Technology & Digital Transformation

“Amadeus Hellas will continue to support travel professionals in every possible way in order to enable the success in their business efforts,” General Manager Amadeus Hellas Eva Karamanou told GTP during a specially designed one-day seminar for travel agencies organized for the first time in Athens, Greece, by global distribution system provider Amadeus.

Amadeus, a leading travel technology partner and transaction processor for the global travel and tourism industry, announced last month that Luis Maroto, former Deputy CEO of Amadeus, has replaced David V. Jones as President and CEO of the company.

“We will continue to invest in our online development tools, our e-commerce solutions in order to help our customers diversify and grow their online business,” Amadeus Hellas’ CEO Eva Karamanou recently told GTP during the “Brighter, Bolder, Better e-Commerce” forum by global distribution system provider Amadeus that took place in Sophia Antipolis, France.

“I am convinced that the Central, Eastern and Southern European region is living exponential times,” Juan Antonio Carrasco, Amadeus’ director of CESE markets, said at the launch and the closing of the Amadeus CESE e-Commerce Leaders Forum 2010 that recently took place in Sophia Antipolis on the French Riviera.

The tourism sector in Greece may have saw rough times last year as a result of the global economic crisis but global distribution system (GDS) provider Travelport Greece says it is “a strong believer in the future of Greek tourism.

The 26th Philoxenia International Tourism Exhibition, held this year on 18-21 November at Helexpo in Thessaloniki, roughly hosted 500 exhibitors from Greece and 12 other countries (Egypt, Albania, Brazil, Bulgaria, Ghana, India, Cyprus, Russia, Serbia, Syria, Turkey, and Tunisia).

Travelport, one of the world’s leading global distribution system providers, recently signed a five-year full content agreement for Galileo and Worldspan-connected users worldwide with Kenya Airways. The agreement enables users to gain access to the airline’s full inventory of flights and fares, including web fares.

“It’s clear that Greek economy needs tourism—one of the most important industries in Greece—to grow,” Eva Karamanou, general director of Amadeus Hellas, told GTP. The Greek tourism industry is currently under tremendous pressure in regards to the economic crisis and competition from other countries and, according to Amadeus Hellas, what is necessary right now are “efforts from all parties involved.”

“Although Sky Express has enjoyed significant early success since the launch of operations in 2007, we believe participating in Travelport’s GDS channel is essential to ensure our future growth,” said Andrey Egorov, the carrier’s commercial director.

The new distribution platform “Content Inn by Amadeus” has come to Greece to fill the gap in customer demand for quick and easy access to hotel suppliers and other travel services, said Juan Antonio Carrasco, director of markets in Central, Eastern and Southern European (CESE), at a recent presentation in Athens.