the customer wishes.
web-based leisure travel selling The system also masks
suits the client’
system, Travelconnect (pictured), viewdata from sight, giving
with the aim of reaching 5,000 agents’ the same view as a
desktops by the end of 2009. consumer gets online.
BUSINESSES must be clear what technology can The system gives agents quick This facility can be disabled
offer their companies and customers before access to accurate Office of for agents still wishing to see
investing in new systems, experts warned. Fair Trading-approved holiday viewdata.
Speaking at the Travel Technology Show, a pricing, customer profiling and Richard Turner, group
panel of industry experts, including the heads of content-rich searches featuring images and director of Comtec, said: “Travel agents today
Inghams, Cosmos, Tui Specialist Businesses, video. will spend hours on multiple sites to build and
Comtec and Amadeus, told delegates technology It also allows for holiday searches across compare dynamic packages and now they can
must be used to increase relevancy for customers both dynamic and packaged holidays to allow for get all this on one site.”
and revenue. a comparison. He highlighted one case where an agent spent
Stuart Jackson, managing director of Cosmos, Offering nearly 200 suppliers, Travelconnect two hours with a customer struggling to find a
said: “It’s about offering the consumer the right can be used with any back office system. holiday.
product at the right time, when they wish to Other features include a calendar view that On calling a colleague for help in another
purchase. allows agents to see the cheapest prices for agency already using Travelconnect, a holiday
“There is no point throwing snazzy technology a holiday at a glance on each day of a four-week was found in four minutes.
around when the consumer is not ready to period and access a top five of alternative Turner said: “It’s all about ensuring the
engage. holidays. customer doesn’t walk out of the shop, but
“If a company is going to embark on upgrad- Agents have the flexibility to search via several realises that they are getting the best price and
ing, it has to be part of the strategy at the core of filters and make the search as specific or generic the best service.”
the business. You can’t enter into it on a whim.
“Firms have to have a robust return on
investment.
NEW PRODUCTS.
Universal Desktop will be able to work with
“A project can’t last longer than eight months
GDS companies
any of the GDSs or direct supplier channels.
before it starts showing return; if it lasts longer Meanwhile, Amadeus is to roll out its Ticket
than that, the industry will have moved on.”
on expansion roll
Changer in early 2009 via its Selling Platform.
Litsa Constantinou, chief executive of Inghams, It will allow agents and TMCs to fully automate
said: “A reduction in cost is very much a given and the ticket changing and re-issuing processes.
any new technology must do that. TRAVELPORT is to begin trials for its Universal Amadeus is also piloting a tool for
“There are three points where it can add rev- Desktop agency system in March. consolidators, allowing agents to search across
enue: at enquiries, the booking stage and pre and The system has been designed to bring multiple consolidators at once, which will be fully
post-departure. together all the tools agents need on one system, integrated on the Amadeus selling system.
“It’s about using technology to make offers such as search, booking, tracking, productivity Sabre will introduce more air purchasing
more relevant.” and collaborative tools. products later this year.
26 20.02.2009
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