Sabre technology day shines a light on the latest innovations in travel and offers first live demo of Sabre’s new Red Workspace in the Middle East
Beirut, Lebanon- October 20, 2016 – Travel agencies and airlines from Lebanon were given an exclusive view of the top trends shaping Middle East travel at a technology event hosted by global travel technology provider, Sabre Corporation (NASDAQ: SABR).
The event, opened by Daniel Naoumovitch, CEO, Sabre Travel Network Middle East, (STNME), provided an opportunity for participants to hear and discuss trends, challenges and opportunities shaping the future of travel in Lebanon and the region, including the important role of online, mobile, and personalization.
“Lebanon is a unique market with the travel sector contributing approximately 8 per cent to the country’s GDP and 114,000 job opportunities,” said Naoumovitch. “Embracing technology and keeping up with the latest innovations in mobile, online, data and analytics, and personalization are key to staying competitive with regional and global players. We are investing heavily in this country to help our customers leverage technology to achieve customer excellence and unlock new revenue streams.
“We are proud to be associated with the largest travel agencies in the country, which are increasingly introducing online and mobile solutions in response to changing consumer behaviors. The Lebanese traveler is a high adopter of technology and expects to search for travel details anytime, anywhere. They demand luxury at every part of the trip and expect travel to be personalized to meet their high expectations and needs.”
Nabeel Sheikho, Business Development Manager, Online, STNME, shared the latest trends in online travel, and highlighted the importance for traditional agencies to adopt an online strategy.
“Travellers are increasingly heading online or to their mobile to shop and book travel, and traditional travel agencies should consider how to tap into this before it’s too late. It is vital to integrate these technologies into their business strategy and roadmap. Companies that do this will differentiate their business and meet consumer needs and expectations, which will drive greater loyalty and business success.” said Sheikho.
In addition to trends, participants were given a live demonstration of Sabre’s new Red Workspace, set to launch next year. Ahmed Samir, Regional Manager, Levant, Egypt and Iraq, STNME, called the new solution a “game changer” that will enable smarter retailing, personalization and merchandising, and help reduce training costs in high turnover markets by using a graphical interface.
“Travelers want more than an itinerary; they want to feel confident about their purchase and expect their trip to be built around choice. They expect their agency to know if they want a window or aisle seat, and if they need an extra bag with their fare. They’re looking for a more personalized travel experience. Our new Sabre Red Workspace is a major innovation for travel agencies and we are delighted to show the new capabilities of our system with guests in Lebanon.”
Sabre recently celebrated the opening of a new office in Beirut.