For Travel agencies, it is imperative to have access to a large amount of data in order to meet the demands of travellers. Travelport Smartpoint is the right travel technology that aggregates content from thousands of sources and provide information to you in a user-friendly way. Packed with brand new and excellent features, Travelport Smartpoint 8.2.1 helps you to adapt in the new age of technology and be a step ahead in the travel market. Some of the salient features of updated version are: • Improved Smartscreen for increased flexibility, which means you can keep the cursor anywhere on the screen for start of the message, users are not limited to position cursor in the white box. Similar to host view, there is no need to switch • Enhanced branded fares that promotes upselling more easily. Now fare families can be sorted by brand tier to promote up-selling and the brand details are now available from the ticket record and stored fare displays • Improved fare results as users can select up to 5 carriers on the Air Availability and Flight Shop Search forms • Improved hotel results as you can select up to 8 multi-level rate codes on the Hotel Availability Search form • More relevant results with a new end-to-end pricing modifier for branded fares • Save time with the removal of the mandatory CVV code for UA paid seats • With new Special Service Request (SSR) codes, rest assured for improved efficiency. Travel agents can select DPNA from SSR drop-down menu on Travelport Smartpoint and tab to input additional details manually. These codes are used in the airline industry to assist people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. …

Despite registering a decline in occupancy rates, two-star hotels witnessed maximum growth in average room rates (ARR) and increased by about 8.5 per cent y-o-y during FY18, according to a report by Hotelivate. This was followed by three-star hotels that registered a growth of about 5% y-o-y in FY18. 4 star and 5 star D hotels recorded a growth of 3 per cent y-o-y each in average room rates. Five-star hotels, however, registered the lowest growth about 1.8 per cent y-o-y in the group during the year. This may be attributed to the gradual escalation of commercial activity in Tier II and Tier III cities as well as increased domestic travel.

Revenues from business travellers will grow significantly over the next few years, according to a CII-PwC report. Although MiCE has not been a significant contributor to the Indian hospitality sector so far, this trend is likely to change with better planning as well as improved infrastructure. On the other hand, few CEOs believe that leisure travel will keep pace with growth seen in business travel and MiCE. A large section of leisure travellers continue to perceive hotels as a luxury.

After adding 100th aircraft to its fleet recently, Spice Jet is planning to add eight more Boeing planes in the next two weeks that were withdrawn from grounded Jet Airways’s fleet by lessors. “In the next fortnight, we expect to add another eight Boeing 737 (Next Generation) NG which were being operated by Jet Airways. We didn’t incur any additional capex on these aircraft,” said Kiran Koteshwar, CFO, SpiceJet in an interview to Mint. The 30 Boeing 737 NG planes that were earlier operated by Jet Airways are being added to SpiceJet’s fleet on short-term leases, with a maximum lease tenure of 24 months, added Koteshwar. The airline’s current fleet consists of 68 Boeing 737 (including 13 Boeing 737 Max planes), 30 Bombardier Q-400s and two B737 freighters.

Air India, which is running in losses currently, may reportedly join hands with the Ministry of Tourism (MOT) for a working partnership overseas, under which tourist offices at around eight overseas destinations would shift to Air India offices. Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) and MOT are in discussions for the partnership, as part of the cost restructuring by the MOT, under which it will require to shut offices at prime tourist destinations, like London, Paris, Amsterdam, Toronto, Tokyo, Sydney and Milan. As part of the arrangement, India Tourism will pay rent to Air India along with a nominal amount for the service rendered by the Air India staff. Last year, MOT, which had 15 overseas offices, was asked by the government to reduce the number of offices in two-three years and shift operations to the embassies in those cities. Th shifting to embassies part has been in debate owing to security concerns and scepticism over manpower.

Pakistan on Wednesday extended the ban on use of its airspace from May 30 to June 15. Air India is witnessing a daily loss of Rs 5-7 crore as its flights towards Europe and U.S. are forced to take a longer route as well as make a stop en route for refuelling. The earlier NOTAM issued by Pakistan’s civil aviation authority was until 3.30 p. m. on May 30 and this has been pushed to 5.30 a.m. on June 15, a senior official of the Ministry of Civil Aviation confirmed. Source: The Hindu

Mumbai-based Explora, led by Managing Partners, Karishma Kazi and Sunny Katara, has now signed a new agreement with Pavilions Hotels & Resorts to promote three of their properties in India with effect from June 1, 2019. These include The Pavilions Phuket, The Pavilions Bali and The Pavilions Himalayas and categorised as high-end, luxury properties. Revealing this is Sunny Katara, Managing Partner, Explora, who says, “The luxury hotel chain has chosen us to be their strategic partner for Business development in India. This is an exclusive agreement for the India market. They chose us because they saw the good work we have done for our other clients. India is an important market for them and they are looking to tap the growing Indian outbound. We have recommended starting with roadshows in multiple cities as their focus is pan-India.”

