Complimentary

Recently George Dooley wrote a complimentary article on Revelex. Stating our leadership position in the travel sector, Dooley details the advancements of technology as the travel industry continues to progress. It is a perfect example on how times are changing. Travel among many other markets is going virtual, online and in real-time. Online booking is quickly becoming the fast, easy and painless way to plan that dream vacation. As the travel industry is continuing to evolve so must the companies that rely on consumer bookings.

To view the article, click here.

Technology’s Impact on Customer Service: Help or Hindrance?

Advances in technology affect our daily lives and routines. Every morning I brush my teeth with specially formulated toothpaste, check my email on my laptop, and take my fortified multivitamin – but are all technology improvements this beneficial? As a travel technologist, I'm an obvious advocate of technology and yet I have to wonder if something is getting lost as we continue to move forward with technology and innovation.
Fellow blogger Stephen Joyce recently wrote about this issue by describing his recent nightmare travel experience which could have been much less of a nightmare had he used a travel agent. I wouldn't be surprised if many others had similar stories, illustrating that the human component cannot be replaced by any technology advances that I can foresee. When it comes to customer support, technology has its limitations. The support that is needed to answer questions, ease frustrations and empathize with customers cannot be replicated by a machine. To echo the sentiments of Stephen Joyce, this is where the value of the travel agents comes into play.
On the flipside, technology solutions can efficiently process and organize a wealth of information beyond the scope of any human brain. Travel technology solutions present options to consumers which a travel agent may have missed through manual research methods. With so many options available to travelers, technology solutions can sort, filter and present this information to consumers in a simple and manageable fashion.

As technology continues to move forward, I like to think of the relationship between customer service and technology as a symbiotic partnership. When viewed as separate entities, each has its own limitations – but together, they represent a solid approach to assisting consumers with their travel experiences.

Economic Turmoil or Business as Usual

Wave season is a time enjoyed by most in our industry. As a peak time for cruise travel, wave season is when agents and vendors experience a surge in cruise bookings and travelers are reaping the benefits of great deals and vacation packages. However, as we approach this year’s wave season, the current state of the nation’s economy and its effect on the travel industry may become all too clear.

A recent article by Travel Weekly writer Ian Taylor described contributing factors of less consumer spending – high gas prices, rising personal debt and the increase in cost of living. A decrease in travel was predicted for the past few months; however the holiday rush of Thanksgiving and Christmas seemed relatively normal and consistent with previous years. Although numbers were slightly down, it seemed that the majority of people didn’t hesitate to travel and visit with friends and family. Agents experienced the usual last minute bookings while airports and travels barred the normal frustration over crowds and flight cancellations.

Thus, the travel industry is now facing wave season with open eyes. Will consumers take advantage of the seasons low prices to help drive the economy? Or will the looming threat of a recession detour travelers? Either way, one thing remains for sure. The travel industry is preparing for the unexpected, but hoping that the cold winter months are still inspiring snow birds to take that dream tropical cruise vacation despite the threat of economic downturn.

Feature Request Page

Please add your feature requests here to get your requests heard by the Revelex team, and comment on other users requests as well.

Lastest Features added to Revelex

Fast Path Cruise - This tool is configurable by the agency through Admin > Administration > Power Agent Management > Product Menu Administration. Check/un check Fast Path Cruise check boxes on the page as required. Once configured by the agency the tool will be available by clicking the Product button and then clicking Fast Path Cruise. Full details on how to use this new tool are included in the agent guide; section 4 Products – Fast Path Cruise.

View/Modify PNR - This feature is available through all electronic connections except; Galileo Leisure Shopper and Carnival UK, it is not available for UK agencies at this time. This function is available in all electronic itineraries regardless if a payment has been made or not. To access the function, open an itinerary and click the View/Modify PNR link, then the Modify PNR button, when the page is displayed click the Modify Rate Code, Category or cabin link. Full details are in the agent guide; section 12 ITINERARIES – View/Modify PNR. At the end of the process a comparison is displayed showing the old and the new PNR details.

This is a venue for Revelex customers to place comments and questions.

With 8 years under our belt Revelex would like to invite our customers to comment and suggest topics for enhancements and general comments. We are excited about the future of travel and the success of our customer base, please help us help you!