Print Preview : Abacus and XML help Swire Travel be first "off the grid" in Hong Kong

Abacus and XML help Swire Travel be first "off the grid" in Hong Kong
Leading travel agency Swire Travel is the first travel management company in Hong Kong to provide an online booking solution customised for promoting the sales of their 2009 Singapore Formula One Grand Prix tickets and travel packages.

Swire Travel’s online booking engine was made possible this week thanks to a partnership between Excellent Management Limited (XML) technology’s Dynamic eService solution - a tailor-made e-business solution for the fast growing online travel business sector, and Abacus WebConnect - a web based developer toolkit for agencies to build e-commerce solutions.

The adoption of this new online technology will help Swire Travel promote sales of the Formula One Grand Prix travel packages, by providing real time updates and information to customers. Using the new solution customers will be able to book flights, hotel accommodation, transfers, local tours as well as Formula One Grand Prix race tickets with instant confirmation. Swire Travel anticipates up-turn in online bookings.

Abacus’ Vice President of Marketing Brett Henry said “As an Asian business Abacus understands that one size does not fit all and so working together with XML we were able to ensure that Swire Travel’s Dynamic eService was tailored to facilitate the selling of Singapore Formula One products around the clock, as well as servicing the demands of the high pressure travel agency environment.”

He continues “Swire Travel’s pioneering adoption of Abacus WebConnect for one of their signature products of the year reflects the voracious appetite for innovation in the travel industry in Hong Kong. Agents in this vibrant market are constantly seeking new ways to increase client service levels as well as improve their agency efficiency and productivity. Ultimately this will lead to an increase in agency revenue streams, even despite the impact of the current economic down turn.”

Abacus knows that the online sector has shown remarkable stability through the otherwise volatile market for the past 12 months. Fuelling the growth of online travel agency, Abacus has kept in step with this trend through the provision of the new Abacus e-business constellation suite earlier this year. Complementing Abacus WebConnect, this also includes Abacus WebCreate and Abacus WebStart - both new online solutions designed to help traditional agencies to add an online component into their businesses. Vicky Karantzavelou - Friday, August 07, 2009