Etihad plans more holiday shops

Dubai: Etihad Holidays, a division of Etihad Airways, has unveiled plans to expand its franchise of holiday shops across the UAE and the GCC and open up to 12 new outlets during the next two years.

The announcement follows the launch of two holiday shops in Al Wahda Mall and Khalidiyah Mall in Abu Dhabi in 2008 that has helped Etihad Holidays increase its revenue by more than 140 per cent, when compared to the first four months of 2007.

The new holiday shops will provide customers with a complete travel sales experience, offering holidays to key Etihad destinations as well as the full range of Etihad Airways products and services.

UAE plans

There are also plans to expand Etihad Holidays' operations across the UAE with new shops scheduled to open in Abu Dhabi's Marina Mall in July and the new Balwadi Mall in Al Ain due to open in late 2008.

Etihad Holidays has also made a considerable investment in its IT systems to support the company's expansion and it has recently implemented the "Ocean" holiday booking system, a product from the renowned ISO Travel Solution group based in Germany.

"Ocean" allows sales operators to create all-inclusive holiday packages for customers covering all aspects of the holiday including accommodation, ground services and flights, provides instant confirmation of products and services and convenient e-documentation for customers.