Amadeus signs global technology deal with Uniglobe Travel

Madrid,05 June. Amadeus, a global leader in technology and distribution solutions for the travel and tourism industry, has signed an agreement to provide a global technology platform to Uniglobe Travel, the world’s largest single-brand travel franchise.. Uniglobe will be better able to respond to global opportunities thanks to the consistency offered by Amadeus’ common technology platform.

“Using a common IT platform allows an organisation to deliver a global standard of service more reliably and efficiently, which is becoming more and more important to corporations looking for a travel management partner. A single platform allows groups like Uniglobe to make the most of their members’ local expertise and travel management companies to use a business model to extend their geographic reach with a consistent level of service,” says Gillian Gibson, Vice President, Multinational Customer Group.

The platform will be used by Uniglobe agencies in Europe, Asia, The Middle East, Africa, Asia Pacific and Latin America and will comprise the following elements:

· A Travel agency desktop – Amadeus Selling Platform (Vista) is the first browser-based point of sale platform to allow travel professionals to focus on selling travel and developing customer relations. The platform allows agents to choose how they work fastest – with both cryptic and GUI modes. It is a truly scalable solution that in its simplest form is suitable for the smallest start-up agency, yet is robust enough to be scaled up to suit the most demanding multi-national customers.
· A Corporate self-booking portal – a flexible online booking solution which will enable corporations to manage their travel programmes in conjunction with their preferred agency partners more effectively. Employees will be able to plan and book policy-compliant travel itineraries directly from any PC connected to the internet.
· Amadeus Quality Control will allow Uniglobe agencies to constantly monitor the quality control of a client’s PNR.

“Amadeus’ innovative technology will provide our agencies with customer solutions that will optimize business networking opportunities and streamline operational processes,” said Martin H. Charlwood, President, Uniglobe Travel International. “Our agencies can look forward to further improving their operational effectiveness and productivity on a global level with these technology solutions. The full integration of all point-of-sale activities and increased automation of time-consuming tasks means that agents can focus more on selling, marketing and providing exceptional service to their clients. Implementation of these global platform technologies will also provide further cost efficiencies for Uniglobe agencies in these countries,” said Charlwood.

Notes to the editors:

About UNIGLOBE Travel International

UNIGLOBE Travel International is the leading international travel management system that specializes in providing travel services to the small to mid-size enterprise (SME) market. The travel franchise organization has over 700 locations in more than 30 countries in the Americas, Europe, Asia, and Africa. Operating under a well-recognized brand name, UNIGLOBE travel agencies specialize in providing travel management services to corporate accounts and to leisure travellers. UNIGLOBE Travel International has its world headquarters in Vancouver, B.C., Canada. More information at www.uniglobetravel.com

About Amadeus

Amadeus is the chosen technology partner for providers, sellers, and buyers of travel. The company provides distribution, IT and point-of-sale solutions to help its customers adapt, grow and succeed in the fast-changing travel industry. Customer groups include travel providers (airlines, hotels, car rental companies, railway companies, ferry lines, cruise lines, insurance companies and tour operators), travel sellers (travel agencies) and travel buyers (corporations and travellers). Solutions are grouped in four solution categories – Distribution & Content, Sales & e-Commerce, Business Management and Services & Consulting.

Amadeus has central sites in Madrid (corporate headquarters & marketing), Nice (development) and Erding (Operations – data processing centre) and regional offices in Miami, Buenos Aires and Bangkok. At market level, Amadeus maintains customer operations in 75 countries covering more than 215 markets. The company has nearly 6,700 employees worldwide, representing 95 nationalities. Amadeus’ revenue for the year ended 31 December was €2,418.3m. More information about Amadeus is available at: www.amadeus.com

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