Snowstorm Technologies to launch OneWurld agent desktop with GlobalStar alliance

Partnership will see new hybrid hotel booking programme Above & Beyond introduced

Snowstorm Technologies has announced an alliance with international travel management network GlobalStar Travel Management.

The distribution, technology, content and knowledge deal will see the corporate travel specialist support the launch of Snowstorm’s OneWurld agent desktop product.

Snowstorm said this will bring together global distribution with “leading edge technology”, a wide breadth of content and the “combined experience of two established management teams”.

The partnership will also see new hybrid hotel programme called Above & Beyond introduced.

The OneWurld desktop includes an SME-focused corporate booking tool and has been developed in partnership with GlobalStar, among other key corporate agencies and network members.

Goncalo Fernandes, executive director of information technology and supplier relations, at GlobalStar, said:

“We saw an opportunity to create a corporate booking and management tool that was seamless and easy to use for travellers, travel bookers, approvers and agents via desktop or mobile device.

“An advanced yet simple platform that has all the functionality and comprehensive global content of far more complicated booking tools at a price that we believe will completely disrupt this segment.”

The Above & beyond hotel programme will focus on driving competitive rates to its bookers, as well as saving hotel partners money in distribution costs.

The hybrid solution provides a mix of GDS, direct connect and OTA rates from all major hotel groups and independent chains globally and is both corporate and leisure focussed.

Steve Hartwell, president of GlobalStar, said “We have partnered with Snowstorm on their hotel booking platform for the last three years.

“As we have worked more closely together we have come to fully understand the value of OneWurld as a complete booking and management travel solution for all our network agency partners whether they offer corporate or leisure or a combination.

“Snowstorm has been a valuable partner in helping us foresee and navigate the new travel landscape. We are very pleased to be forging a shared vision that will help both companies to better compete, grow and flourish.”

Riaz Pisani, chief strategy officer of OneWurld, added: “COVID-19 has provided the opportunity for both companies to step back from the day-to-day business operations and take a long hard look at what travel agencies within the GlobalStar Network will need in the future and fast track the development of the OneWurld Desktop Solution to enable agents to succeed and thrive in the new marketplace.

“This is the perfect combination of leading-edge technology and distribution with an unbeatable breadth of content.”