Travelport, one of the world’s leading global distribution system (GDS) providers, has extended its presence in the UAE with the launch yesterday of its new direct operations for Galileo-connected travel agents in Abu Dhabi.
H.E. Nasser Butti Omeir Bin Youssuf, Chairman of the Travel & Tourism Agencies Council (ATTAC) and Board Member of the Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ADCCI) inaugurated the new office, along with Mr. Hani Khorsheed, Secretary General of ATTAC. Representatives and VIP’s from the Abu Dhabi travel trade community were also present to mark the occasion.
Located in the Al Muhairy building in the Madinat Zayed district, Travelport’s new office in the capital will offer a wide-range of Galileo solutions and services and will house dedicated sales, training and helpdesk teams focussed on providing the highest levels of customer support.
Bringing with him a wealth of GDS industry experience, Travelport’s UAE Country Manager Faris Azzee will be overseeing the operation and ensuring that Travelport’s Galileo offering responds to the requirements of the local travel trade.
“The launch of Travelport’s new operations underscores our long-term commitment to Abu Dhabi and ensures that we are closely aligned with the needs of the local travel trade,” said Azzee. “We are delighted to be able to serve our loyal Galileo customers here directly and provide them with the highest levels of hands-on support,” he added.
With an established network in the capital, the GDS provider is taking steps to get even closer to the Abu Dhabi travel community and has become an official sponsor of the Travel & Tourism Agencies Council (ATTAC), providing key visibility among the association’s membership.
“Through its innovative technology and support, Travelport is raising the standard of products and services available to the Abu Dhabi travel trade and enriching the competitive landscape of the local GDS industry,” said Hani Khorsheed, Secretary General of ATTAC. “We are delighted that they have chosen to set up operations in the capital and look forward to their long-term presence.”
Reinforcing its leadership position in the UAE, the Abu Dhabi launch follows the roll-out of a revised distribution structure for Travelport at the beginning of this year in key countries across the Middle East, where it has boosted its presence with dedicated support teams to serve the needs of Galileo customers.
Galileo has been the leading GDS in the Middle East for the past 18 years and is used by 15,500 travel agents in the region. As one of the GDS platforms under Travelport’s umbrella, the Galileo system remains one of the most flexible and widely-used travel booking channels in the world.