IT industry curtails travel habit
July 20, 2011 by Imtiaz Muqbil
Filed under Blogs, Imtiaz Muqbil
BANGKOK 20 July 2011 – For the first time, the Information and Communications Technologies sector has been given an official mandate to start exploring ways to help save the environment by promoting cutbacks in the travel and transportation sector.
The mandate, which could present significant problems especially for the economics of the traditional meetings and business travel sector, is contained in a report issued after the 6th International Telecommunications Union Symposium on ICTs, The Environment and Climate Change held in Accra, Ghana from 7 to 8 July, 2011.
The meeting was intended as a preparatory session for the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change Conference to be held in Durban, South Africa, from 28 November to 9 December 2011 and the UN Conference on Sustainable Development (UNCSD 2012 or Rio+20) to be held in Rio de Janeiro from 4 June to 6 June 2012. Read more
Expedia to spin off TripAdvisor
NEW YORK, 8 April 2011 – Online travel giant Expedia announced plans on Thursday to spin off TripAdvisor into a separate publicly traded company later this year.
Expedia shares soared 12.68% to US$25.35 in after-hours trading following the announcement.
TripAdvisor, which was founded in 2000, provides reviews and advice on hotels, flights, vacation packages and other services.
First ASEAN e-travel mart opens in BKK
March 24, 2011 by Don Ross
Filed under News, Southeast Asia
BANGKOK, 24 March 2011 – ASEAN’s travel and technology industries have started to work together, but they still have a long way to go to catch up on other regions, Tourism Technology Association president Apichai Sakulsureeyadej, told delegates attending the inaugural ASEAN e-Travel Mart Thursday.
About 400 delegates attended the opening session of the inaugural ASEAN eTravel Mart, in down town Bangkok.
Commenting on ASEAN’s status in technology and tourism he said the two industries had started to work together and “one day we should be ahead as a region.”
Tech and tourism key players in ASEAN community
March 24, 2011 by Don Ross
Filed under News, Southeast Asia
BANGKOK, 24 March 2011 – Region-wide collaboration in technology and tourism are key elements in the lead-up to achieving ASEAN community status in 2015, Thailand’s Prime Minister, Abhisit Vejaijiva, told delegates attending the opening session of the first ASEAN eTravel Mart in Bangkok, Thursday.
Citing the importance of technology in the move towards ASEAN community objectives, he pledged government support to strengthen work force skills in the tourism industry and back technology developments.
Abacus reports strong recovery
February 10, 2011 by TTRweekly Staff
Filed under News, Southeast Asia
SINGAPORE, 10 February 2011 – After a strong showing in 2010, Asia is on target to take its spot as the largest region in travel by 2015, Abacus International president and CEO Robert Bailey said during a media briefing in Singapore, Wednesday.
According to Abacus data, booking transactions for 2010 ended on a record high, even higher than the pre-recession period back in 2007. This trend appears to support data from other organisations such as the UNWTO that predicts Asia’s tourism industry will surpass North America and Europe within five years.
Abacus reported that booking transactions were up +11% year-on-year from 2009. This coincided with international arrivals into Asia, which was up by almost 13% in Asia. Globally, international tourist arrivals were up 7 % after a 4 % decline in 2009. Growth is expected to continue in 2011, but at a slower pace of 4 to 6%, according to Mr Bailey.
Abacus beefs up channel management
January 12, 2011 by TTRweekly Staff
Filed under Aviation, News, Southeast Asia, Technology
SINGAPORE, 12 January 2011 – Abacus International announced Tuesday the appointment of Danny Kondic as vice president, channel management.
Mr Kondic is an industry veteran with over 20 years of experience in the travel industry, having started his career with Qantas in Sydney, Australia.
He has also held senior roles in the airline business including Malaysia Airlines in Kuala Lumpur as well as travel agency, wholesale and content with Kuoni Travel and most recently with Gullivers Travel Associates, both based in Hong Kong.
TTA recruits ASEAN backing for mart
December 1, 2010 by Paphada Apimonton
Filed under News
BANGKOK, 1 December 2010 – Tourism Technology Association has recruited the support of the ASEAN Tourism Association to bolster attendance at its e-Travel Mart scheduled 23 to 25 March 2011 at Plaza Athenee, Bangkok.
ASEAN e-Travel Mart will be the fourth event in a series called “2012 Vision for Tourism Industry’s Technology” that will tour the country, kicking off 16 December, at Centara Duangtawan Hotel, Chiang Mai. Identical events will follow hosted at Novotel Phuket Resort Phuket, 9 February and Amari Orchid Pattaya, 23 February, leading up to the final event in Bangkok, 24 March.
Accor partners with TripAdvisor
November 19, 2010 by TTRweekly Staff
Filed under News
BANGKOK, 19 November 2010 – Accor announced earlier this week it has entered a content partnership with TripAdvisor to encourage transparency and objective comment and feedback about its properties on the popular hotel review site.
Possibly the world’s largest hotel group across all categories budget to luxury, Accor is providing a link on its website whcih will allow visitors to see customer comments about its hotels posted on the independent TripAdvisor.
Seminars on technology take to the road
November 18, 2010 by TTRweekly Staff
Filed under Technology, Thailand
BANGKOK, 18 November 2010 – Tourism Technology Association is partnering with the International Institute for Trade and Development to host a series of free seminars “2012 Vision for Tourism Industry’s Technology,” held at four different venues around Thailand.
The seminars, all in Thai language, will kick off 16 December and end 24 March 2011, the Thai Hotels Association advised members last week.
OneClick launch touts security tool
BANGKOK 4 November 2010 – A new online application, OneClick, introduced by Amadeus Asia Pacific, claims to be able to keep companies in touch with their employees during national emergencies and travel disruptions.
Introduced Thursday at a media briefing held at its Bangkok regional headquarters, Amadeus said the application allowed corporate users to quickly locate travelling employees in the event of an emergency.
Amadeus OneClick was developed over nine months starting last December and research with potential users suggested it should support what is legally termed “duty of care.” Read more
