HOT TOPICS FOR 2010
M Social networking develops
with a new loss of control –
From Facebook to Twitter,
ubiquitous and
personalised information
is delivered through
social networks – no longer
are operators and
agents in control.
M Power of
choice – There
is an explosion of
unbundling – look
at the rise of airline
ancillary fees. For
the carriers and
providers it is about
personalisation and
giving people choice. But
for travel managers it is a doubleedged
sword. Sellers want to
increase choices for travellers
while buyers attempt to rein
them in through a travel policy.
M Policy compliance – Those
with limited experience in travel
procurement are demanding
real-time analysis of travel
spend prior to allocating
money. New or enhanced
technologies around policy
compliance will be required to
deliver information in an easyto-use
format with supporting
data a simple click away.
M Reporting technologies – A
recurring theme, but any
application that can help travel
managers report on ancillary
fees will gain greater adoption.
Extra fees are here to stay and will
expand as suppliers generate nontaxed
revenue. They have become
an increasingly larger component
of the total cost of travel and
professionals want to know what
they get for their money.
M Aggregation – For travel
technology in general, especially
within corporate travel, the agenda
focuses on the aggregation of
content. Melissa Flury of Evolvi
Rail Systems says: “This involves
the melding together of travel
procurement and expenses
management software solutions.”
NEW INITIATIVES
FOR EXHIBITORS
M Look out for the newly released
Amadeus Fare World. Ypsilon
marketing vice-president Patrick
Coulomb says: “This multiconsolidator
booking engine
allows agencies to compare fares
with different consolidators. It is
available as an Amadeus smart
tab or as a stand-alone solution for
non-IATA agents.”
M Swap Systems is launching at the
show. It’s already been described
as the ‘Facebook for the travel
industry’ and is a new multidimensional
management tool
designed to boost holiday sales, cut
costs and open up new markets.
M ExactTarget will exhibit for the first
time. The company’s products
help travel marketers connect with
travellers via personalised email,
text messaging, social media and
web content.
M Web Applications UK will
demonstrate its new Software as
a Service products, which allow
customers to bring technology
solutions into their business at no
cost, and only pay for what they use.
M Cornerstone Information Systems
will focus on additions to its
iBank Reporting system, and
Travets, its travel information
management system.
M Micros Travel is promoting its
new SABS Corporate product,
which demonstrates the value of
‘holistic’ costing.
M Belgian-based technology
firm Gateway will showcase its
enhanced Gateway 2 Travel hotel
booking engine. The new version
includes improved map search
and XML functionality while the
number of hotels featured has
increased to 120,000 worldwide.
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