E-Travel Rolling Out Booking Tool Upgrade

Amadeus this week announced enhancements to its E-Travel Management online booking tool that include a new indicator for unused air tickets and links to local preferred travel vendors, such as car rental firms, restaurants and individual hotel properties.

The enhancements are integrated into the recently launched Quick Shopper user interface, which enables travelers to book air, car and hotel concurrently. The new version of the online booking tool is currently available in the Europe and Asia/Pacific markets and will be launched to U.S. customers on July 19.

The upgraded technology notifies travelers and travel management companies about unused tickets on the booking screen and online itinerary, and lists information according to airline and region. The feature is a precursor to the first-quarter 2008 launch of an online unused-ticket exchange, said Amadeus vice president of product strategy and operations Mary Keagul. "The idea is that we are trying to influence their buying process, and then once they've made the selection, they can choose the ticket they want to apply it to the PNR," she said.

The interface enhancements also provide access to local external vendors within an approved travel policy, as well as direct links to carbon management suppliers for carbon calculations of a booked itinerary. Using the Vendor Exclusion Wizard, travel managers can then designate up to 50 air, car or hotel providers as outside of travel policy.

Meanwhile, Amadeus is developing an interface specifically designed for one-way air itineraries, which will be released to a Scandinavian test market later this year and to the United States within the first half of 2008, according to Keagul, who also said the company is researching distribution channels for the addition of Amtrak to its U.S. booking capabilities in early 2008.