AIRLINES AND AIRPORTS
Ultra Air & Navitaire | November 03, 2021
Ultra Air, Colombia’s new ultra-low-cost carrier (ULCC), has chosen Navitaire’s Airline Platform to launch its services. The airline will use Navitaire’s New Skies® digital-first airline platform for reservations and retailing, and its integrated day-of-departure, Digital Experience Suite, NDC Gateway, Ancillary Revenue Optimization, revenue accounting and loyalty solutions. Navitaire, an Amadeus company, provides technology and business solutions to the airline industry, powering over 60 of the world’s leading low-cost and hybrid carriers todayAs an ULCC, Ultra Air will offer low fares, greater choice, and easy, digital convenience to travelers, making regional travel more accessible and enticing travelers to explore Colombia and Latin America. Ultra Air will launch with a fleet of A320 jets from hubs in Medellín, Bogotá, Cartagena, and Cali, and aims to grow to 40 aircraft over the next five years.
Navitaire’s digital commerce and digital experience capabilities are part of a strong foundation designed to let newly launching airlines like Ultra Air define their model and add features at their own pace. Using Navitaire’s extensive API suite, proven retailing, and distribution capabilities gives the airline flexible options to offer bundled or a la carte ancillary services throughout a customer’s journey. Navitaire's dynamic distribution, including its cloud-based NDC-enabled and digital channels, lets Ultra Air readily connect with industry and business partners, ranging from online travel agencies and airlines to travel commerce companies, all using modern technology.
“This is the third time I get to work with Navitaire and I am extremely excited about the possibilities with the Navitaire suite of products,”-William Shaw, Ultra Air CEO.
The Ultra Air executive team brings a wealth of experience, having earned superb credentials working with global carriers and leading LCCs in the region. Navitaire’s integrated solutions provide this seasoned group of entrepreneurs with a versatile toolkit to jumpstart and compete as a data-driven airline.
“Navitaire is proud to partner with UItra Air to help its launch and we are excited to share our deep experience working alongside many of the world’s most successful airlines since they were start-ups,Our digital-first solutions provide Ultra Air with an open, connected, and reliable platform, all underpinned by agile, modern technology ideally suited for today’s digital world.”
-David P. Evans, Navitaire CEO.
Navitaire’s New Skies reservations solution is a digital, e-commerce-first airline platform with comprehensive retailing, analytics, and passenger personalization tools. The solution is designed for efficiency, using a single record approach that manages both the offer and the order throughout the passenger lifecycle. Real-time data for on-demand decision-making and omnichannel processing are hallmarks of New Skies, which are leveraged extensively by airlines with clear industry leadership in innovation.
About Ultra Air
Ultra Air (www.ultraair.com) the new ultra-low-cost airline plans to be ready for takeoff at the end of 2021, after receiving authorization from the Civil Aeronautics of Colombia to operate commercial flights in local and international destinations such as Quito, Lima, Aruba, Curaçao, Punta Cana, Cancun and Mexico City. Ultra Air chose the Airbus A320 family to operate its fleet from José María Córdova airport hub in Rionegro. Ultra Air's entry into the market will reduce air fares by 20% and will generate approximately 36,000 direct, indirect and induced jobs.
About Navitaire
Navitaire (www.navitaire.com), an Amadeus company, delivers industry-leading technology services supporting growth, profitability, and innovation to more than 60 airlines and rail companies worldwide, carrying a total of 819 million annual passengers in 2019, including many of the world’s most successful low-cost and hybrid airlines. Navitaire offers a full suite of proven solutions focused on revenue generation and streamlining costs in reservations, ancillary sales, loyalty, revenue accounting, and business intelligence. Navitaire has offices in North America, Europe, Asia, and Australia, and is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Amadeus Group. Learn more about Navitaire’s industry leadership in shaping the world of travel at www.navitaire.com.
Read More
HOSPITALITY TRENDS
Altitude Control Technology | November 18, 2021
Altitude Control Technology (ACT), the altitude simulation leaders for the residential industry, unveiled ACT Hospitality, the newest altitude simulation solution for mountain hotels and resorts. ACT Hospitality allows hotels in high-altitude locations to mitigate their guests' altitude-related symptoms with its whole room oxygenation systems.
