Following its launch in the EMEA region, Travelport’s new mobile product Trip Assist will be rolled out in Asia-Pacific, with a showcase at the annual Travelport LIVE event in Sydney this week.
The technology is touted for allowing travel service providers to engage with customers at various stages of their journey, through mobile travel capabilities such as flexible itinerary management; real-time communications; day of travel assistance; push-notification reminders; real-time alerts; and the option to call an agent from within the app.
One key element is Travelport Engage, a mobile messaging tool which delivers personalised travel updates during and after every trip.
More features are being planned to encourage user control via the ability to request flight changes, select preferred seating and the ability to synch trip information with personal calendars from within the app.
Fergal Kelly, CCO of Travelport Digital, commented: “The increasingly connected traveller expects support throughout their trip. Customer engagement via mobile is now critical for agencies of all sizes and we believe that the business travel industry and business travellers are not yet well-served.”
The Asia-Pacific launch comes as growth in mobile bookings in the region outpace that in any other region, according to Travelport. Mobile travel sales have seen double-digit growth in markets like South Korea (58.7 per cent), Australia (52.2 per cent) and China (49.9 per cent) in the past five years. It is estimated that by 2020, 76 per cent of the growth of online travel will come from mobile sale.
Every good road trip, needs good food. But an unforgettable road trip, needs the best food! Imagine winding our way through lush Italian vineyards in our own Budget hire car; stopping in picturesque French villages to sample ripe grapes and cheese, or pulling in for a traditional seafood lunch on Spain’s Basque coast, or having a pit-stop at a quaint English café to feast on homemade scones with jam and cream.
If the thought of Prosciutto di Parma, Parmesan cheese and balsamic vinegar turn you weak at the knees, then Italy is the place for a Budget self-guided drive! The Emilia-Romagna region is famous for some of the richest, most delicious foods in the cities of Parma, Modena and Bologna. 
And besides these delectable fares, the diversity of the region between the mountains and the sea offers visitors breath-taking views of the region. And on top of all this, Emilia Romagna is also a hotbed for music, cinema and art appreciated nationally and internationally.
With car windows rolled down, we’ll be able to experience some of Portugal’s stunning neo-classical architecture and natural vistas, stopping to immerse ourselves in the region’s food and wine of Portugal. Porto is an obvious starting point, famed for its fortified wine, custard tarts and fresh produce.
What better way to start the road trip in Portugal than with a picnic basket of appetising food and beverage to accompany us along the way! Just take it easy on the wine, but it also gives us a reason to sojourn and spend the night in a Pousada or a Manor or in other unique luxury Portuguese lodging!
Avetisyan (left) and Shum
