TRAVEL TECHNOLOGY
WCI Technologies, Lumen Tehcnologies | September 13, 2021
WCI Technologies, a World Cinema enterprise offering, in collaboration with Lumen Technologies, is delivering a range of network and IT services to the travel and hospitality industry. Most recently, these services helped enable hotel management company Remington Hotels to deliver a better guest experience with increased connectivity for guests who opt to use digital amenities, like mobile entry and virtual check-in and check-out. Working with WCI Technologies, a Lumen Channel Partner Program member, Texas-based Remington Hotels updated their wireless connectivity services at properties across the nation to provide enhanced performance, reliability and security.
“Technology plays a role in every aspect of the travel industry and is only becoming more vital. We’re very excited to add value to our customers through a secure foundation of connectivity services,” said Robert Grosz, Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer, WCI. “WCI Technologies, in collaboration with Lumen, is expanding our advanced services portfolio and transforming our great legacy brand into a global technology leader in the industry.”
As a Lumen Channel Partnership Program member, WCI Technologies can utilize the flexible, fully integrated portfolio of network and IT services provided by Lumen that spans infrastructure, applications, services and geographies to enable greater adaptability for customers. Offerings include a range of managed network and IT services designed for easy installation, maintenance, monitoring and management, thus simplifying the path to deployment and use.
“As businesses are using tech to fuel change and supercharge the customer experience, our Partners can leverage our solutions and expertise to help accelerate growth, increase efficiencies and exceed customer expectations,” said David Young, senior vice president, strategic sales for Lumen. “Our Channel Partner program is about making connections – not just to our global network and technology solutions, but also to a network of support, resources and training that can help companies deliver new opportunities and experiences.”
"Our partnership with WCI Technologies and Lumen has allowed us to deploy secure connectivity throughout our portfolio, catered to our modern-day traveler. Having partners that are committed to the success of the hotel industry despite the challenges of the pandemic is key. Their innovative technology paired with their top-of-the-line customer support has been a game-changer,” Said Stan Kennedy, Chief Operating Officer, Remington Hotels.
Companies are moving towards hybrid cloud environments to leverage the hyper-scalable user experience of the cloud. Digital transformation is underway and when connecting to cloud service providers, flexible bandwidth capabilities and low latency are the top features required. WCI will focus on bringing solutions that address these business needs to its existing portfolio customers.
About WCI:
Headquartered in Houston, WCI is a market leader innovating and delivering technology and services to guest-centric properties. The company was the first technology service provider to hotels nationwide, beginning in 1974. Today, WCI is building on that legacy as a stable and trusted provider of video, data and connectivity services to some of the largest owners and managers of hotel and multifamily brands in the world.
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TRAVEL TECHNOLOGY
Sabre Corporation | December 21, 2021
Sabre Corporation (NASDAQ: SABR) announced that Air Serbia successfully implemented Sabre's Dynamic Availability software, which will help the airline to actively respond to evolving conditions with optimized pricing information.
Leveraging shopping data as well as information on traveler behavior and other key factors from Sabre's marketplace and other sources, Dynamic Availability applies machine-learning models to generate recommendations that help drive incremental revenue opportunities. The tool allows airlines to optimize their offerings by quickly and precisely responding to changing market dynamics with recommendations based on real-time marketplace data.
"Pricing is one of the most complex issues in the aviation industry – even more so since the onset of the pandemic,Successful pricing is an important aspect of sophisticated retailing, and airlines like Air Serbia need the right information to help maximize revenue. Beyond unlocking incremental revenue potential, our Dynamic Availably solution reduces the time spent on manual calculations, increases analyst efficiency and allows our customers to focus on delivering a superior traveler experience."
-Dino Gelmetti, Vice President EMEA, Sabre Travel Solutions
To further enhance its offering agility and precision, Air Serbia is actively collaborating with Sabre to advance airline revenue management through this period of recovery. As part of this discussion, the airline is exploring opportunities to partner with Sabre on its recently launched Sabre Price IQ product. Considering traveler segment and trip intent from the shopping request combined with artificial intelligence and machine learning, Air Price IQ supports airlines in their efforts maximize revenue opportunities while providing a seamless experience to its travelers.
"As we embark on a period of ambitious recovery and growth, building cutting-edge technology using real-time data, artificial intelligence and machine learning will be key to our success,We are excited to partner with Sabre on these intelligent software solutions that will redefine our fare pricing and passenger experience."
-Jiri Marek, General Manager Commercial and Strategy at Air Serbia.
Air Price IQ is part of Sabre's Retail Intelligence suite. Powered by Sabre Travel AI™ – an innovative capability that integrates Sabre technology with state-of-the-art AI technology and advanced machine-learning services – the new technology will allow airlines to dynamically provide offers to travelers based on preferences, marketplace insights and purchase probability, creating a more personalized and better traveler experience.
