Mobile technology to revolutionise travel

• Report reveals wide range of benefits from mobile technology for corporate travellers and travel managers
• Amadeus takes first step to adapt Mobile technology with the launch of Amadeus SMS

Sydney, Australia 21 May 2008: A report by Amadeus and the Association of Corporate Travel Executives (ACTE) has found that mobile technology is set to transform the entire travel experience for business travellers by improving access to information and services and by enabling corporate travel managers to increase travel policy compliance.

The ‘Upwardly mobile’ report saw 72 corporate travel managers from across the globe surveyed on their views of how mobile technology is impacting business travel. In addition, more than 30 interviews with corporate travel managers and technology experts were conducted.

The findings show that mobile technology will revolutionise business travel, allowing travellers to book and amend flights, make hotel reservations, and in doing so, increase their flexibility, welfare and productivity. Mobile travel technology can also provide travellers with other time saving features, such as flight check-in, virtual room ‘keys’, as well as electronic boarding passes. Implemented across the entire business, these functions will deliver substantial cost savings for companies through increased productivity and efficiency.

Mobile technology will also help travel managers to promote policy compliance while on the road, the report found. In the case of a cancelled flight, employees will be able to instantly access approved supplier lists, ensuring that they follow company policy rather than choosing costly alternatives, further reducing company costs.

Upwardly Mobile shows however, that while travel managers are aware of these benefits, they have so far made little progress in implementing changes. Some 80% acknowledged the role of mobile phones with enhanced features to improve corporate travel but despite this, very few have integrated these services into their travel programmes.

Recently Amadeus announced their partnership with GTS Interactive to launch the new Amadeus SMS Solution, an industry-first web-based tool that allows travel agents to send travel information to their customers via SMS.

Travellers can receive essential trip details via their mobile phones, including travel itineraries, e-tickets, flight information, Passenger Name Record (PNR) data, and any changes to the Ticketing Time Limit (the date by which a booked ticket must be issued). The tool can be easily accessed through the Amadeus Selling Platform or Internet Explorer.

Tim Russell, Managing Director, Amadeus said "As a technology partner, Amadeus is committed to providing solutions that enable our customers to keep pace with developments in technology that assist them in providing service to their customers.  As this recent global study conducted by ACTE in conjunction with Amadeus has established, mobile technology is becoming a key element of the business traveller experience”.

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