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  • News: Travelport set to inspire at Arabian Travel Market 2013

    Travelport, the leading provider of critical transaction processing solutions and knowledge for the worldwide travel industry, has announced its exciting agenda the 2013 edition of Arabian Travel Market.

    Set under the umbrella of its new ‘Inspire’ brand campaign, Travelport will lead the technology debate on the event through a varied programme of cutting-edge technology showcases, an industry-shaping seminar programme, in addition to several high profile announcements.

    Taking place from 6 May – 9 May, the most important annual travel and tourism exhibition will again function a platform for the worldwide distribution system (GDS) provider to enhance its position because the world’s leading provider of informed travel choice.

    As such, this year Travelport will use the highly popular exhibition as a platform to unveil the hot and improved Travelport Rooms and More – its industry leading hotel booking engine. The hot features of the upgraded accommodation portal include a fresh feel and look, improved functionality and a brand new user-friendly interface.

    Another innovation that Travelport might be showcasing at its stand in Hall 1 is Travelport Merchandising Platform, which was launched inside the lead-as much as the exhibition and is already changing the way forward for airline distribution.

    Visitors could also expect to be Inspired by interactive showcases of Travelport’s industry leading agency solutions including Travelport Smartpoint App, Travelport’s powerful point of sale solution, and Travelport Mobile Agent, the Travelport app for agents on-the-go. Tablet technology will be available at Travelport stand, allowing visitors to try and test the products themselves.

    Following the widely reported findings of recent Travelport co-sponsored PhoCusWright study at the growth of online travel, Travelport will also give centre stage at ATM to online travel with solutions such as Travelport Universal API, the leading edge technology that enables online and traditional travel agencies to streamline the booking process. The research showed that the online travel market in the Middle East is expected to reach $15.8b by 2014.

    Innovation in travel technology and online opportunities will form the basis of Travelport’s industry-shaping seminar programme, which might be held at the Travelport stand throughout the exhibition. Travelport experts will even participate in technology-focused panel sessions at Google Technology Theatre: ‘Harnessing the power of travel industry eLearning to drive growth and expertise’ on 6 May at 16:35pm, and ‘Tech Showcase – Back by popular demand. Using the GDS to make Big Bucks’ on 9 May at 13.30pm.

    “With our exciting and information-packed agenda, Travelport will lead the technology debate at this year’s ATM,” commented Rabih Saab, President and Managing Director, Middle East and Africa, Travelport. “Every year, ATM gives us a wonderful opportunity to engage with the travel industry, and this year we have a range of new technologies to showcase to the trade – all created to drive growth and long-term success within the travel and tourism sector. I therefore personally invite everyone to visit Travelport stand this year to find out the latest trends and solutions available within the travel technology sector.”

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  • News: Norwegian cruise liners act fast

    Norwegian Cruise Line is launching its popular DASH sale on all sailings of 3 days or longer, fleet-wide. Guests who book a Norwegian cruise vacation from Tuesday, April 23 through April 26, 2013, can receive as much as $250 per stateroom to spend on board (in response to cruise length and stateroom category) and reduced deposits. For an entire vacation package, guests may receive as much as $1,000 in air credits on select sailings. Also, for a limited time, kids ages 17 and under who’re cruising with two adults within the same stateroom, will receive 50% off their cruise fare on select Europe and Alaska vacations.

    Guests seeking to experience the majestic fantastic thing about Alaska can set sail on board Norwegian Pearl, Norwegian Jewel or Norwegian Sun. Norwegian Pearl sails a chain of 7-day cruises from Seattle every Sunday from May 19, 2013 through September 22, 2013 and Norwegian Jewel sails from Seattle every Saturday from May 18, 2013 through September 14, 2013. Both ships visit a few of the most scenic destinations in Alaska including Juneau, Skagway, Glacier Bay, and Ketchikan, in addition to a stop in Victoria, British Columbia. Norwegian Sun offers a sequence of open jaw seven-day cruises from Vancouver, British Columbia or Whittier, Alaska. Ports of call in Alaska include Ketchikan, Juneau and Skagway. The itinerary also incorporates a scenic cruise through Glacier Bay. Cruises departing from Vancouver may even enjoy a morning sail past Hubbard Glacier and people cruising south from Whittier will enjoy a cruise though the spectacular Inside Passage. Fares start at $399* per person (in accordance with double occupancy), and for a limited time, when kids sail on Norwegian Sun in Alaska, with two adults inside the same stateroom, they may receive an extra 50% off their cruise fare.

