TRAVEL TECHNOLOGY,AIRLINES AND AIRPORTS
Pricefx | August 12, 2022
Pricefx, the global leader in cloud-native pricing software, announced that Aeromexico, Mexico’s global airline and a leader in Latin American aviation, has selected Pricefx to help enhance its travel agency business analytics. Leveraging Pricefx’s award-winning AI technology, Aeromexico will implement Pricefx to evaluate agency performance and improve commission payment insights with future plans to design bespoke, front and back-end Agency commission plans. After the initial implementation, Aeromexico plans to broaden the use cases for Pricefx to other areas of its business to improve commercial performance.
“Technology is increasingly important to agency management and other areas of our airline, We are excited to partner with Pricefx on the development of a new sales analytics product for the airline industry, driving value in our critical travel agency segment. By leveraging Pricefx’s expertise, we believe we can strengthen Aeromexico’s commercial strategy with better execution and improved speed-to-market.”
-Rastislav Martos, Senior Vice President of Revenue Management and Distribution for Aeromexico
With dozens of different fare possibilities combined with fare families and ancillaries for each itinerary, the airline industry’s public and private fares are complex to manage. With Pricefx, airlines can leverage technology to track return on investment from travel agency commission payments in a meaningful way. Additionally, the Pricefx solution can be used as a single platform for airlines to dynamically price cargo, loyalty points, ancillaries and corporate programs.
“The process of managing airline pricing can be dramatically improved with technology that provides critical data insights,With Pricefx, Aeromexico will have best-in-class AI and analytics to improve its agency performance. This will be a major game changer and we are looking forward to working with Aeromexico to make it a reality.”
-Ronak Sheth, President & Chief Revenue Officer at Pricefx.
Aeromexico was recently interviewed about why they selected Pricefx and their implementation plans. The video interview is available on Pricefx’s YouTube channel.
About Grupo Aeromexico
Grupo Aeromexico, S.A.B. de C.V. is a holding company whose subsidiaries are engaged in commercial aviation in Mexico and the promotion of passenger loyalty programs. Aeromexico, Mexico’s global airline has its main hub at Mexico City International Airport. Its destinations network features the United States, Canada, Central America, South America, Asia, and Europe. The Group's operating fleet is comprised of Boeing 787 and 737 jet airliners and Embraer 190 models. Aeromexico is a founding member of the SkyTeam airline alliance, which celebrated its 21st anniversary, and serves 170 countries with its 18 SkyTeam airline partners. Aeromexico created and implemented a Health and Sanitization Management System (HSMS) to protect its customers and employees at all steps of its operations.
About Pricefx
Pricefx is the global leader in SaaS pricing software, offering a comprehensive suite of solutions that are fast to implement, flexible to configure and customize, and friendly to learn and use. Based on cloud-native architecture, Pricefx delivers a complete price optimization and management platform that provides the industry’s fastest time-to-value and lowest total cost of ownership. Its innovative solution works for B2B and B2C enterprises of any size, in any industry, in any part of the world. Pricefx’s business model is entirely based on the satisfaction and loyalty of its customers. For enterprises facing pricing challenges, Pricefx is the cloud pricing optimization, management, and CPQ platform to dynamically Plan, Price and Profit.
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TRAVEL TECHNOLOGY
Entrust | September 07, 2022
Entrust has announced the successful conclusion of their participation in the Chain of Trust (CoT) Pilot, a six-month pilot project led by the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA). CoT was tested between September 2021 and March 2022 and facilitated the border clearance of a small group of Canadian volunteer flight crew participants at Toronto Pearson International Airport. The program was operated by the CBSA in collaboration with partners, including Entrust, Face4 Systems, Factor Safe, Air Canada and the Greater Toronto Airport Authority (GTAA)To address increasing travel volumes while maintaining the safety and security of Canada’s border, the CBSA is exploring ways to provide self-service options for travelers and facilitate the free-flow of persons and goods through the international border clearance process.
The CoT pilot project tested the use of innovative technology solutions to assess the effectiveness of automating the collection and verification of traveler information and the authentication of travel documents while reducing physical touch-points in the border clearance process.
Launched amid pandemic-restricted travel in March 2021, the CoT Pilot was one of the world’s first use of the latest electronic passport technical standards. This technology delivered a high level of security at border crossings and interoperability with existing inspection systems to simplify and speed up passenger processing at busy travel hubs.
“The Chain of Trust Pilot was one of the first to offer a real-world look at the future of travel, one that allows border services to focus their attention on higher risk situations and exceptions, and simplifies entry for low-risk travelers, Entrust is pleased to have had the opportunity to collaborate with the Government of Canada and all the partners in the Chain of Trust project. The project has proven its value and deepened our understanding of how digital transformation can evolve global travel.”
-Gordon Wilson, Vice President, Identity Verification at Entrust.