Many high-altitude destinations, such as ski resorts, report guests experiencing classic signs of altitude sickness: difficulty sleeping, fatigue, headache and other symptoms when acclimating to the new environment, some of which require medical attention. At just 6,000 feet many people experience trouble sleeping, and, according to the Cleveland Clinic, about half of people who ascend to 8,000 feet will experience some form of altitude symptoms, and almost 75 percent of people will have effects at 10,000 feet. These symptoms can hinder the guest experience at mountain destinations and may even stop guests from engaging in the activities they came to enjoy. In many cases, some guests simply avoid visiting, wary of the impact of altitude.
ACT Hospitality's new technology provides hotels with a complete altitude simulation environment right in the guest's room. Oxygen, air quality and barometric pressure are seamlessly monitored and adjusted to mimic sea level, providing guests with relief from altitude effects, better sleep quality, and an overall more pleasant stay. ACT's highly qualified and experienced team works directly with hotels to install the system. Additionally, ACT works with hospitality architects to integrate the system into the original design of a new hotel, during a renovation, or at a multi-family building.
"To distinguish the guest experience, many mountain hotels invest in luxury services like spa treatments, fine dining, and ski valets. But if the guests aren't feeling well, the hotel's effort is wasted ACT Hospitality is a whole new approach to giving guests the award-winning experience they want while in the mountains, and it differentiates hotels among the competition while creating more loyal customers."
-Bill Sinclair, President and CEO of ACT
Like other heating, air conditioning and ventilation, ACT technology can be implemented in an entire hotel, or just in select guest rooms. The room's oxygenated environment is managed individually, so guests can set their preferred altitude setting on the sleek, modern touch screen. Unlike short-term altitude fixes like oxygen bars or canned oxygen, ACT Hospitality provides guests with a comfortable and seamless solution for their entire stay.
Already, one world-renowned luxury hospitality brand has committed to implementing ACT in Arizona, with the desire to create more well-appointed rooms, and more pleasant sleep, for its discerning guests.
We've spoken with dozens of hotels at mountain destinations, such as Aspen, Park City and Jackson Hole, and most tell us that combating guests' altitude symptoms is a real challenge and can even send guests packing," continued Sinclair. "We developed ACT Hospitality to resolve this, and we believe it will soon be a standard feature in all of the top mountain hotels and resorts.
ACT has been in business for more than 20 years and in that time has implemented its altitude simulation technology in more than 400 luxury residences in virtually every noteworthy high-altitude ski area in North America. The company has also worked with dozens of universities, military and athletic organizations to create altitude simulation environments for research and training. ACT Hospitality builds on the company's decades of scientific research to be a turn-key solution for mountain hotels and resorts.
About Altitude Control Technology
Headquartered in Edwards, Colo., Altitude Control Technology (ACT) designs, develops, and installs whole room oxygenation systems to mitigate the effects of altitude sickness, enhance sleep quality, and improve general health and wellness. ACT is the world's leader in residential oxygenation systems, with hundreds of installs across all major high-altitude locations in North America. ACT Hospitality is the technology of choice for some of the world's most sophisticated hotels and resorts, and the company works research institutions the world over, including Harvard Medical School, the Mayo Clinic, the University of Colorado's Altitude Research Center, the Borgenicht Altitude Physiology Research Center at William & Mary, and the U.S Army Research Institute. Please visit www.AltitudeCT.com to learn more.
Read More
European Waterways | September 16, 2020
In tandem with the continuing growth of the solo travel market, European Waterways has extended its Solo Cruise in 2021 aboard the 20-passenger La Bella Vita hotel barge, which will sail between Venice and Mantua along Italy’s Po River and the Bianco Canal.
Departing on Oct. 10, 2021 – and exclusive to solo travelers – the six-night cruise offers 10 percent off for advance bookings, which represents a savings of $560 off the $5,600 single rate, European Waterways said.
Read More