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IAAI to launch special packages at ICON 2008

Partners with Galileo to launch online portal for agents - www. iataagents.org

Andrea Lopez - Mumbai

The IATA Agents Association of India (IAAI) is set to hold its annual convention ICON 2008 in Hyderabad from January 10-12, 2008.

The convention will play host to dignitaries from the travel industry both from India and abroad. The theme for this year's convention has been decided as 'IATA Agents by 2020: Goals and Challenges' and the business sessions will provide travel agents with the impetus to set goals for the future and overcome challenges.

Speaking to Express TravelWorld, Biji Eapen, president of IAAI, said, "We have high expectations from the convention. IAAI is the only platform that is truly representative of the IATA agent fraternity in India and this year we are expecting more knowledgeable discussions and the emergence of practical and workable solutions."

ICON 2008 will also see the unveiling of three special packages for the travel trade. Unwilling to divulge details, Eapen said that the packages would be useful for the IATA agent's activities.

To facilitate its members' operations, IAAI will also be officially launching its online portal www.iataagents.org at the convention. Speaking exclusively to Express TravelWorld, Eapen said that the portal will be launched with Galileo as the GDS partner. The portal will initially include airline inventories, and later hotels and other travel services. "We are limiting the membership to 100 in the beginning. We are releasing the portal for all members. Non-IAAI members can avail of the same through IAAI membership," he said.

He added, "Each agent can avail of and make reservations directly through the portal. We are proud that apart from IAAI's comprehensive membership comprising exclusively of IATA accredited agents and around 500 delegates from all over India, few official guests from abroad are expected as well."