HRG today announced plans to roll out this year a new air program analysis service, an agent desktop tool that incorporates content from multiple channels and a redesign of the travel management company's proprietary self-booking tool. While some of the internally developed technology is designed to enable buyers to better manage travel policy elements, it also aims to integrate the technology and traveler profiles with the company's HRG Universal Super Platform super passenger name record system, which it began testing last year
(BTNonline, Aug. 13, 2007).
HRG Global Pricing Desk evaluates multi-segment airfares in global distribution systems, and its analyst support team also can conduct audits of negotiated rates loaded into GDSs, check compliance to route-specific discounts and analyze non-GDS airfares in clients' online booking tools. The system has been released in Europe, and U.K.-based HRG plans to roll out the service in North America and Asia/Pacific later this year.
The company also has further integrated its super-PNR capabilities with the release of the HRG Point of Sale agent desktop tool, which integrates content from multiple channels, including GDSs, direct connections and the Web. HRG said the system also provides more robust traveler profile information to the agent and can link with HRG Online and other externally developed online booking tools.
Meanwhile, the company also announced a redesign of online booking tool HRG Online, which includes integration with Web-based travel portal HRG I-Suite. The new version of the online booking tool has policy management tools that enable buyers to set controls and limitations on travel class, apply price maximum airfare allowances on specific citypairs and synchronize traveler profile management to enable travelers to make their own changes, HRG said. The system also provides visibility to travel itineraries booked offline as well as on the online booking tool.
Further enhancements to the self-booking tool later include the ability for travel arrangers to book for small groups and additional policy management tools for hotel, car rental and rail, HRG said. The enhancements will be available in North America, the United Kingdom and elsewhere in Europe in the first half of the year and additional markets later this year.