easyCruise has been added to the Amadeus system
in both the UK and the US markets.
The addition of easyCruise to the Amadeus
system allows easyCruise to target the travel agency distribution
channel, reducing their dependency on direct-consumer bookings.
Paul Ellerby, Sales & Marketing Director UK & US
at easyCruise, said, “We are excited to be extending our content
to Amadeus Cruise and Cruise API users. Amadeus is providing us
with access to a large network of cruise specialists and travel
agents, which is key to our growth strategy. In the current
economic climate, it is important for cruise lines to reduce costs
whilst improving distribution and achieving market share growth.
We are confident that Amadeus’ proven Cruise booking solutions
will help easyCruise reach its ambitious goals.”
easyCruise
is now distributed in both markets on the browser-based Amadeus
Cruise desktop sales solution for travel professionals, as well as
the Cruise Application Programming Interface for online
sales.
This makes Amadeus the first GDS distributing
easyCruise content and in parallel to the launch with Amadeus,
easyCruise plans to actively target the travel agency distribution
channel which the company hopes will spread the balance between
industry and direct-consumer bookings.
Stephen Wilbanks,
Head of Sales at Amadeus Cruise, said, “As
a leading provider of selling systems that highlight customer
choice and travel agents’ expertise, Amadeus now uniquely offers
19 cruise lines. These cruise lines offer a range of products to
suit the discerning, family oriented and price-conscious cruise
passenger. Cruise holidays are gaining popularity, and by placing
itself among the well established brands already benefiting from
distribution via Amadeus, easyCruise will be a welcome addition to
the Amadeus Cruise portfolio.”
Despite the industry
economic global downturn, 2008 was an extremely successful year
for Amadeus Cruise, where a 20% growth in bookings over 2007 was
achieved.
See
other recent news regarding:
Travel News Asia,
easyCruise,
Amadeus
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