Demonstrating the Chain of Trust
The innovative CoT Pilot allowed volunteer Air Canada flight crew participants to use a smartphone app to expedite re-entry into Canada at the Toronto Pearson International Airport.
The program used identity verification technology from Entrust to confirm a traveler’s identity by positively associating them with their uploaded credential. The system leveraged information voluntarily provided in advance of arrival to enable early and continuous risk assessment.
Individual participants used their personal mobile device to extract data electronically from their ePassport, create a digital profile, and store it within the secure storage on their device. These data elements were collected to facilitate identifying the individual and the authenticity of their ePassport. A selfie picture was taken and linked to that individual’s CoT app profile for future travel.
The traveler’s verified credentials were then submitted to CBSA prior to border crossing. Customs declaration submission and assessment for border clearance were all processed through an orchestration layer. The traveler was guided through each step via personalized notifications sent to their smartphone. Border Services Officers participating in the pilot had visibility into traveler’s arrival status and could process travelers through a mobile app upon arrival in a seamless, touchless manner.
The CoT ensures traveler privacy using Privacy by Design principles, and personally identifiable information (PII) is safeguarded through encryption during transmission to the government. No PII has been retained by any non-government project partner.
This collaborative initiative was made possible by the Canadian Safety and Security Program (CSSP). Led by Defence Research and Development Canada, in partnership with Public Safety Canada, the CSSP fosters innovative scientific and technological solutions to Canada’s public safety and security challenges.
The CBSA will take lessons learned from the CoT pilot project and use knowledge gained to advance its commitment to modernize existing border management policies, programs and technologies to a more efficient, sustainable, and innovative future state.
About Entrust Corporation
Entrust keeps the world moving safely by enabling trusted identities, payments and data protection. Today more than ever, people demand seamless, secure experiences, whether they’re crossing borders, making a purchase, accessing e-government services or logging into corporate networks. Entrust offers an unmatched breadth of digital security and credential issuance solutions at the very heart of all these interactions. With more than 2,500 colleagues, a network of global partners, and customers in over 150 countries, it’s no wonder the world’s most entrusted organizations trust us. For more information, visit www.entrust.com.To learn more about Entrust Identity Verification Solutions, visit https://www.entrust.com/solutions/identity-verification.
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DESTINATION AND TOURISM
Cabana | September 30, 2022
Cabana, the modern, mobile hospitality company with a fleet of high quality, high-tech campervans, today unveiled Austin, Texas as its next major market launch, with bookings set to formally open early next year. Cabana’s Austin debut demonstrates momentous growth as the organization’s fourth U.S. market, with established operations in Los Angeles and Seattle, as well as San Francisco, which the company announced earlier this year. Austin marks one of several U.S. expansions Cabana plans to introduce over the course of 2023.In conjunction with the upcoming launch, Cabana also announced a new partnership with Austin-based hospitality company, New Waterloo. Leaning on New Waterloo's local expertise and 13 years in hospitality management––while leveraging Cabana's combination of technology and passion for exploration––the two organizations are excited to bring this unique travel experience to Austin residents.
“Texas is chock full of unexplored and underrated gems waiting to be discovered,Whether you’re camping in Big Bend National Park or touring the wineries of Texas’ Hill Country, Cabana’s mission has always been to create the most seamless travel experience imaginable. We’re delighted to be partnering with New Waterloo to make this a possibility for Texans and those visiting the Austin area. Through our trip planning capabilities and easy-to-use technology, we’re eager to see how Austinites explore with Cabana.”
-Cabana CEO and founder, Scott Kubly
New Waterloo will manage day-to-day operations on-site and Austin locals can anticipate travel-inspired events and pop-ups as part of the ongoing collaboration.
Nearly 80% of Americans planned to take a road trip this summer, and Cabana’s numbers further this point, with 25K nights booked over the last two years. As desire for hassle-free travel options increases, Cabana will offer complimentary, contactless trip planning to those road-tripping out of Austin, complete with campsite reservations and experience recommendations. Anticipated top trip requests include Big Bend National Park and West Texas, the Hill Country, tailgating, and Texas’ beaches.
To celebrate the launch, Cabana will be hosting a pop-up in the Artist Lounge at Austin City Limits across both weekends of the event (Oct. 7 – 9; 14 – 16). Interested guests can also join the waitlist to be the first to know about trip availability at cabana.life/austin.
About Cabana
Cabana is a modern, mobile hospitality company with a fleet of high quality, high-tech cabanas (camper vans), designed to create a seamless, unique, and integrated travel experience. Cabana is revolutionizing the future of connected travel through innovative technology and high-touch trip planning. Combining passion for travel with easy-to-use technology and the most cost-efficient and operationally effective vehicles on the market, Cabana provides travelers with the convenience and technology needed for frictionless travel, empowering the explorer in everyone and creating opportunities for serendipity, wonder, and exploration.
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