Saudi travel agencies receive unique view on latest innovations and technologies in the travel sector 

Riyadh, Jeddah and Khobar, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia- March 21, 2017 – Sabre Corporation (NASDAQ: SABR) the leading technology provider to the travel and tourism industry, launched its 2017 Technology Day series in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, offering a unique view into the top technology trends and innovations impacting the travel industry and what Sabre is investing in for the future. 

The series started off with two dedicated sessions for travel companies in Riyadh, which were offered the opportunity to hear and discuss trends, challenges and opportunities shaping the future of travel in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the region, including the important role of online, mobile, and personalization. Other sessions were conducted around the Kingdom in Jeddah and Khobar.

'Diversifying economies and investing in different industries are the best strategies to overcome the economic challenges we are facing in the Middle East,” said Daniel Naoumovitch, CEO, Saber Travel Network, Middle East “The Saudi vision 2030 realizes the importance of the travel and tourism sector and its role to support the country’s GDP. Our investments and efforts in Saudi Arabia will continue to be aligned with the Saudi directions and it remains a priority for us to provide the industry’s stakeholders with latest solutions and innovations that will enable them to attract more customers, increase revenue and compete on a global level which will result in contributing to the success of this vision.” 

Naoumovitch also spoke about the latest trends, emerging technologies and Sabre’s investments in this field. He said:  “Mobile, online and emerging technologies such as virtual reality and artificial intelligent are having a profound impact on travel, and in the next few years, we’re going to see a lot of changes to how traveler’s needs are met. Saudi travelers are fast adaptors of latest technologies and they are leading the region with 34 per cent using their mobile to book flights as per a report by Destinia. They have high expectations from all travel players and expect to use their technology gadgets in travel. They demand an intuitive and more personalized travel experience built around their preferences, choices and needs.”  

Travellers today demand a bespoke journey and they are willing to pay for extras that add value to their itinerary. A recent study by Sabre revealed that travellers in the Middle East are willing to pay up to $100 to personalise their trip. 

“Travelers want more than an itinerary; they want an experience.” said Noman Ali, Acting Commercial Director, Sabre, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. “Travelers want to feel confident about their purchase and expect their travel agency to recommend which destinations to visit and when. Today’s empowered traveler increasingly wants personalization and expect their agency to know their preferred seat and if they need an extra bag with their fare. Our new Sabre Red Workspace is a major innovation for travel agencies that will help them be true travel consultants to achieve personalization and travel excellence.” 

Participants were given a live demonstration of the game-changer Sabre’s New Red Workspace that will enable smarter retailing, personalization and merchandising, and help reduce training costs in high turnover markets by using a graphical interface.