The exhibition IFTM Top Resa doesn't open its doors until 29 September, but that doesn't matter: Amadeus is sounding the charge by unveiling on Thursday the main new features that should help make the blue and white stand one of the star attractions at the event. George Rudas and Alexandre Jorre, respectively CEO and Marketing Director of Amadeus France, gave a foretaste of the new ambitions for the technology giant in the travel market, particularly in the business travel segment.
Already widely recognised for its GDS activity, as well as for its activities as a technology supplier for a number of airlines - including Lufthansa... - Amadeus is now reaffirming its business travel ambitions with the launch of Amadeus cytric Travel & Expense. The new solution, which is based on the acquisition of Germany's i:FAO a few months ago, aims to integrate the various links in the business travel chain: from planning to expense managementby making a reservation (SBT). Its credo: the personalisation of the offer. Its strength: Amadeus' capacity to invest in R&D.
The tool, which will be with a mobile versionis intended to be "flexible and customisable", "intuitive and practical", just like the Speedbook allowing tickets to be booked "in 2 clicks and less than 30 seconds". It also anticipates the thorny issue of duty of careallowing the location of business travellers thanks to a satellite view.
With the launch of its AeTM (Amadeus e-Travel Management), Amadeus had already made its entry into the corporate world - a successful foray, moreover, with some 6,000 corporate customers worldwide. L'end-to-end approach developed by Amadeus cytric Travel & Expense now marks a decisive new step in the business travel sector. "It was important for there to be a new European player in this field, able to offer companies a modern, flexible and reliable solution from a security point of view," stresses George Rudas, pointing out in passing that the Amadeus data centre is based in Europe, on the other side of the Rhine. "This time, we are the challengerAnd we're going to be aggressive on the sales front to ramp up quickly," warns the CEO of Amadeus France. These promises are all the more credible in that they should be supported by open contentThe new players in the market, which have emerged from the traditional business travel sector, are looking to expand their horizons and reach beyond the traditional boundaries of business travel. The new players in the market, from the collaborative economyThe technology provider has clearly set its sights on Amadeus, and admits to discussions with "world leaders in the market". There is every reason to believe that Amadeus' ambitions in the business travel sector are here to stay, and that it is preparing to change the market.
