Technology & Digital Transformation

Το 1944 η δημιουργία της ΙΑΤΑ εξυπηρέτησε την ανάπτυξη και μεγέθυνση των διεθνών αερομεταφορών με εφαρμογές (κανονισμούς) εναρμονισμένων πρακτικών, αλλά και ανοχή μονοπωλιακών και καταχρηστικών ενεργειών των αερομεταφορών, το δε …

The commercial cooperation between FORTHcrs, a Forthnet subsidiary, and Sabre Hellas, a Sabre Inc. subsidiary, is now official. Both parties announced a cooperation agreement last month that centers on new and complete solutions in electronic booking and ticket issue.

Galileo Hellas now offers an online booking and ticketing system for Greek ferry lines. The system, Ferrynet, a product created through cooperation with Anite Travel Systems, provides travel agencies and subscribers with access to seat availability, online reservations and ticketing.

One of the world’s major global distribution system providers, Worldspan, spent lavishly last month in a successful effort to thank their many clients throughout the country for using their services. Some 200 travel agents arrived for the gala night-out event held at one of the capital’s most up-market hotel complexes.

The terrorist attacks on New York and Washington last month dealt a terrible blow to the tourism industry, but officials of the World Tourism Organization predict that the industry will demonstrate its characteristic resilience with a quick recovery.

Greece’s cruise industry, because a significant portion of its business comes from North American customers, is in for a tough time. Along with this, the industry also has to deal with the possible surge in oil prices, the likelihood of a global recession, the difficulties in air travel and the psychological shock from the terrible pictures of the World Trade Center towers shown worldwide. All these are expected to play a significant role in shaping the industry both in the short term and long term.

Nine of Europe’s leading airlines recently unveiled plans to move into the online travel market with the launch this year of a new online travel service, that sells flights and other travel products direct to the consumer.

With the recent agreement between the Chandris hotel group and the French hotel group Accor, whereby Accor takes over the management of the Chandris group, the Greek capital’s major hotels are for the most part managed by multi-national hotel units. This is in stark difference to Greek hotels outside of Athens that are family-owned and family-run units.

The Association of British Travel Agent’s (ABTA) recent congress on Kos gave delegates some tasty food for thought. During the four-day event, which was perhaps the best-organized event ever held in Greece, up-market speakers attempted to foresee the future regarding travel and the Internet.

Recent increases in the price of petrol pushed the world’s airlines into 10-15% increases in winter fares, but Olympic Airways seems to have gotten carried away and increased at least one of its winter fares – first-class one-way Athens-New York – by 54%.