Amadeus’ annual online business event identifies key factors for success in the new era of online travel

Amadeus' annual online business event identifies key factors for success in the new era of online travel

• Over 35 delegates from the top global online travel agency accounts and other distinguished speakers attend Amadeus’ exclusive visionary event

• Over 60% of delegates confirmed that the new era of travel known as Online Travel 3.0 is indeed taking place, with the end-consumer driving innovation


Madrid, Spain, 14 November 2011: Amadeus, a leading travel technology partner and transaction processor for the global travel and tourism industry, recently held its annual Online Connect event at the Hermitage Hotel, Monte-Carlo. This exclusive Amadeus conference for online travel agencies was attended by over 35 key global delegates. The objective was to discuss how online travel agencies must compete, sustain their business and evolve in today’s rapidly changing marketplace, with technology acting as a key enabler to fuel growth.

The new era of online travel, otherwise known as Online Travel 3.0, was at the heart of the discussion, with over 60% of delegates agreeing that this was taking place today; end-consumer expectations have changed as online and mobile technologies have evolved, with supplier and retailer collaboration being driven by customer insights.

High-profile online travel organisations and key industry players took part in an engaging business agenda, which included inspiring keynote presentations, strategic networking opportunities, panel discussions and an in-depth Amadeus Technology Showcase. Guest speakers included Clive Humby, a retail and branding expert, who drew inspiring parallels of the online world with the more traditional successful retailers, highlighting the importance that retailers place on personalising the customer´s experience, and what the online travel world could learn from them; and Carroll Rheem from PhocusWright, who shared the results of a global study commissioned by Amadeus on travellers´ online shopping habits, which will be launched publically later this year.

Carroll Rheem, Director of Research, PhocusWright, commented, ¨While some traveller needs are universal, local dynamics add distinct characteristics to each marketplace and can make or break enterprising retailers. But a snapshot of current traveller behavior is just part of the big picture. As a dynamic industry consistently at the forefront of innovation, the business of selling travel requires players to keep a sharp eye on the future. With this in mind, Amadeus commissioned PhoCusWright to study consumers around the world to understand how they make holiday travel decisions today, and how they would like to make them in the future.¨

Stephane Durand, Director, Online & Leisure, Amadeus, stated: “The online travel industry is changing at an incredible pace. As the global technology partner to the industry, it is our objective and commitment to better understand the challenges our customers are facing in the industry today. These important gatherings help us to align priorities and concentrate our efforts on the future, exploring the different routes to growth and profitability for our customers.¨

Earlier this year, Amadeus launched Extreme Search for online travel agencies, an inspirational shopping tool that offers an intuitive search solution that revolutionises the way consumers search for air travel online. Amadeus Extreme Search allows consumers to search by budget, type of activity or geography, rather than searching by traditional criteria such as origin and destination.

Notes to the editors

About Amadeus
Amadeus is a leading transaction processor and provider of advanced technology solutions for the global travel and tourism industry.

Customer groups include travel providers (e.g. airlines, hotels, rail, ferries, etc.), travel sellers (travel agencies and websites), and travel buyers (corporations and individual travellers).

The group operates a transaction-based business model and processed 850 million billable travel transactions in 2010.

Amadeus has central sites in Madrid (corporate headquarters), Nice (development) and Erding (operations – data processing centre) and regional offices in Miami, Buenos Aires, Bangkok and Dubai. At a market level, Amadeus maintains customer operations through 73 local Amadeus Commercial Organisations covering 195 countries.

Amadeus is listed on the Madrid, Barcelona, Bilbao and Valencia stock exchanges and trades under the symbol “AMS.MC”. For the year ended 31 December 2010, the company reported revenues of EUR 2,683 million and EBITDA of EUR 1,015 million. The Amadeus group employs around 10,000 employees worldwide, with 123 nationalities represented at the central offices.

To find out more about Amadeus please go to www.amadeus.com. To visit the Amadeus Investor Relations centre please go to www.investors.amadeus.com

Contact details

Amadeus
Corporate Communication
tel: +34 91 582 0160
fax : +34 91 582 0188
e-mail : mediarelations@amadeus.com