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Sabre advocates innovation, collaboration for travel agents

The travel agents of tomorrow must embrace technology, innovation and collaboration if they are to thrive and succeed in a rapidly evolving travel market where zero commission is fast becoming the order of the day.”
Gabriel Gbenga Olowo

Gabriel Gbenga Olowo

Partners Babcock University on aviation study

The travel agents of tomorrow must embrace technology, innovation and collaboration if they are to thrive and succeed in a rapidly evolving travel market where zero commission is fast becoming the order of the day.”

Those were the opening remarks by Gbenga Olowo, President/CEO, Sabre Travel Network West Africa, at a one-day Business Luncheon for chief executives of leading travel agents in the country. The event played host to the crème-de-la-crème of the travel distribution business and had as its theme:

“The Ambitious and Discerning Travel Agent.” Olowo noted that agents that can be regarded as ambitious and discerning are those with foresight and a clear picture of what the future holds.

He remarked that agents outside the internet space are at a disadvantage and need to quickly rethink the way they do business, adding that it is pertinent also for them to strengthen their businesses by using 21st century real time travel technology applications and solutions which Sabre Travel Network provides.

He further urged them to embrace the spirit of collaboration; with likeminded and equally matched IATA accredited travel agents having similar business models and ideologies on one hand as well as integrating non-IATA agents by applying various online booking and payment solutions.

“The travel business market of tomorrow is online,” he submitted. The day’s activities at the forum were divided into three interactive sessions. Session one which was tagged:

“Getting Online and Being Successful” was anchored by Hamish Broom, Director, Business Development, EMEA Sabre Travel Network who delivered a paper titled: “The Future Is Called Online Collaboration.”

The second session; “Innovate to Differentiate,” was handled by David Wickens, Product and Technology Consultant. He spoke on: “Sabre Red Workspace and Red Apps” as well as “Mobile Solutions: TripCase and Sabre Red Mobile Workspace.”

In the third session; “Collaboration and Consolidation,” Maria Rebagliati, Manager Operations, New Markets, EMEA spoke on: “Sabre Quality Control Ticketing,” which allows mega agent to integrate non-IATA agents into their operations while keeping track of things.

Other topics discussed include; “Automated Exchanges, e-Ticket Reports and Sabre Internet Booking Engine.” In a related development, the forum was also used to announce Sabre’s partnership with Babcock University to offer Certificate, Diploma and Masters Degree Courses in Business Administration with specialization in Aviation as well as other relevant fields of study. Prof. Alao Ekundayo, The Chief Executive Officer, BABCOCK Centre for Executive Development, was on hand to herald the milestone development and quipped that the partnership will go a long way to contribute immensely to capacity development in the aviation sector which is currently dominated by expatriates.

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