Travelport, the business services provider to the global travel industry operating both the Galileo and Worldspan global distribution systems (GDS), yesterday announced its Bahrain foray, where it has established new Galileo operations to provide enhanced support to the local travel trade.
The GDS provider confirms that it has taken over the distribution of its Galileo platform in the Kingdom following the end of its agreement with Middle East Computer Services (MECOS), part of Al Safar Group, and that it will serve all Galileo subscribers from a new, wholly-owned operation in Manama.
With a full-service team in place to meet the needs of Galileo travel agents and partners, the new support structure will enhance the resources available to the local travel industry, facilitating access to Travelport's extensive international network, best-of-breed technology products and comprehensive training programmes.
Overseeing the new operation is Travelport's newly-appointed Director for the Lower Gulf Region, Ghulam Saleh Al Balooshi, a Bahraini national and highly-experienced GDS veteran with more than 35 years experience in the travel industry: "As a result of this new distribution structure, we are well positioned to respond to the growing needs of the travel trade and nurture our long-term presence in Bahrain," said Balooshi. "We look forward to having a direct relationship with local travel agents and injecting innovation, competition and value to the local landscape," he added.
Reinforcing its continued strength in the Middle East, Travelport's investment in Bahrain builds on the successful direct operations it has set up across the region, with an efficient, direct distribution network for Galileo-connected travel agents already in place across the UAE, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia.
© Bahrain Tribune 2010
