The Virgin Group has shaken up its UK GDS provider by switching to Amadeus for its tour operator brand and upgrading its Travelport partnership for its airline’s online shopfront Flightstore.
Virgin strikes new operator partnership with Amadeus, upgrades Travelport airline deal
The Virgin Group has shaken up its UK GDS provider by switching to Amadeus for its tour operator brand and upgrading its Travelport partnership for its airline’s online shopfront Flightstore.
The Amadeus deal is described as a “broad ranging technology partnership ” that will make use of the technology provider’s fares and shopping technology.
Meanwhile Travelport has struck a three-year deal that will see Virgin Atlantic Flightstore deploying its latest point of sale tools, including the Smartpoint app.
The migration of the Virgin Holidays technology took place in October ending the first phase of the agreement, Amadeus said.
Wayne Perks, product and commercial director at Virgin Holidays, said: “As a hugely popular brand with the travelling public, we wanted to ensure that the Virgin flair, which is so evident throughout our customers’ holiday experiences is present in the trip planning and shopping stages.
“Our aim is to make the pre-departure shopping and booking an enjoyable and stress-free precursor to enjoying the actual holiday.
“That’s why we are working with Amadeus to ensure that our customers will always be able to access the best fares on offer, and they will be able to do this effortlessly thanks to the advanced new technology we are installing.”
Amadeus commercial director Scott Davies added: “By using technology and increased automation as an business enabler, Amadeus is working with Virgin Holidays to ensure that our unique solutions will deliver demonstrable cost savings and better customer service, regardless of the sales channel used.
“We see this as the beginning of a long and mutually beneficial business partnership between the two growing companies.”
As well as the new Virgin Atlantic deal Travelport remains a partner for other parts of the Virgin group including its Bales Worldwide escorted tours operation and Virgin Atlantic airline.
Angela Easeman, commercial manager at Virgin Atlantic Flightstore, said: “Travelport is our chosen provider due to its wide range of travel content and the excellent efficiencies it delivers to our staff workflow.”
UK and Ireland regional director of Travelport, Simon Ferguson, said he was delighted Virgin Atlantic Flightstore was “embracing our latest innovations”.
