New web-based SMS solution allows travel agencies to send travel information via SMS

Dubai, UAE, 13 March 2010: Amadeus, a global leader in technology and distribution solutions for the travel and tourism industry, today announced the launch of Amadeus SMS solution, an industry-first web-based tool that allows travel agents in UAE to update their customers with their latest travel itinerary via SMS.

Travel agents will be able to alert travellers on important travel details, including travel itineraries, e-tickets, flight information, Passenger Name Record (PNR) data, and any changes to the Ticketing Time Limit (the date by which a booked ticket must be issued) through their mobile phones.

Amadeus SMS is fully integrated into the Amadeus Selling Platform, allowing travel agents to quickly generate traveller information directly from the Amadeus PNR database. Traveller cell phone numbers remain confidential, and there is no additional advertising attached to the text message. The solution's easy-to-use graphical user interface (GUI) also makes it simple to incorporate into an agency's booking process.

Amadeus SMS is designed to give travel agencies more flexibility and convenience in ensuring important data reaches their customers immediately. It can operate with multiple itineraries and multiple mobile phone numbers and can be used to send text messages to travellers anywhere in the world, covering 700 networks in more than 200 countries.

"With air travel becoming more affordable and convenient people today travel more often than they did 5 years ago. This increase in travel, whether for business or leisure, has meant that travellers are well aware of their options and expect up-to-date information from their travel consultants," said Ghulam Al Baloushi, Manager Director, Amadeus Gulf. "At Amadeus our focus is to understand the travellers' changing preferences and develop solutions that help travel agents respond to these changes efficiently.  Amadeus SMS solution is one such product that has been developed with the travel agents and their customers in mind. The new SMS solution corresponds closely with the trend of technology convergence on mobile devices, and we're pleased to be the first to introduce this concept in the UAE. It is a great example of how technology can help reduce operating costs, increase convenience and take customer service to the next level."

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Amadeus is the chosen technology partner and transaction processor for the global travel and tourism industry. The company provides distribution and technology 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 travellers).

Amadeus operates under a transaction-based business model that offers IT solutions to virtually all players in the travel industry.  The Amadeus system processed more than 670 million billable travel transactions in 2009.

Amadeus has central sites in Madrid (corporate headquarters & marketing), Nice (development) and Erding (Operations - data processing centre) and regional offices in Miami, Buenos Aires, Bangkok and Dubai. At market level, Amadeus maintains customer operations through 72 local Amadeus Commercial Organisations covering 195 countries.

The company is majority owned by WAM Acquisition, whose shareholders are BC Partners, Cinven, Air France, Iberia and Lufthansa. The Amadeus group employs over 9,300 employees worldwide, with 123 nationalities represented at the central offices.

More information about Amadeus is available at: http://www.amadeus.com

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Priscilla Stanley
Asda'a Burson-Marsteller
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© Press Release 2010