Delray Beach, FL – July 29, 2014: HICKORY GLOBAL PARTNERS ("HICKORY"; www.HickoryTravel.com), a travel management services company providing innovative service, distribution and technology to its network of travel agency and supplier partners, is pleased to announce today that it has entered into a new partnership with Amadeus, a leading technology partner for the global travel industry.
The agreement extends access to HICKORY's two rate access codes – HFH (primary) and EZR (secondary) – to Amadeus customers via Amadeus.
As a result of this new partnership, Amadeus customers gain access to HICKORY's renowned hotel program, and, along with it, increased hotel choices for their travel clients plus the many benefits of participation available to agents. HICKORY's hotel supplier partners gain access to an additional avenue for distribution. With more agents booking their properties, hotel suppliers are able to grow their revenue.
The Amadeus/HICKORY Hotel Program is a ground-breaking deal on the GDS automation side, with HICKORY among the first travel management services companies to partner with Amadeus to collaborate on a hotel program. Amadeus is able to extend a compelling hotel program offer to Amadeus users.
Furthering both brands, generating business growth
This agreement expands untapped markets for HICKORY and Amadeus alike, furthering both brands and helping their respective customers bases, in turn, generate business growth.
"Agencies in today's increasingly connected, technology-driven and global travel marketplace need to increase their portfolio of hotel offerings available to their clients in order to remain competitive," stated Chris Dane, President of HICKORY. "We are pleased to welcome Amadeus customers into our Hotel Program, which features $1 billion+, and growing, in wholly-managed hotel volume across 5,000 cities in 145 countries," continued Dane.
Dane added that by opting in and enrolling in the hotel program, Amadeus customers have the ability to tap additional hotel rooms in all categories, room stay alternatives that Amadeus customers may not have access to otherwise. This is the first and only “outside” outlet granting Amadeus customers access to HICKORY's Hotel Program and its extensive list of hotel supplier partners.
"Amadeus has a long-standing commitment and track record in delivering relevant content to our subscribers and business opportunities for industry suppliers. So we are pleased to enter into this new alliance with HICKORY which increases distribution for hotel companies and delivers additional non-GDS hotel content and added value through Amadeus solutions and platforms as we move forward and continue to shape the future of travel together," said Stephane Durand, Chief Commercial Officer, Amadeus North America.
A shared vision to lead the travel industry forward
By collaborating and cross-utilizing each other's membership bases, leveraging their expertise, and contributing their additional unique strengths in the travel industry, HICKORY and Amadeus, together, are able to offer a larger suite of products and services than either could deliver on its own. The end result is further travel industry growth.
Amadeus' focus on delivering a travel experience that is more personalized, connected, and sustainable is an ideal match for HICKORY's drive for innovation, measurable results and greater profitability. Thought leaders and visionaries, on their own as well as combined, this agreement points to Amadeus' and HICKORY's shared determination to lead the travel industry forward.
Amadeus customers are encouraged to click here for additional information about or to enroll in the Amadeus/HICKORY Hotel Program.
About HICKORY - Hickory Global Partners, An INTRAVEL Company
Positioning itself as a travel management services company rather than a consortium, HICKORY's unique approach focuses on return on investment for agency and supplier partners alike. HICKORY guarantees its agency partners a positive ROI. With a suite of services including a visionary hotel incentive program, a robust and one-of-a kind air program, a car rental program, and 24/7 support products, HICKORY is an important strategic partner to travel agencies. Proprietary, innovative tools designed to share data with agency partners allow agencies to make better, faster decisions, thus driving more revenue. These tools also enable HICKORY to aggregate bookings from agency partners. Hotelier partners gain access to a reporting platform that illustrates daily, weekly and monthly booking trends across the HICKORY network. Supplier partners also benefit from measurable results and extensive distribution and marketing opportunities across the HICKORY global network. For more information, please visit www.HickoryTravel.com.
About Amadeus
Amadeus is a leading provider of advanced technology solutions for the global travel industry. Customer groups include travel providers (e.g. airlines hotels, rail and ferry operators, etc.), travel sellers (travel agencies and websites), and travel buyers (corporations and travel management companies). The Amadeus group employs around 10,000 people worldwide. Amadeus has central sites in Madrid (corporate headquarters), Nice (development) and Erding (operations – data processing center) and regional offices and centers in Boston, Dallas, Miami, Buenos Aires, Bangkok and Dubai. At a market level, Amadeus maintains customer operations through 71 local Amadeus Commercial Organizations covering 195 countries. The group operates a transaction-based business model. For the year ended December 31, 2013 the company reported revenues of €3,103.7 million and EBITDA of €.1,188.7 million. Amadeus is listed on the Spanish Stock Exchange under the symbol “AMS.MC” and is a component of the IBEX 35 index. To find out more about Amadeus please visit www.amadeus.com.
