Galileo Software To Enter Thai Market

<FONT SIZE="+3"><B>Galileo Software To Enter Thai Market</B>

By Tom Racette and Paul Twite

<I>Bangkok </I>- Galileo International plans to distribute its Travelpoint software throughout Thailand within the next six months.

The corporate travel software, which is being rolled out worldwide next year, allows travel management companies to provide their clients directly with customized online bookings and MIS.

The global CRS recently entered the Thailand market with the signing of a distribution agreement earlier this fall with Phataraprasit Holding Company Ltd., a local conglomerate with a broad range of interests, including transportation, banking and finance, and distribution services.

With the new market entry, Galileo Thailand becomes the fourth computer reservations system to enter Thailand, following Amadeus-the dominant CRS in Thailand-Abacus and GETS, a Luxembourg-based GDS.

Unlike rival Abacus-which also is making inroads in Asia and launched a pilot project here late last year-the fact that Phataraprasit will distribute Galileo's software will make a significant impact on the local market.

"Because of that relationship, we'll experience much less resistance than Abacus did in the early days of its entry," said Steven Skilbeck, who recently was named to head the new company, Galileo Thailand. Skilbeck formerly represented Abacus in Thailand.

On the other hand, Abacus has a strong presence here as well. The CRS is owned by major Asia-Pacific carriers, including ANA, Cathay Pacific, China Airlines, EVA Airways, Malaysia Airlines, Philippine Airlines and Singapore Airlines. It's also owned by Worldspan Global Travel Information Services.

However, because of Galileo's association with United Airlines, which is part of the global code-sharing arrangement with Thai Airways International, industry analysts expect the newcomer to make a significant impact-especially because demand is high for automated booking tools.

"In Thailand, business travel agencies currently don't have the sophisticated point-of-sale technology that their colleagues in other countries have," said John Moffly, regional manager of sales and marketing for Galileo. "We hope to have our software for the corporate market available across the region within six months."

Galileo Thailand hopes to launch the CRS with a major international travel company and several leading Thai companies at the same time, Skilbeck said. Start-up costs will run $800,000, with an initial staff of 15 to provide support. "We will bring in a level of technology to Thailand never seen before, which is very exciting," he said.

Separately, plans are being finalized to bring Cambodia under the Galileo Thailand umbrella. Skilbeck noted that many agencies there are representative offices of Thai companies. The CRS also is trying to penetrate the Vietnam market.