Amadeus Continues Drive Into Business Travel Market

Amadeus, the leading technology provider for the travel industry, is continuing its drive into the UK business travel market through the enhancement of its contract with leading travel management company and Guild of Travel Management Company (GMTC) member, Ian Allan Travel (IAT) and by becoming a full industry partner of the GTMC.

Under the terms of the new contract with IAT, Amadeus will become the preferred GDS used by the travel management company.

In addition, IAT will expand its use of Amadeus technology throughout its network as it adopts Amadeus Vista as its front-office reservations platform.

Pat O’Neill, Director of Operations at IAT commented: “We have found the Amadeus team to be committed and creative in offering us a solution that best meets our needs. Every effort was made to understand the way in which we work, so that Amadeus Vista and e-Travel Aergo offered us a complete solution that could be easily integrated into our existing business processes. “Amadeus took the time to really understand our needs and drew up detailed, bespoke implementation and training programmes for us – even before we signed the contract – which has meant that integration of the system is progressing smoothly with minimum disruption to our day-to-day operations.”

With Amadeus Vista, IAT will benefit from a single-source, web-based reservations platform, which allows agents to view customer histories and travel preferences on a single screen, therefore increasing productivity whilst improving the customer experience.

Improved functionality options such as smart key technology and scripts, which can be set internally, provide IAT with versatility whilst still maintaining commonality throughout its branch networks.

Further strengthening their relationship with Amadeus, IAT are due to sign an agreement with Amadeus to become a reseller of e-Travel Aergo, Amadeus’ corporate self-booking tool.

Through the use of Amadeus Vista and e-Travel Aergo, IAT can now offer their clients an enhanced customer service and value throughout every aspect of their trip – from booking right through post-trip service.

“Ian Allan Travel has been an Amadeus client for the past two and a half years, so it is always particularly pleasing to be able to extend our relationship with clients,” comments Bill Barnes, Director of Sales at Amadeus UK.

“Amadeus invests considerable time and effort in ensuring that our solutions help drive the industry forward. As the business travel market continues to evolve, we see our relationships with our clients and main industry bodies, such as the GTMC, as key to maintaining our position as the world’s leading GDS.” Continuing it’s drive into the business travel market and in addition to expanding its relationship with IAT, Amadeus has announced that it has also become a full industry partner of the GTMC.

Commenting on this, GTMC Chief Executive, Philip Carlisle said “The GTMC is both pleased and proud to welcome Amadeus as one of its industry partners. It is particularly gratifying that Amadeus, having experienced GTMC as an Associate, has chosen to take their relationship with the GTMC to the highest level as an industry partner.

We already know that the company has much to contribute to our ongoing search for technical knowledge and for effective technology.”