THE Wrap is a round-up of news in the travel and technology industries, and updates on how businesses in these sectors are resetting as they prepare for post-pandemic travel.
UNESCO recognises Penang Hill as biosphere reserve for its unique natural heritage
THE International Coordinating Council of UNESCO’s Man and the Biosphere Programme officially recognised Penang Hill (Bukit Bendara) as a biosphere reserve and inducted it into the World Network of Biosphere Reserves on September 15, 2021
This is the third biosphere reserve for Malaysia. The other two are Tasik Chini in Pahang (2009) and Banjaran Crocker in Sabah (2014).
The Penang Hill Biosphere Reserve, spanning 12,481 hectares of marine and terrestrial ecosystems in the north-western part of Penang, covers the state’s forests, the historic Penang Botanical Gardens and Penang National Park in an unbroken link from the hill to the sea — a green lung for the island.
Biosphere reserves the world over are celebrated for their exceptional biodiversity and distinct social landscapes, as well as for their potential to demonstrate innovative ways of living in harmony with nature.
“This designation is a recognition of the rich natural and cultural heritage of Penang Island and an opportunity to be part of the Man and the Biosphere programme, which is a unique platform for international collaboration,“ said Dato’ Harry A. Cockrell and A. Reza Cockrell, co-founders of The Habitat Group, in a joint statement
The Habitat Group operates The Habitat Penang Hill, a rainforest discovery centre and eco-park that is the gateway to the biosphere reserve, and The Habitat Foundation, a non-profit organisation established to advance the conservation of biodiversity and natural ecosystems in Malaysia and South-east Asia.
The Habitat Foundation and The Habitat Penang Hill, together with other government agencies and private institutions, have supported the initiative of the Penang state government to nominate the area that is now the Biosphere Reserve.
Together with the Penang government and Universiti Sains Malaysia, The Habitat Group helped to prepare the Penang Hill BioBlitz 2017, a rapid assessment to document the biodiversity of Penang Hill. (Read more on the proposal for the biosphere reserve here).
“Going forward, The Habitat Group remains committed to showcasing nature on Penang Hill and realising the potential Penang Island has to become an important global centre for tropical research and conservation, environmental education, and best practice in sustainable natural resource management at a time in our planet’s history where the healing power of nature, and environmental leadership have never been more important,” added The Habitat Group’s two co-founders.
Meanwhile, Penang chief minister Chow Kon Yeow said the success of the five-year endeavour to get Penang Hill designated a biosphere reserve would boost the state’s international stature.
The recognition would also accelerate the state’s goal to become a global centre for research on sustainability, biodiversity and conservation, he added.
“With this additional status we can expect greater transformation efforts to be made to preserve and conserve our precious diversity, natural landscapes and cultural heritage that are unique to Penang and its people.”
• Watch the video introducting Penang Hill Biosphere Reserve.
Etihad Airways utilises Amadeus technology in digitalisation push
Etihad Airways, the national airline of the UAE, has signed a multi-year deal with Amadeus to implement. the latter’s technology as it embarks on a major digital transformation.
As part of the agreement, the carrier will implement the full Amadeus Altéa PSS suite that includes web booking, revenue management capabilities and passenger servicing solutions.
Amadeus said these technology products would be customised for Etihad over the coming years to improve the experience of travellers, staff, travel agents, Etihad Guest members and corporate customers.
With the new web and mobile channels, powered by Amadeus Digital Experience suite the airline’s customers are able to both purchase flight tickets and manage their bookings.
Both parties will collaborate to develop advanced retailing capabilities using machine learning to provide travellers with bespoke offerings, as well as give them more options to personalise their trips.
Etihad has also signed for Amadeus Altéa NDC (New Distribution Capability) to modernise retailing capabilities across sales channels. The airline will work with Amadeus to distribute personalised travel offers to guests.
Additionally, Etihad will make its full range of NDC offers available to Amadeus travel sellers, allowing agents to see the features of its product more transparently and the ancillaries for sale.
Travellers with Etihad will also receive real-time, personalised alerts of offers, service and flight changes through the implementation of the Altéa Departure Control Customer Management component of the PSS suite.
“The system will offer a higher level of service customisation and provide guests with a faster and simpler check-in process, which is more important than ever as travel rebuilds,” said Amadeus.
WebBeds realigns strategies to prepare for travel recovery
Bedbank WebBeds is undertaking a transformation project to simplify the way it does business and providing enhanced support for partners as the industry heads towards recovery.
With ongoing travel restrictions by countries to contain the pandemic, the company pivots its contracting and sales efforts to focus on domestic travel and diversify its business model. This also strengthens its supplier relationships, as well as develops its global footprint said Daryl Lee, CEO of WebBeds in a statement.
“Another immediate change has been the reorganisation of our geographical management structure, moving to four regions from three (separating MEA and the Americas) and introducing regional leadership reporting into one WebBeds CEO. This reaffirms our commitment to strong local market representation within our global footprint,” he added.
WebBeds will open new offices in Saudi Arabia to focus on emerging opportunities within that region, and further develop its specialist brand Umrah Holidays International.
The bedbank has also implemented simplification initiatives covering some key business functions and services provided within WebBeds Global Marketplace, including delivery of a new WebBeds ERP and enhancements to its contracting module and connectivity technology.
WebBeds has created a new Global Product Group, which sits within the commercial side of the business “ensuring a greater focus on stakeholder engagement to ensure it delivers product and services that best suit its supply and distribution partners’ needs.”.
Another strategy the company has embarked on is the unification of its stable of trade facing brands under a single, cohesive, global brand – WebBeds.
“Bedbanks are more relevant than ever in the distribution landscape as they provide a single source of significant content for customers and valuable reach for hoteliers. For WebBeds to be agile within that context, we need to extend that agility to how our partners work with us,” explained Lee.
“Working with one brand simplifies our commercial proposition and streamlines our process for both our supply and distribution partners, enabling both to leverage the benefits of WebBeds Global Marketplace.”
WebBeds trade booking websites – DOTW, Fit Ruums, Lots of Hotels and Sunhotels – will be rebadged WebBeds.
The company said the simplification ethos will extend to WebBeds booking sites with the release of Single Sign-On access (SSO). This will enable clients currently accessing more than one of WebBeds’ booking sites to do so from a single logon page, using one set of new WebBeds user account credentials.
• Featured image credit – The Langur Way Canopy Walk at The Habitat Penang Hill, the longest double span stressed ribbon bridge in the world and the only one of its kind in a rainforest: The Habitat Penang Hill
