In the news: AVIAREPS’ new GSA entity in Malaysia, HRS’ analysis on hotel bookings, Sabre’s Bangalore development centre expands
AVIAREPS expands operations in Malaysia with new GSA entity
All hands on deck (from left) Kevin Ong, AVIAREPS Malaysia; Wilson Tay, GATS; Michael Gaebler, AVIAREPS; Lum Khee Fah, GATS
Global airline and tourism representation company AVIAREPS has merged its Malaysian arm with Global Alliance Travel Services (GATS) to establish AVIAREPS Global Alliance Travel.
The new company is responsible for all AVIAREPS aviation GSA client activities within Malaysia, as well as operates its customer-facing functions under the AVIAREPS Malaysia brand.
The merged entity is 60% owned by AVIAREPS Malaysia, while GATS holds the remaining 40%.
GATS managing director, Wilson Tay, will become executive director of the new company, with Kelvin Ong as general (also general manager of AVIAREPS Malaysia).
Michael Gaebler, chairman and CEO of AVIAREPS, said GATS’ “solid reputation in the market” was behind the company’s decision to expand in Malaysia.
“Through the creation of AVIAREPS Global Alliance Travel our global network of clients will now have an expanded specialised aviation team on the ground in Malaysia, to provide innovative sales and marketing solutions, which are both locally effective and supported by international best practice,” he added.
Clients of the new GSA include international airlines such as Air Arabia, Air Astana, Austrian Airlines, Bangkok Airways, and Ukraine International Airlines.
Apart from airline GSA representation, AVIAREPS Malaysia also conducts marketing representation for destinations that include Netherlands Board of Tourism and Convention (Holland Alliance) and the Hawaii Tourism Authority (HTSEA), as well as sales activities for hospitality and retail brands such as Centara Hotels and Resorts, Choice Hotels International, and Deutsche Bahn.
Same day hotel bookings may not offer best value: HRS
Most business travellers prefer to book hotels in advance. (Image credit: keport/iStock)
Travellers who make same day bookings with hotels may, on average, get 23% cheaper in rates than stays made in advance, but they may not provide the best value according to global hotel solutions provider HRS.
HRS’ data reveals most business travellers still prefer to book via a mobile device and in advance, with 58% doing that within two weeks of intended travel and 32% over two weeks. Only 10% of booking is made last minute.
These insights are based on HRS’ analysis of average hotel prices over the past five years compared with a range of advanced booking periods.
“While room rates are an element in determining which accommodation solution a corporation opts for, price alone is usually not a key element to the decision making process in hotel reservations,” said Tobias Ragge, CEO of HRS.
“Booking in advance ensures the blocking of accommodation options that fit organisational travel policies, as well as business and personal needs of the traveller. This is critical to ensuring travel satisfaction at all levels.”
On the HRS portal mobile devices account for the majority of hotel bookings. About 40% of searches made through smartphones and tablets.
Regge said booking on mobile had been rising steadily, and this trend was expected to define the future of the travel industry.
Sabre expands development centre in India
The centre builds technology products for hotels. (Image credit: kadmy/iStock)
Sabre Corporation has expanded its Bangalore development centre to help scale global operations, enable faster delivery of solutions, seamlessly integrate products and enhance time to market.
This is the centre’s second expansion in less than a year. It supports multiple technology functions for Sabre such as product development, enterprise data and analytics, operations research, and customer-centric functions.
Opened in 2005 with just nine employees, the centre now has 1,400 employees, double that of last year.
Apart from developing solutions for airlines the centre is also building technology products for hotels including Central Reservation Systems (CRS), and Property Management Systems (PMS) – a cloud based operations management system.
The newly expanded site features state-of-the-art workspace areas and innovation zones to support collaboration and engagement across teams.
