Amadeus debuts new offering to keep travel agencies connected In times of trouble
Amadeus Emergency Services provides North American travel agencies with connectivity and critical information during service interruptions
MIAMI, June 12, 2006 - On any day, at any time, every business can experience a serious incident which can result in technical interruptions that prevent normal operations. Everything from natural disasters to computer viruses can disrupt a travel agency's business, thereby impacting their ability to serve their customers and potentially costing them thousands of dollars in revenue.
That is why Amadeus is introducing its new offering, Amadeus Emergency Services, to address the needs of North American travel agencies in the event their business is impacted by a natural or man-made service interruption.
"The old adage 'an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure' is absolutely true when it comes to travel agencies planning ahead and being able to serve their customers in times of crisis," said Bob Lowry, Senior Vice President, Products & Services for Amadeus North America. "Amadeus Emergency Services enables agencies to continue doing business during unplanned or emergency incidents."
With Amadeus Emergency Services and any Windows-compatible PC with Internet access, travel agencies have temporary, instant access to the Amadeus System as well as to additional links including news, updates and information on emergency planning and preparation.
Lowry said this new offering coincides perfectly with the start of the Atlantic Hurricane season which began on June 1st.
"During last year's hurricane season, many U.S. travel agencies found their businesses severely disrupted or even displaced for weeks after the several storms we experienced," said Lowry. "Amadeus Emergency Services will give them peace of mind in knowing they have invested in a service that will keep them operational until the incident has been resolved or the crisis is over."
Key features of the Amadeus Emergency Services offering include:
- Temporary emergency access to the Amadeus System
Affected agencies can gain access via a Web Terminal from any PC with Internet connectivity, allowing them to perform basic functions such as making new bookings, modifying bookings and e-ticketing.
- Critical news and updates
This feature helps agencies keep in touch with Amadeus during significant service events for alert messages and notifications. Agents are able to view timely information on the current status and any temporary solutions.
- Emergency preparation tips
Agencies can access specific information on how to prepare and/or plan for a major natural or man-made disaster concerning equipment, software, and important documentation. Critical emergency information is just a click away via links to Checkmytrip.com, Airlines Reporting Corporation (ARC), AgentNet, Federal Emergency Management Association (FEMA), The Small Business Association, National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Disaster Prevention and more.
Amadeus Emergency Services with access to the Web Terminal for up to three terminal sessions at each location is offered at a special price of only $20 USD per month per location for U.S. agencies and $25 CAD per month per location for Canadian agencies.
For more information or to subscribe, travel agencies should contact their Amadeus Sales Representative or click on the "Amadeus Emergency Services" icon at www.us.amadeus.com or www.ca.amadeus.com.
About Amadeus
Amadeus is the chosen technology partner for providers, sellers, and buyers of travel. The company provides distribution, IT and point-of-sale solutions to help its customers adapt, grow and succeed in the fast-changing travel industry. Customer groups include travel providers (airlines, hotels, car rental companies, railway companies, ferry lines, cruise lines, insurance companies and tour operators), travel sellers (travel agencies) and travel buyers (corporations and travelers). Solutions are grouped in four solution categories -- Distribution & Content, Sales & e-Commerce, Business Management and Services & Consulting.
Amadeus has central sites in Madrid (corporate headquarters & marketing), Nice (development) and Erding (Operations --data processing center) and regional offices in Miami, Buenos Aires and Bangkok. At market level, Amadeus maintains customer operations in 75 countries covering more than 215 markets. The company has nearly 6,700 employees worldwide, representing 95 nationalities. Amadeus’ revenue for the year ended 31 December was €2,418.7m. More information about Amadeus is available at: www.amadeus.com
