Institute to train travel agents on latest travel technology

Dubai UAE, December 22, 2008: Amadeus Gulf today announced the opening of the Amadeus Learning Academy (ALA). The academy based in Al Ain aims to train and equip travel agents to use the Amadeus global distribution system and effectively sell travel packages and solutions to customers.

Also know as the garden city, Al Ain, is the fourth largest Emirate and a popular tourism destination in the UAE. The city has experienced a steady rise in tourism in recent years and the academy will help play a key role in training the travel industry professionals with hands-on knowledge needed to respond promptly to changing market trends.

The academy follows a globally accredited curriculum that is closely aligned to the requirements of the regional travel industry.

The courses which comprise of both practical and classroom training will commence from January 2009 and will incorporates key topics, including fares and ticketing, flight reservations, car hire, hotel reservations, etc.

The courses are ideal for beginners as well as experienced travel agents and will be coached by certified Amadeus trainers.

"We have seen a growing demand for training courses designed specifically for the regional travel industry professionals," said Ghulam Al Baloushi, Managing Director, Amadeus Gulf. "The Amadeus Learning Academy in Al Ain is a step forward in addressing this need, and it will help us work closer with our partners to further maximize their business success. "

Amadeus Gulf currently runs training courses for the travel industry in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Oman and Bahrain.

Annually, the equivalent of 3,300 man-years is spent by Amadeus in R&D and technology evolution, allowing travel agents to benefit from some of the most advanced, integrated and powerful business tools available in the market. 

The new training centre further establishes Amadeus' commitment to partners in the region. Most recently, Amadeus entered into a 10-year exclusive distribution agreements with 13 leading airlines from the Arab Air Carriers Organisation (AACO). The 13 airlines - Air Algérie, Afriqiyah Airways, EgyptAir, Etihad Airways, Kuwait Airways, Libyan Airlines, Qatar Airways, Saudi Arabian Airlines, Sudan Airways, Syrian Arab Airlines, Tunisair Yemen Airways and Air Maroc , account for 68 per cent of reservations made by travel agencies in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.

Amadeus System is used by close to 4000 travel agency locations in the Middle East and is installed on more than 9,800 travel agency terminals that can make bookings on all of Middle East's Full Service Carriers.

Amadeus maintains customer operations in 75 countries covering more than 217 markets. The company has nearly 8,300 employees worldwide, representing 95 nationalities.

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About Amadeus
Amadeus is the chosen technology partner for providers, sellers, and buyers of travel. The company provides distribution, IT and point-of-sale solutions to help its customers adapt, grow and succeed in the fast-changing travel industry. Customer groups include travel providers (airlines, hotels, car rental companies, railway companies, ferry lines, cruise lines, insurance companies and tour operators), travel sellers (travel agencies) and travel buyers (corporations and travelers). Solutions are grouped in four solution categories - Distribution & Content, Sales & e-Commerce, Business Management and Services & Consulting.

Amadeus has central sites in Madrid (Corporate Headquarters & Marketing), Nice (Development) and Erding (Operations - Data Processing Center) and regional offices in Miami, Buenos Aires and Bangkok. At market level, Amadeus maintains customer operations in 75 countries covering more than 217 markets. The company has nearly 8,300 employees worldwide, representing 95 nationalities. More information about Amadeus is available at: http://www.amadeus.com.

Contact details
Priscilla Stanley
Asda'a Public Relations
T: +971 4 3344550
E:p.stanley@asdaa.com

© Press Release 2008