24 February 2004

ABACUS International has tied up with Galor Systems and Software Development to offer a fully integrated solution, the Travel Management and Distribution Solution (TMDS), for the leisure travel industry.

TMDS is a platform that enables travel and leisure content suppliers that specialize in tour packages, cruises, ferries, rail and road transport, and insurance to electronically distribute their products to more than 10,000 travel agents in 20 countries in Asia-Pacific.

The platform is based on an ASP model with both window and web-based interfaces. It offers a host of features to both suppliers and agents. Content suppliers can now comprehensively integrate their operations from product and inventory management, agent-supplier management and distribution, to accounting and reconciliation. Key functionalities include dynamic packaging and pricing capabilities as well as multi language and currency compliance.

Abacus says the new product means an opportunity to cater to new market segments and drive revenue diversification while complementing the core business of airline ticketing distribution.

Singapore-based ABACUS INTERNATIONAL is the Asia-Pacific’s largest Global Distribution System (GDS) and Computerised Reservations System (CRS). It provides travel information and reservations specially tailored for the Asia-Pacific. It is 65 percent owned by ABACUS International Holdings and 35 percent by Sabre, a US-based world leader in the electronic distribution of travel and travel-related services.

ABACUS International Holdings is jointly owned by All Nippon Airways, Cathay Pacific Airways, China Airlines, EVA Airways, Garuda Indonesia, Hong Kong Dragon Airlines, Malaysia Airlines, Philippine Airlines, Royal Brunei Airlines, SilkAir and Singapore Airlines.

Established in May 1988, ABACUS is the market leader in its partners?home markets and today has some 9,300 agency locations and more than 23,300 terminals in 19 countries. In addition to access to airline schedules and fares, cruise companies and other travel information, ABACUS also provides access to more than 50 car rental companies and over 50,000 hotel properties world-wide.

ABACUS maintains its strong presence in the Asia-Pacific region through National Marketing Companies (NMCs), which provide training, on-site support and also a helpdesk that answers queries and trouble-shoots problems. ABACUS is represented by 40 NMC offices in Australia, Bangladesh, Brunei, Cambodia, Hong Kong SAR, India, Indonesia, South Korea, Malaysia, Nepal, New Zealand, Pakistan, Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam. ABACUS also has offices in Beijing and Shanghai, China.

Abacus International on the web:   http://www.abacus.com.sg