Travelport, will be ready to implement a new booking code for non-binary gender airline passengers when it goes live on 1 June. The new code offers the option to choose “X”, rather than “M” or “F”, when a passenger is required to provide such advance passenger information. Such information needs to be provided for customers travelling to or in transit to Algeria, Canada, China (except Hong Kong), Iran, Jamaica, Japan, Kenya, Mexico, Morocco, Pakistan, South Africa, Spain, Syria, Thailand, USA and the United Arab Emirates. Travelport has pledged to make the code available to all of the 480 airlines on its platform who choose to adopt it. A number of these, such as United, American Airlines and Delta have confirmed they are preparing to bring in the new code option. Others are expected to follow. The option to choose “X” will need to be matched with the passenger’s passport or identity document. Argentina, Australia, Canada, Denmark, Germany, India, Ireland, Malta, New Zealand, Nepal, The Netherlands and Pakistan already offer an option other than “M” or “F” on passports – in most cases “X”. X passports are approved by the ICAO, the UN agency that regulates international air travel. Commenting on the introduction of the new code, Gordon Wilson, President and CEO of Travelport said: “As a company committed to diversity and promoting travel for all, we are delighted that the new code for nonbinary gender passengers has now been introduced. We hope more airlines will provide this option to ensure their customers are fully respected and welcomed. For us ‘X’ marks a vote for diversity, dignity and respect.”

According to IATA, agents and advisors booking flights for clients through the association’s Passenger Agency Program must ask travelers if they want their contact information shared with airlines in the case of operational disruptions. Agents and advisors will be required to enter the passenger contact information when booking flights beginning June 1. Carriers will be able to use the information to advise passengers of irregular flight operations and disruptions. “In the event the passenger exercises his or her right not to provide contact details it is incumbent on the Agent to indicate that the passenger has declined to provide such details, and to enter the refusal in the PNR to limit any statutory liability,” the IATA rule now reads. “In such a case, the Agent must actively advise the passenger that they may not receive information from the airline relating to flight cancellation or schedule changes (including delay in departure).” For travelers who decline to share their phone number and/or email address, agents and advisors will have to report the client refused to provide the information. While the rule has been in place since 2013, it is now a requirement instead of a recommendation As for how the information will be used, IATA officials said it would not be utilized for marketing or sales purposes, but instead will be for flight cancellations, schedule changes and other related operational notifications. The IATA Passenger Agency Program provides a system for the accreditation of travel agents that meet specific industry standards and financial criteria. Currently there are some 56,261 IATA accredited travel agents operating in 207 countries and territories. (Source: Travel Pulse)

The Indian Hotels Company Limited has introduced the iconic Taj brand in Agra with the opening of Taj Hotel & Convention Centre, Agra. The hotel is spread over 4.5 acres is ideally located within walking distance from the Taj Mahal. The 239 spacious rooms are elegantly designed in a contemporary style. The hotel offers multiple dining options such as Palato, the all-day diner, Daawat-e-Nawaab, the Indian specialty restaurant and two lounges – Liquid Lounge and Tea Lounge. The pièce de résistance is Infini – The Sky Lounge, a rooftop bar with stunning views of the Taj Mahal. Guests can enjoy a swim in the infinity pool which also overlooks the Taj Mahal. Rohit Khosla, Executive Vice President – Operations, North and West India, IHCL, said “We are excited to bring the Taj brand to the historic city of Agra. Agra is renowned world over for being one of the most culturally rich cities. Taj Hotel & Convention Centre, Agra offering spectacular views of the Taj Mahal promises to be a great draw for both, domestic as well as international travellers.” This luxury hotel in Agra is an ideal destination for large conferences and destination weddings. It offers 40,000 sq. ft. of indoor and outdoor banqueting space including a 14,000 sq. ft. pillar-less hall which is one of the largest in North India. “Taj Hotel & Convention Centre, Agra is located in close proximity to major tourist attractions. It is ideally suited for leisure travellers and is the perfect venue for conferences and weddings. I am looking forward to welcoming guests to this new luxury address in the city.” said Rajat Tuli, General Manager, Taj Hotel & Convention Centre, Agra. With …