About Sabre Corporation
Sabre Corporation is the leading technology provider to the global travel industry. Sabre's software, data, mobile and distribution solutions are used by hundreds of airlines and thousands of hotel properties to manage critical operations, including passenger and guest reservations, revenue management, flight, network and crew management. Sabre also operates a leading global travel marketplace, which processes more than US$120 billion of global travel spend annually by connecting travel buyers and suppliers. Headquartered in Southlake, Texas, USA, Sabre serves customers in more than 160 countries around the world.
About Air Serbia
Air Serbia was launched under that name in October 2013 as the national airline of the Republic of Serbia. From three airports in Serbia (Belgrade, Niš, Kraljevo) it flies to destinations in Europe, the Middle East, North America and Africa, in passenger and cargo traffic. The airline also offers long-haul and international destinations in Asia, Australia, North America and Africa via its codeshare partners. Air Serbia's fleet includes one wide-body, 10 narrow-body and 5 turboprop aircraft. Find more information about the activities of the Serbian national airline at Air Serbia Media Centre.
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HOSPITALITY TRENDS
IHG Hotels & Resorts, | February 02, 2022
IHG Hotels & Resorts, one of the world's leading hotel companies, has opened voco The Bank Johannesburg Rosebank – the first voco property in Africa. As one of IHG's newest hotel brands, voco combines the reassurance of a global brand with the informality and charm of an individual hotel.The Bank, Rosebank's striking new architectural gem, is a short distance from the Gautrain (Metro Express) and surrounded by the buzzing walk-work-play district of Rosebank. voco The Bank Johannesburg Rosebank takes space, sophistication and artistry to the next level, with a range of beautifully appointed rooms and suites featuring the thoughtful, relaxed and unstuffy design so characteristic of the voco brand, as well as an enviable collection of original local artwork.
An upscale sanctuary in the heart of one of the city's trendiest districts, an international business hub renowned for its shopping, art and design, and exclusivity, voco The Bank Johannesburg Rosebank delivers on the promise of its name – 'to invite' or to 'come together' in Latin.
"As part of our growth strategy in Africa we have partnered with Valor to expand our footprint on the Continent. Valor has been our long-term partner in the United States and the United Kingdom, and we are delighted to open our first voco hotel in Johannesburg, South Africa. voco The Bank Johannesburg Rosebank is a best in class property and a great entry to market for IHG. voco The Bank is a distinct hotel with an individual character in the buzzing "walk-work-play" district of Rosebank and will be a great addition to the destination. This new opening in the trendy hub of Rosebank adds to the momentum we are building in the IMEA region with six voco hotels openings in key cities."
-Haitham Mattar, Managing Director, India, Middle East and Africa, IHG
The 131-room hotel embodies the characteristics of voco with exclusive features and distinctive hallmarks, setting it apart for a memorable stay. Every guest will experience the voco signature 'come on in' warm welcome, promising a swift and simple check in, with dedicated voco hosts available throughout the guest's stay as resident experts, and a locally inspired welcome treat. As part of the transformational works carried out at the property, the guest rooms benefit from the voco design concept with thoughtful comforts like cosy bedding made from 100% recycled materials, Antipodes high quality organic amenities in larger dispenser bottles, and high-speed Wi-Fi, Smart TVs, executive desks and in-room refreshments. So, guests can relax and indulge in some 'me time' when they stay at voco.
Double volume ceilings, chic modern bathrooms and valet parking complete this distinctive upscale experience, while business travellers will be delighted with thoughtful features such as the in-room hand-held clothes steamers and large workspace with international adaptors and USB ports.
For a taste of 'voco life', the exciting and modern mid-century inspired all-day eatery, Proud Mary, is located on the ground floor of The Bank building, while Workshop17, a haven for remote working, can be found just one floor up. voco Johannesburg Rosebank also features a fully equipped gym.
Guests staying at voco The Bank Johannesburg Rosebank can enjoy in-room dining selecting from Proud Mary's innovative menu featuring delicious small plates, salads, grills and a boutique wine list you would find at no other eatery in town.
With its strong commitment to ensuring the highest levels of sustainability, reflected in the multi award-winning building's use of mainly renewable energy sources and voco The Bank Johannesburg Rosebank's leading global sustainable practices, guests will be assured that their stay is both the epitome of comfort whilst being easy on the planet.
"We know that nowadays guests like to feel that they are making a difference, We've gone out of our way to minimise the impact of our hotel on the environment, using best-practice sustainable guidelines where-ever we can. But it is just important for us to look after our guests while also looking after the planet. So, we have not sacrificed our world-class amenities and the comfortable and friendly guest experience that people have come to expect from voco."
-Jessica Redinger, General Manager of voco The Bank Johannesburg.
Occupying six floors of this mixed-used building, voco The Bank Johannesburg Rosebank shares this innovative space with signature tenants such as Rand Merchant Investments, Bespoken Man Barbers and Tailor Me, with the Rosebank Mall, The Firs and The Zone shopping districts being right on its doorstep.
For guests on the clock, private Workshop17 meeting and event spaces can be booked seamlessly through voco The Bank Johannesburg Rosebank.
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