Amadeus Puts its Smart Money on Cuba

Amadeus IT Group, S.A. has celebrated seven years since it opened its representation office in Cuba, and the outcomes speak volumes of its achievements. This is a major technology provider for travel and tourism that handles two main business lines and caters to over 90,000 customers around the world.

This is the world’s leading company in airfare booking in GDS-operated travel agencies. “In addition to the global distribution of airlines, this distribution system is used by hotel chains and cruise lines, as well as car rentals and other regular transportation companies,” says Jose Enrique Salgado, Marketing chief of Amadeus Cuba.

The second business line has to do with IT solutions aimed at working out problems in air company systems. Some of its top customers include British Airways and Air France. One of the highlights of Amadeus’ solution portfolio is ALTEA, a day-to-day management and operation program used by more than 130 airlines worldwide.

“Through 2010, GDS bookings made by Cuban travel agencies were not possible, so that prompted the contract between Amadeus and Cuba signed in March 2011 with Havanatur. From that year on, the number of bookings has been steadily on the rise.

“In early January 2014, the company chalked up its first 100,000 bookings in just three and a half years. However, estimates have it that figure could be reached in December this year, in just a single year,” Mr. Salgado went on to explain.

All the MINTUR agencies (Havanatur, Cubatur, Viajes Cubanacan and Ecotur), as well as San Cristóbal, are customers of Amadeus in Cuba, with roughly a hundred sale outlets that rely on the company’s Selling Platform technology. In the case of Cuban agencies, Amadeus Cuba also provides all the equipment (PCs, monitors and printers).

“The perspectives for Amadeus Cuba point to a nonstop growth in the number of airfare bookings and the enhancement of its IT solution portfolio for agencies and other entities linked to the travel and tourism industry. In the same breath, we hope to further broaden our 20-plus-year collaboration with Cubana de Aviacion.

“In September 2014, a passenger management system for VIAZUL bus company was installed, a solution that also allows for reservations through travel agencies hooked up with Amadeus Cuba. A similar solution to manage U.S.-Cuba charter flights run by Havanatur Celimar will be implemented,” said the marketing director of Amadeus Cuba.