Advantage appoints Amadeus as tech partner for Focus corporate travel members

The Advantage Focus Partnership, a corporate travel group within the UK travel agency consortium, has agreed a three-year deal with Amadeus.

The Advantage Focus Partnership, a corporate travel group within the UK travel agency consortium, has agreed a three-year deal with Amadeus.

The GDS has been chosen as the group’s preferred technology partner after it hosted members of the organisation’s technology panel at its Nice development headquarters.

Most recently Advantage has partnered with Travelport, and Sabre before that.

The agency group said the two firms have looked at how new technologies can be deployed to improve efficiency, lower operating costs and boost customer loyalty.

During the visit to Nice, Amadeus demonstrated how its technology is relevant in the pre-booking phase as well as within travel and post-travel reporting and analysis.

Julia Lo Bue-Said, managing director of Advantage, said: “The Advantage Focus Partnership delegation that visited Amadeus’s executive briefing Centre in Nice was very impressed with the company’s solutions roadmap, which led to the unanimous decision to appoint Amadeus as recommended technology partner.

“Amadeus clearly understands how efficiency drives down the cost of doing business, whether that is by reducing airline Agency Debit Memos through more accurate fares, or obtaining the last available seat on popular commuter flights.

“Also, by providing fast, reliable access to the best travel content in the market, including specially negotiated fares, we are convinced that this partnership will quickly deliver the results that our members need to retain web-savvy travellers and gain new clients.

“Both organisations share a common vision for improving the business travel experience and delivering the kind of superior service that customers truly value.”

Diane Bouzebiba, managing director of Amadeus UK and Ireland, added: “We are delighted to be working together with Advantage Focus Partnership after they concluded an almost forensic investigation into the latest travel technology offered by all the major players. “Today more than ever before, travel professionals need highly automated and streamlined front-to-back office solutions.

“Amadeus invests over 15% of the company’s total revenues in technology that offers demonstrable value. Combined with our genuinely consultative approach, this enables Amadeus to deliver exactly what UK travel professionals need to succeed in travel.

“This is the start of an exciting partnership for both companies that will utilise Amadeus’ smarter technology and Advantage Focus Partnership’s commitment to customer service to win the hearts and minds of 21st century business travellers.”