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  • News: Travelocity’s new brand campaign urges consumers to ‘go and smell the roses’

    Travelocity has launched a brand new brand campaign highlighted by five new tv ads featuring the Roaming Gnome and a brand new call to action for consumers: “Go & Smell the Roses.”

    “’Go & Smell the Roses’ is greater than a tagline in an advertising campaign, it’s a rally cry,” said Bradley Wilson, chief marketing officer, Travelocity North America. “With this new campaign we’re using our strongest asset, the long-lasting Roaming Gnome, to inspire and instigate people to get off the couch, to move and smell the roses.”

    The tv ads featuring “Go & Smell the Roses” will begin airing this week during primetime programing on each of the major television networks. Each will showcase a unique a part of the realm, delivering rich appearance. They’re as follows:

    Bulls: The Roaming Gnome is dropped right into a scene from the realm famous running of the bulls in Pamplona, Spain. He says, “Here’s a thought: You’ll never survive the running of the bulls unless you attend the running of the bulls.”
    Paint: The Roaming Gnome finds himself being handed off from one person to a better on the Holi Festival in India. He says, “Contrary to popular belief, watching paint dry can actually be fun – but you’ve got to be there to enjoy it.”
    Beach: The Roaming Gnome becomes one with a sand sculpture. He says, “Sparkly water and pure white sand might not get you off your couch but there’s not a creature in the world that could resist this.”
    Exotic Couch: The Roaming Gnome takes in an impressive alpine view on a ski lift: He says, “You is probably interested to grasp that other countries have couches exactly like ours.”
    Email: The Roaming Gnome encourages everyone to not be dragged down by the mundane tasks of daily life like checking email, cutting the grass and preparing spreadsheets. He says, “Less couch-y, more beach-y.”

    “’Go’ is the operative word,” Wilson said. “And we mean ‘go’ anywhere whether that could be a weekend road trip, a family event, or a once-in-a-lifetime adventure akin to those the Roaming Gnome is fortunate enough to take.”

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  • Sandals launches new group offers to trade

    Sandals Resorts, Beaches Resorts and Grand Pineapple Beach Resorts are have announced new booking promotions and incentives for group travel. 

    Each resort offers an array of impressive facilities which are ideal for group events or meetings and with these exciting offerings there’s much more reason to book groups into the Caribbean’s leading all-inclusive resorts.

    Through the exclusive Group Promotion, groups will receive one room gratis for each five rooms booked and paid for at Sandals and Beaches Resorts. 

    This offer is valid for all new bookings made between now and April 12th, for travel through to December 2015.

    Even better, this offer comes in any room category and is combinable with savings of as much as 35 per cent plus one free night and airfare credits.

    Plus groups will receive additional complimentary benefits including upgrades for VIPs, private cocktail receptions, gala dinners, as much as 6,000 square foot of conference space, boardrooms, and kit.

    To learn more a few Luxury Included holiday to Sandals Resorts, Beaches Resorts or Grand Pineapple Beach Resorts in your groups today visit the official website.

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  • Business travel spending gains momentum as economy improves

    An improving economic outlook with business and consumer confidence at the rise is anticipated to raise business travel in 2013, leading the worldwide Business Travel Association to upgrade its forecast for the year.  Stronger corporate profits, increasing job development and enhancements in key export markets are fueling business travel spending after a sluggish fourth quarter that was dampened by political uncertainty as a result of “fiscal cliff” debate.

    According to the GBTA BTI™ Outlook – U.s.a. 2013 Q1, a report from the worldwide Business Travel Association sponsored by Visa, Inc., U.S. business travel is now expected to rise 5.1% in 2013 to $268.5 billion, that’s an upgrade from the 4.6% growth to $266.7 billion that GBTA predicted last quarter and a considerable increase from 1.8% growth in 2012.

    GBTA’s forecast upgrade should be driven partly by stronger growth in group spending, that’s now expected to extend 6.0% to $115.9 billion – up from 5.2% growth forecast in Q4.

    GBTA’s outlook for trip volume remains essentially the identical from last quarter – a slight decline of -1.1% to 431.7 million person-trips.
    “Business confidence is up and the necessity to compete inside the global economy is driving companies to speculate in business travel,” said Michael W. McCormick , GBTA executive director and COO.  “Despite continued political uncertainty within the U.S. and around the globe, businesses are starting to get away in their holding pattern and seek growth more aggressively.  While there are still many factors that may hamper the economy again, from the impact of sequestration to rising energy prices, business travel spending is on target to date in 2013.”

    “As corporate and consumer spending confidence rises, the business travel forecast within the Usa is commencing to brighten,” said Tad Fordyce , head of worldwide commercial solutions at Visa Inc. “While the report shows the trip volume among business travelers will remain steady, we remain optimistic that stronger spending might actually help 2013 business travel exceed its pre-recession high.”

  • News: Dubai – home of the most important cruise complex within the Middle East

    The countdown to the hole of the biggest, newest, and most opulent passenger terminal for cruise ships inside the Middle East has begun.

    As the leading tourist destination inside the region, Dubai continues to dazzle worldwide visitors. To substantiate its glowing reputation, global ports and marine terminal operator DP World is building a brand new terminal for cruise ship passengers at Mina Rashid. Located on the heart of the town and its vibrant creek, the port is a stone’s throw clear of one of the most world’s fastest-growing airports, Dubai International. 

