SINGAPORE: Sabre Corporation, a leading technology provider to the global travel industry, announces the development of an AI-powered chatbot that leverages Microsoft Bot Framework and Microsoft Cognitive Services, a set of tools that organizations can use to add intelligent and conversational features to their applications, including Language Understanding Intelligent Service (LUIS). Two Sabre-connected travel agencies, Dallas-based Travel Solutions International USA and San Francisco-based Casto Travel will test a white-label version of the chatbot with travelers, who will access the chatbot via Facebook Messenger. Travelers will use the chatbot for common service and support requests, such as changing an existing flight…
Author: holidayweekly
KARACHI: The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) has withdrawn its warning about putting the Makli necropolis, a world heritage site, on its list of ‘endangered’ sites, claimed the culture ministry of Sindh in a statement on Wednesday, 12 July. The site was likely to be declared ‘endangered’ by UNESCO with reports about the historical necropolis crumbling fast. The original February deadline, however, was extended after active efforts to protect the site by the provincial government. The Ministry said that the Sindh Culture Minister Syed Sardar Ali Shah attended the Unesco World Heritage Committee’s 41st session at Krakow,…
LONDON: The World Economic Forum ranked 136 countries in its biennial tourism report with one section focusing on safety and security. In it the UK has gone from the 63rd position to 78th. Though India and Pakistan are amongst the 20 most dangerous countries for tourists, Pakistan, at 133rd position, is also amongst the four most dangerous. Syria, Afghanistan and Iraq are not included in the list. The list doesn’t take into account petty crime, and instead focuses on risks related to serious harm (violence and terrorism). The latest results have come in a year in which Britain has been hit…
GILGIT: In a bid to tackle hazardous solid waste generated by hospitals in the tourist-seeking, scenic, mountainous region, the Gilgit-Baltistan Chief Minister Hafeez ur Rehman on Thursday directed officials quickly dispose of such waste through incinerators and set up waste management system at all hospitals in the region. The Chief Minister said that initially, incinerators had been set up in seven districts of the region, however, these facilities would be opened up to hospitals in the remaining three districts of the region as well. He directed the concerned department to devise a monitoring system for this purpose. He issued…
Written by Ch. Faisal Mahmood The most basic principle underlying the worldwide elevation of Tourism to its policy status of Visitor Economy is that local assets; whether physical or abstract – should be activated to sustain community pride and to generate income and thereby ensure its socio economic wellbeing. Other countries, which were part of the Mughal and British Raj like ours, have glorified even the smallest physical evidence of that part of their history; not only palaces but even roadside monuments and animal feed-troughs of that period are taken care of and added to their Tourism assets. But in…
KARACHI: As some construction work is underway at Gwadar Airport and on runway, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) is keeping the airport closed and non-operation till July 31 and An alternative runway has not been designated by the authority as yet. Sources said following the refurbishment work, the Airbus A-320 will be able to land at the airport. In February this year, Balochistan Chief Secretary Saifullah Chatta said construction work on the Gwadar International Airport, costing Rs22 billion, would be completed in October. He further said that the Gwadar airport would cater to the needs of the Gwadar deep-sea…
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan International Airline (PIA) has decided to allot business class seats to the senior citizens and aged-pilgrims during the Hajj operations. It was decided during a high-level meeting on Wednesday, 12 Julywith PM’s Advisor on Aviation Sardar Mehtab Ahmad Khan in the chair. This decision would help senior citizens reaping the benefits of PIA’s extra facilities without additional charges. Sardar Mehtab directed the PIA Chief Commercial Officer, Mr. Tahir Niaz to ensure the provision of business class seats to the aged pilgrims on a priority basis, and labeled discretionary powers to allot business class seats as unreasonable. He assured…
DUBAI: Millennium Airport Hotel Dubai was announced the winner of the ‘Best Airport Hotel’ at the Arabian Travel Awards held in Dubai on 4th July 2017. The black-tie event was attended by over 150 professionals from the travel and tourism sector of the Middle East. Hotel Manager, Chady Kanaan received the award on behalf of the hotel. Expressing his delight on winning the award, Mr Simon Moore, General Manager of Millennium Airport Hotel Dubai, said, “I am very proud to announce another achievement. We are truly grateful to Arabian Travel Awards for this amazing recognition. Awards such as…
DOHA: Speaking in Dublin last week, Mr. Al Baker derided his American competitors, saying there is no need to fly on “crap” carriers where “you know you will always be served by grandmothers”. By way of comparison, he said, “The average age of my cabin crew is only 26 years”. Realizing his mistake, Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive H.E. Mr. Akbar Al Baker today issued the following statement: “I should like to apologize unreservedly to those offended by my recent remarks which compared Qatar Airways cabin crew with cabin crew on US carriers. The remarks were made informally at a…
BANGKOK: Airbus SE on 1 July integrated as planned its Group structure with its largest division, Commercial Aircraft. Following a reorganisation announced in September 2016, Airbus will benefit from a simpler structure that enables faster decision-making, less bureaucracy, greater collaboration and increased efficiency. This structure will also facilitate the digitalisation programme currently under implementation. The newly merged Airbus together with the two divisions, Helicopters and Defence and Space, are served by fully integrated support teams in key functions such as finance, human resources, legal, ethics and compliance, strategy & international and communications. Airbus’ executive management team is integrated under Chief…