Today, March 15, 2016, during the 2016 Seatrade Cruise Global Convention, IBS Software and Celestyal Cruises signed a contract for delivery of IBS’ next-generation iTravel Cruise Reservation System. Celestyal becomes the third travel company — and the first cruise line — to implement IBS’ iTravel “software as a service,” or SaaS, lifecycle reservations platform.
With iTravel, Celestyal will be able to offer inclusive cruise packages with dynamic pricing capabilities that enable quick response to changing market conditions while enabling cross-sell and up-sell opportunities. Celestyal Cruises also currently employs IBS’ Ship Partner onboard property management system across its five-ship fleet.
“Celestyal and IBS have a long and successful history of partnership, and we are excited to take this partnership to the next level,” said Kyriakos Anastassiadis, chief executive officer of Celestyal. “We are anticipating increased demand from our B2B and B2C channels and we expect iTravel to be a key enabler of our growth strategy.”
“At IBS we are increasingly focusing on developing innovative and transformational solutions for the cruise industry,” said VK Mathews, chairman of IBS Software. “Celestyal Cruises, IBS’ first cruise line customer deciding to adopt iTravel is a true endorsement of our forward-looking strategy and our capability to deliver on our promises.”
For a demonstration of the power and versatility of the iTravel Cruise Reservation System, visit IBS Software at booth GB3625 in the Information Technology sector on Level 3 of the exhibition.
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About Celestyal Cruises
Celestyal Cruises is the only home porting cruise operator in Greece and the preeminent cruise line for the Greek Islands, Turkey and Cuba. Two of the company’s ships, the “Thomson Spirit” and “Thomson Majesty,” are under charter to Thomson Cruises of TUI AG. Since 2011 Celestyal Cruises has been a member of Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), a worldwide cruise industry alliance that promotes a safe, secure and healthy cruise ship environment. At the 2015 Greek Tourism Awards, Celestyal Cruises was awarded a Gold Award for Themed Events, a Silver Award for Contribution to the National Economy, a Silver Award for Contribution to Local Economies and a Bronze Award for Promotion of Local Cuisine. Also in 2015 the company won the highest distinction for the Best Communication Strategy at the nautical Efkranti Awards, as well as five Silver Awards at the HR Community Conference & Awards for best HR practices. The company received the “Cruise Line Revelation” award at the Excellence Awards in Cartagena, Spain, and was a finalist in the “Continuous Enrichment, On Board and Ashore” category at the WAVE Awards in London, UK. Celestyal Cruises’ new brand, Cuba Cruise, provides passengers with an authentic Cuban cruise experience, the best of Cuba on impeccable eight-day voyages. The Celestyal logo evokes the sea, the sun and the wind. It reflects the company’s commitment to its Hellenic roots, and to supporting the economy and preserving the environment of each destination it visits. For more information, please visit CelestyalCruises.com.
About iTravel Cruise
iTravel Cruise is the next-generation reservation system designed to address the emerging and future needs of the cruise industry. iTravel Cruise provides a comprehensive set of solutions that enables end-to-end processes (planning, product management, packaging, selling, post-sale and operational accounting) of a cruise line.
About IBS Software
Trivandrum, India–based IBS provides comprehensive, end-to-end new-generation information technology systems to cruise lines, travel companies, hotels and tour operators as well as the global aviation industry and major oil and gas companies. The company’s IT services competence includes business and technology consulting, independent software testing, application development and maintenance, and managed services in the travel, hospitality, aviation and oil and gas industries. In December 2015 IBS Software received a US$170 million private equity investment from the Blackstone Group (NYSE:BX) in exchange for a minority shareholding.