    Guests trying to discover the wealthy history of Europe can accomplish that while cruising on board Norwegian Epic, recently named “Best Ship for Sea Days” by Cruise Critic and “Best Overall Cruise Ship” by the readers of Travel Weekly two years in a row, sailing from Barcelona, Spain from May 5 through October 13, 2013. Norwegian Epic’s seven-day Western Mediterranean cruises have fares starting at $549* and visit ports of call including Naples, Rome (Civitavecchia) and Florence/Pisa (Livorno), Italy; Cannes and Provence (Marseilles), France.

    Norwegian Star sails a sequence of nine-day Baltic Capitals cruises from Copenhagen, Denmark between May 7 and September 10, 2013. With fares starting at $849*, this exciting itinerary includes an overnight in St. Petersburg, Russia, in addition to a scenic sail throughout the Stockholm Archipelago following the ship’s afternoon departure from Stockholm, Sweden. Those wishing to embark on an extended cruise, can set sail from Rome (Civitavecchia ) on a ten-day Eastern Mediterranean itinerary, with fares from $549*, visiting a brand new port of call almost each day including, Olympia (Katakolon), Athens (Piraeus), Greece; Ephesus (Izmir), Istanbul, Turkey; and Naples, Italy.

    For fun inside the sun, guests can set sail from Ny city on a seven-day cruise to Bermuda on board Norwegian’s modern-day ship, Norwegian Breakaway, with fares starting at $749*.  Referred to as “Big apple’s Ship” for its New York inspired amenities and lines, Norwegian Breakaway will bring definitely the right of NYC to sea when she arrives to her year-round homeport in early May 2013, offering the high-caliber dining and entertainment options that Ny city is known for.

    Beginning November 2, 2013, Norwegian Epic will set sail on a chain of 7-day cruises to the Eastern Caribbean, roundtrip from Miami, Florida, with stops in Philipsburg, St. Maarten; St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands; and Nassau, Bahamas, with fares starting at $549*.

    Cruisers can hang ten in Hawaii once they book a seven-day cruise on board Pride of America, with fares from $1,249*. Sailing year-round, round-trip from Honolulu, this spectacular cruise offers nearly 100 hours of port time and visits Hawai’i’s four main islands, including an overnight in Kahului, Maui; an overnight in Nãwiliwili, Kaua`i; stops in Hilo, Hawaii and Kona, Hawai`i; in addition to a day cruise by the awe-inspiring Nãpali Coast.

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  • ABTA gives its top ten tips for summer holidaymakers

    ABTA – The Travel Association is giving its top ten essential travel how you can help Brits enjoy a bother free holiday because the great summer exodus gets into full swing.

    ABTA expects 14 million Brits to holiday overseas between July and September. For those that haven’t already booked, it’s not too late, with availability in Mallorca, Turkey and the Canary Islands. As always if you’ve left it late the more flexible you’ll be, the higher your possibilities of securing a whole lot.

    *  Check your passport in a good number of time – Avoid the additional expense of getting to fast track your passport renewal by checking it’s expiry date long before you travel, also understand that if you’re travelling outside of Europe many nations require you to have six months validity after your departure date, in case you don’t you can be refused entry.

    *  Weigh your luggage – It could be really easy to head over your airline’s baggage allowance, so that you can avoid a luxurious supplement on the airport weigh your bags before you permit home.

    *  Let your bank know you’re heading overseas – banks are always at the look- out for fraudulent transactions so in the event that they don’t know when or where you’re overseas they are going to often block your card.

    *  Be cautious what you bring back – If you’re travelling outside of Europe it is usually illegal with a view to bring back food stuffs – see the complete list of what that you may and can’t bring back.