    The new terminal is anticipated to be completed by the top of 2013 boosting Mina Rashid’s leading position inside the cruise market and it’ll play an active role within the anticipated growth of cruise ship passengers to the emirate.

    The complex covers a space of 27,000 square meters moreover parking a lot of as much as 50,000 square meters. With its existing cruise ship terminal 1 and the hot terminal 2, Mina Rashid shall be capable of receive five ocean-going cruise vessels simultaneously.

    Owned by DP World and managed by Dubai Department of Tourism & Commerce Marketing, the Dubai Cruise Terminal offers state-of-the-art facilities, with efficient reception check-in, a knowledge centre with concierge service, VIP lounge for visiting dignitaries, a relaxation zone and modern cafe.

    The grand design is to develop Mina Rashid right into a sophisticated, ultra-modern cruise terminal with the purpose of turning it right into a world class recreational area, reflecting Dubai’s strong cultural heritage and strengthening its position because the leading regional cruise hub. The improvement may even integrate the Mina Rashid waterfront back into the local people.

    The project builds on a growing cruise business that has already dropped anchor in Dubai. Last year, Mina Rashid received five cruise ships and handled five ocean-going cruise vessels simultaneously for the 1st time ever. Dubai also received around 420,000 cruise tourists through 110 cruise ship visits and there are already four major international companies in situ that organise regular trips.

    One of the flagships is Brilliance of the Seas of the Royal Caribbean fleet which was coming to Dubai for the past three seasons. Mina Rashid also received the maiden voyage of the enormous Serenade of the Seas in February this year, a sea-going palace that may accommodate 3,360 guests in its 1,073 suites distributed over 12 floors.

    The commitment to the cruise passenger business underpins Dubai’s strategic goal of positioning itself because the region’s leading tourist destination. Alongside the big variety of facilities and entertainment on these luxury floating resorts, passengers can benefit from the fantastic scenery in Dubai and the Arabian Gulf. The area-class hotels and resorts around the region and ultra-modern shopping centres are set against the background of a novel culture and heritage promising a life of unforgettable memories.

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  • News: Datalex: Innovating the travel retail experience

    Datalex, an independent Dublin-based company, provides essentially the most comprehensive and proven portfolio of air and ancillary pricing, shopping, promotions, merchandising and reward features across multiple direct channels. Its patent pending personalisation feature enables airlines to leverage data to tailor relevant and profitable real time offers inside the travel experience. 

    Airline retailers leading the transformation of travel retail are leveraging the Datalex Travel Distribution Platform to de-commoditise, differentiate and personalise their offerings.

    Airline retailers know they could rely on the solution’s flexibility and scalability to succeed in their business objectives at unrivalled pace.

    Unrestricted by technology, airlines are assured active engagement with the traveller in any respect touchpoints and might quickly implement relevant, tailored offers and promotions, or react quickly to competitive and market dynamics.

    Award-Winning Retail Innovation

    For the third consecutive year, Datalex have been awarded the title of World’s Leading Travel Distribution Provider, and in addition World’s Leading Travel Merchandising Solution Provider on the World Travel Awards Grand Final.

    Datalex chief executive Aidan Brogan is in undoubtedly as to the price that the arena Travel Awards recognition has dropped at Datalex. Commenting at the awards, he said: “We are very happy with the multiple World Travel Awards we’ve received. Last year was fantastic for Datalex, with the Travel Distribution Platform continuing to deliver its award-winning retail innovation and world class traveller experience to new and existing customers.”

    Brogan added: “Datalex has always been and can remain committed to working with our travel partners to present ground-breaking merchandising technology, grow their business, and to aid our customers to deliver first-class customer support to millions of travellers around the globe daily.”

    Global Travel Retail Excellence

    Datalex’s customers are airlines and travel suppliers who lead the industry in travel merchandising, driving the evolution from the standard air fare transaction to highly developed travel retail strategies.

    Datalex has worked with leading global airlines to drive the airline’s travel retail business into the long run. Its customers represent the top ancillary revenue earners in industry and the main progressive and innovative airline retailers. 

    Most recently, Delta Air Lines, the world’s largest global airline, has leveraged the Datalex Travel Distribution Platform to boost the digital experience across all touch points. Other innovative Datalex customers reminiscent of Aer Lingus, which leveraged TDP for 85 per cent of its distribution, has recently introduced pre-order meals available to book online.

    Also US-based ultra low-cost carrier Frontier Airlines has leveraged an intensive range of TDP functionality. Most recently Frontier launched TDP Retailer, which dynamically offers a number of low fare promotions to customers in accordance with their chosen origin.

    With over 50 airline customers worldwide, Datalex software serves the airline travel retail offering to millions of travellers each day.

    PERSONA

    One of Datalex’s latest innovations was the patent-pending TDP Persona feature. TDP Persona, now a core feature of the Travel Distribution Platform, empowers travel retailers to intuitively identify customer intent and tailor offers uniquely targeted to every shopping experience.

    Datalex vp of strategy and marketing, Ornagh Hoban, explained: “Airlines are travel retailers; where ancillary started with bags, it has grown as a chance to service the client at every point of the travel experience.

    The potential upside in revenue is equalled by the power to satisfy the traveller’s expectations.

    This requires intelligent and high-value retail which involves creating experiences, not only commodities.”

    TDP Persona leverages the intelligence it gathers at each engagement with the client. It monitors shopping behaviour and profile without the will for the client to log in or complete a profile.

    Shopping logic permits product, pricing and promotions categorisation for real-time recommendations and promotions which are tailored and relevant.

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