Travelport enables pre-paid seat bookings with BA
Travelport has confirmed that travel agencies in the UK are now able to book pre-paid seating on BA flights for the first time through the GDS channel. Previously, this optional extra was only bookable via ba.com. The industry first offered to Travelport subscribers follows the global, full cont [...]
Travelport Opinions launches in Asia, will agents embrace it and express themselves?
The positive response thus far to its social networking site for travel professionals was what led Travelport to launch Travelport Opinions in Asia.Asked if any targets had been set for the Asia launch announced recently, spokesperson for Travelport Asia Pacific, Michael Yates, said, “We haven� [...]
Travelport signs training pact with Shanghai University
Travelport has signed a groundbreaking training partnership agreement with Shanghai DongHua University, the first time a Chinese university has partnered with a foreign GDS for training.The move is in line with Travelport’s wider plans to increase training initiatives across the Asia-Pacific regi [...]
Resolutions for the wired & weary
On the last day of the year, I am up with the dawn and thinking about the next 365 days. And I couldn't resist making these resolutions. 1. I will not buy another gadget. I’d rather be a bloodhound than a gadget hound.2. I will not sleep with my Blackberry, iPad and Kindle. The other day, I wo [...]
Rivals become allies, what’s in store as AirAsia + MAS join hands
It's a done deal. On August 9, Khazanah Nasional Bhd, Malaysia’s state investment arm, and Tune Air Sdn Bhd, both major shareholders of Malaysia Airlines (MAS) and AirAsia respectively inked a deal that saw Tune getting a 20.5% stake in MAS and Khazanah 10% equity in AirAsia. The partnershi [...]
Sabah shows off one of the world’s last vintage steam locomotives
Every time I go to Sabah, I inevitably end up either savouring the rich cultures and cuisine of the local people in remote villages or hanging out on one of the beautiful islands in the Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park, just a few kilometres off the state capital Kota Kinabalu.On my next visit to the [...]
Seaside inspiration for THack@WIT
Developers taking part at THack Day@WIT, the 24-hour hacking event held in conjunction with the WIT Conference, will be able to take inspiration from the ocean breeze and palm trees, plus work on an API made available exclusively to participants for this event.The hackathon, which will kick off Oc [...]
Sexy Sixties are here
No, not for me, but for my dear friend Sandra, who just turned 60.Sandra is a free-flower so there was no point in really organizing a structured birthday party. Although initially we were going to go to Yogyakarta to visit the Borobudur temples, Mount Merapi decided to blow his top off and cast a [...]
Shock. Horror. Scandal. Death of a Tabloid.
I am leaving the UK today with the final edition of News of The World. I bought it on Sunday at a local co-op in Splott Road, Cardiff.There were just three copies of Edition number 8,674 left. The Indian proprietor told me it had been selling like hot cakes since start of business. In all, an extra [...]
Sleepy Luang Prabang wakes up to a mega dilemma
One of Southeast Asia's most charming cultural heritage destinations, Luang Prabang in Laos, is fast approaching a tipping point and facing a dilemma as huge projects invade its space.According to the new Luang Prabang Hotel Market Update (download full report here) by leading hospitality consulti [...]
