In the news: Brand refresh for Bedsonline, AR to check hand baggage size at KLM, Sabre’s new pricing solutions for airlines
Travel: New brand identity for Bedsonline with expanded product portfolio
Diverse products for agents comprising hotels, activities, car rentals, transfer routes. (Image credit: NicoElNino/iStock-Getty Images)
Global provider of accommodation and travel services, Bedsonline, is getting a new brand identity as part of a strategic move to boost its offerings to travel agents.
This follows the integration of Tourico Holidays and GTA, along with its retail brands TravelBound and TravelCube, into parent group Hotelbeds in 2017.
“Following extensive consultation with customers it has been decided that the legacy retail business conducted under the TravelBound, TravelCube and GTA retail brands will now be consolidated under the Bedsonline brand,” said Hotelbeds Group in a statement.
The consolidation will be rolled out in stages globally, starting with the French and Middle East markets this month, with staggered migration of all markets globally carried out over the next six months.
A programme is underway to inform all existing clients of the three retail brands about the changes. Sales teams globally will hold meetings, presentations, webinars and events in local markets markets to help clients with a seamless migration.
With the consolidation, the Bedsonline platform will be to offer agents globally the following benefits:
- Diverse product portfolio with over 170,000 hotels globally available – of which over 90,000 are directly sourced – making the content unique and competitively priced – 24,000 transfer routes and 18,000 activities, plus 140,000 cars available for hire.
- User-friendly technology, described as the “best-in-class search engine designed specifically for the needs of travel agents” – allows users to filter and compare results in a flexible and practical way, including intuitive email and PDF functions. The brand’s parent group is the only distributor to operate its own cloud-based, open source data centre and handles up to 1.5 billion searches per day.
- Local knowledge combined with a global offering – local sales teams in every market to take care of all the needs of customers.
Alistair Rodger, director of retail travel agents at Hotelbeds Group, said the company would continue to improve the experience further, beyond the booking platform itself, “by establishing a truly 360 degree proposition” to support its travel agent partners worldwide.
“Already we are speaking with our customers globally to explain to them how they will benefit from these changes. Shortly we’ll be hosting a series of events and workshops globally to present the new enhanced offering.
“This follows the expansion of the product portfolio and strengthened position to negotiate the best deals for our customers with the inclusion of Tourico Holidays and GTA into our group – along with all the additional improvements we have made by cherry-picking the best-of-class functionalities and know-how from across the three companies, such as improved payment options, operational support and loyalty rewards.”
Augmented Reality: Tech savvy KLM is using AI to check the size of hand baggage
Here’s how to check hand baggage size with AR
KLM Royal Dutch Airlines has launched a number of initiatives using Augmented Reality (AR), among which is the 360-degree display of a Dreamliner aircraft in the KLM app.
The airline is now offering yet another new service using this technology with its recent launch of AR for hand baggage check, allowing passengers to use a phone camera to see whether their hand baggage is of the correct size from home or anywhere.
This is how it works: The passenger first adds the flight to the KLM app, and instructions will appear on how to proceed. A transparent virtual KLM suitcase, which indicates the permitted dimensions for hand baggage on board, appears on the screen and the passenger just needs to move it over his/her luggage to check for the correct siz . The AR technology makes it possible for the virtual image to be placed in reality and to be used interactively. (Watch the video).
The service is currently available only in the KLM iOS app (the app uses Apple’s AR technology). According to the airline, it will continue to develop and improve the service in the future so that it grows in line with the latest AR technology available.
Pieter Groeneveld, senior vice president digital for Air France-KLM, said by harnessing the potential of AR, KLM is “taking the next step in terms of digital service provision”.
Travel technology: Sabre unveils new pricing solutions for airlines
New pricing solutions for airlines to help with revenue generation (Image credit: Bet_Noire/iStock-Getty Images)
Sabre Corporation has launched two next-generation pricing solutions that will provide airlines with new revenue opportunities by helping them address rapidly changing market conditions.
Etihad Airways and Aegean Airlines are the first customers to implement the two solutions – Sabre AirVision Dynamic Availability and Sabre AirVision Fares Optimizer – introduced at the Aviation Festival in London last week.
Sabre AirVision Fares Optimizer empowers airlines to strategically adjust their fares based on real-time market data. It recommends pricing structures based on customer segmentation and competitor price checks, and generates fare recommendations by estimating each customer’s potential willingness to pay.
For more tactical adjustments, Sabre AirVision Dynamic Availability – a proven big data solution – enables airlines to quickly respond to ever evolving market dynamics.
According to Sabre, both industry-first solutions are the result of a long-term innovation partnership with Etihad Airways.
“Building solutions using real-world data, scenarios and receiving continuous feedback from the airline are the key ingredients to a successful development,” said Bhaskara Rao Guntreddy, head of solutions and innovation at Etihad Airways.
“Pricing is one of the most complex issues in the aviation industry, and airlines are under immense pressure to adapt prices in line with constantly changing market conditions,” commented Dave Shirk, Sabre president of travel solutions. “Success requires pricing and revenue management technology that will not only push boundaries, but truly equip airlines for the next frontier. As part of our commitment to enable the digital airline of the future, our dynamic pricing solutions give airlines the intelligence needed to compete and grow revenue today and well into the future.”
The solutions are part of a broader strategy by Sabre, which announced earlier this year that it would build a new Digital Commercial Platform that delivers end-to-end personalised retailing for airlines.