    *  Make your drinks last more – spirit measures overseas are generally a lot more generous than within the UK, so get monetary savings and your liver by inquiring for a mixer in preference to more alcohol.

    *  Buy travel insurance – Avoid the opportunity of sky high medical bills by disposing of travel insurance. Do you know treatment for a broken leg within the US costs around £44,000

    *  Get vaccinated – If you’re travelling outside of Western Europe, North America or Australasia there are some nasty but preventable diseases you may catch, so go and spot a health care professional to get all of the necessary jabs.

    *  Lunch just like the locals – Ever wondered why between one and 3 inside the afternoon the whole lovely tanned locals disappear from the beach leaving us Brits on our own It’s since the sun is simply too strong and so they go and feature a leisurely lunch within the shade. So avoid the red lobster look and go and join them!

    *  How to say a number of words within the local language – it won’t take long and it’ll be greatly appreciated.

    *  Learn travel tips before you go.

  • Jumeirah benefits from tourism growth in Dubai

    Jumeirah Group, the worldwide luxury hospitality company and a member of Dubai Holding, has announced its performance within the first quarter of 2013 and its mid-term growth strategy.

    During the 1st quarter of 2013, average occupancy in Jumeirah’s portfolio of hotels has increased by nine per cent globally, in comparison to a similar period in 2012.

    In a similar period the typical daily rate rose by nine per cent and the revenue per available room, an industry standard for measuring performance, rose by 22 per cent.

    The performance data is predicated on hotels that had greater than 18 months of operations.

    Speaking on the Arabian Hotel Investment Conference in Dubai, Gerald Lawless, president, Jumeirah Group, said: “The full year of 2012 and the primary four months of 2013 was an important success for Jumeirah.

    “The Dubai hotels have truly benefitted from the continued attraction of Dubai as a chief holiday and business destination.

    “Our hotel in Abu Dhabi, Jumeirah at Etihad Towers, has established itself as one of the vital top must-visit locations within the capital.

    “Our two properties within the Maldives are building a powerful reputation in that market; and our network of European properties, including London, Frankfurt, Mallorca, Rome and Istanbul are performing well.

    “Jumeirah Himalayas Hotel in Shanghai has developed a faithful customer base and goes from strength to strength.”

  • News: Amadeus’ momentum in North America continues

    Amadeus has announced the hole of a brand new office in Dallas, Texas, as portion of its ongoing growth in North America and commitment to serving the IT needs of airline customers within the United states of america and Canada.

    “The time was right for us to capitalise on our growing momentum within the region and establish operations in Dallas,” said Scott Gutz, president, Amadeus North America.

    “This is another milestone in our airline IT focus and efforts and assures that we’re best serving the wishes of our airline partners here.

    “This is another milestone in our airline IT focus and efforts and assures that we’re best serving the purposes of our airline partners here.”

    Amadeus hosted an event to celebrate the hole of the brand new office so as to provide Amadeus’ airline customers with increased regional technology expertise, resources and support.

    The Dallas-based Amadeus team will provide specialised capabilities and repair including airline IT delivery, product management and sales engineering.

    The office also includes a training centre to make sure airline customers receive information and instruction and may connect to Amadeus’ technology, consulting and product experts.

    Gutz added that the Dallas location allows easy accessibility from most major US cities and is home to 2 of the world’s leading airlines including current Amadeus Altéa airline IT customer, Southwest Airlines.

    In April 2012, Southwest, the biggest US carrier by way of domestic passengers boarded, selected Amadeus and the Amadeus’ Altéa reservations way to enable the carrier’s international flying.

    “Our new office enables us to work more closely and collaboratively with our growing airline customers in North America.

    “With our team in Dallas, we will optimally partner with and serve Southwest throughout the process their Altea implementation,” said Mabrouk Sediri, head of airline IT global delivery, Amadeus, who’s heading up the Southwest Airlines migration project.

    Sediri said all its North American customers will enjoy the increased local give attention to airline IT but Amadeus also will leverage its experience and track-record because the technology partner of option to airlines worldwide.

    Amadeus’ flagship Altéa portfolio marked a technological and functional breakthrough inside the airline industry.

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