Amadeus Updates Travel Agent Reservation PlatformAmadeus next month will begin offering the latest version of Vista, one of several technology solutions developed in recent years to improve travel agency productivity
(BTN, Oct. 20. 2003). The company said the single-source reservations platform, based on "open technology," combines global distribution system and Web content in passenger name records, which then are transmitted into agency mid- and back-office systems. Amadeus said non-GDS content will be available from Consolidator Shopper and VAX VacationAccess, "with other non-GDS content suppliers being evaluated." Version 2.2, which will be rolled out globally in phases starting next month, also provides multimedia hotel information and a hyperscript feature that allows scripts to launch from the graphic page without first switching to the command page. "Access to travel content has become highly fragmented, so travel agents need to become more efficient," said Amadeus North America CEO Kay Urban, speaking last month at the American Society of Travel Agents World Congress in Hong Kong. "The real value of the agent is in offering a complete travel experience, not just selling a ticket." To that end, Amadeus Vista 2.2 includes content integration capabilities that could include customer relationship management information, third-party profile management systems and weather forecasts. In addition to new features, the latest version offers an improved screen design, though officials did not indicate any changes to the underlying infrastructure. Amadeus claimed Vista has been deployed to 61,000 points of sale worldwide, representing 60 percent of Amadeus customers, with a goal of 90 percent use by the end of 2005. Amadeus' U.S. market presence is limited, however, with only one of the top 30 travel management companies listing it as its primary GDS
(BTN, May 24). "Vista has not achieved market penetration, and the shift in business practices have not taken hold," said Norm Rose, president of Travel Tech Consulting. "It is a noble effort, but the adoption curve is very tough. It is hard to change agent behavior." Nevertheless, Global Express of Seattle is one agency that has been satisfied with Amadeus Vista since switching to the platform about one year ago. "Our corporate agents love using it because they have their own scripts and smart keys, which helps with productivity," said Jim Fliflet, executive vice president and COO of the $17 million agency, which derives half its business from corporate clients.
Consumer Study: Inaccuracies Beleaguer Orbitz SiteA study on international airfares released last month by Consumer WebWatch, a nonprofit consumer watchdog, showed inaccurate pricing plagues Orbitz's Web site more often than those of its competitors. While Expedia and Travelocity both demonstrated inaccuracies in a study of 150 trials, Orbitz's lowest displayed international fare increased 21 percent of the time before a booking was completed, and it decreased in price 5 percent of the time. "Orbitz was so adept at providing lowest fares that it posted some of the most impressive statistics ever recorded by Consumer WebWatch," the study said. "However, testers found the Orbitz fare display tools to be inaccurate and cumbersome. The Orbitz site chronically presented listings for flights that were unavailable, and returned fares that changed during the shopping process, most often increasing." The study indicated 19 percent of the time Orbitz's lowest-price international fares were not available, and 5 percent of the time they could not be booked online. Lowest displayed fares on Expedia increased 5 percent of the time and decreased 2 percent of the time. Meanwhile, Travelocity fares increased or decreased each 1 percent of the time. "To their credit, all three integrated travel Web sites now post printed warnings to users when fares suddenly increase or decrease mid-booking," said the study, which Consumer WebWatch completely funded.
Ijet Upgrades Proprietary Tracking And Security ToolIjet late last month launched a new feature to its traveler tracking and security tool, Worldcue Travel Risk Management System, which it said "allows organizations to drill down to the street level on an interactive world map in order to see how a particular event may impact their facilities, operations and people in the area." The newly added Worldcue Global Protection System goes beyond Ijet's standard functionality of monitoring travelers by applying Ijet technology to corporate facilities and operation centers, said Ijet CEO Bruce McIndoe. The tool also enables companies to access emergency response plans in the case of a threat to its travelers or property. The technology grew out of a planned expansion announced in March, when Ijet secured $5.4 million to expand its Worldcue technology platform. The company in August announced the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office granted a patent for its Worldcue Travel Risk Management System.