NEW YORK, NY (June 20, 2016) – Fareportal and its subsidiary CheapOair have been honored with three of the biggest and most prestigious Stevie Awards from the American Business Awards program including the Gold Stevie for Fareportal’s Customer Service Department and two awards for CheapOair’s website and mobile app.

“We are extremely humbled by this peer recognition as the Stevie Awards are considered the world’s premier business awards,” noted Sam Jain, CEO of Fareportal.

The Stevies were created in 2002 to honor and generate public recognition of the achievements and positive contributions of organizations and working professionals worldwide.  The American Business Awards are open to all organizations operating in the U.S.A., and feature a wide variety of categories to recognize achievement in every facet of the workplace.

More than 3,400 nominations were submitted to this year’s American Business Awards for consideration in a wide range of categories, including New Product or Service of the Year, Most Innovative Company of the Year, Management Team of the Year, Best New Product or Service of the Year, Corporate Social Responsibility Program of the Year, and Startup of the Year, among others. More than 250 judges participated in the competition review.

Fareportal was presented with the Gold Stevie for the Customer Service Department of the Year. The Stevie Awards for Sales & Customer Service are open to all organizations worldwide, and recognize the achievements of sales, customer service, and call center professionals.  

Fareportal’s unique high-touch, hi-tech capabilities in the travel industry and their impressive contact center are vital to their success. Fareportal’s customer service department receives over 30,000 daily calls, manages over 450 emails and handles over 800 instant messages per day. In addition, the companies abandoned calls have decreased by 5% since 2014 due to protocols and procedures set in place so that these rates continue to decrease in the years to come. All of Fareportal’s customer service centers are operated in-house.

“Fareportal does not outsource,” said Ritesh Chaturbedi, General Manager, Global Operations for Fareportal, adding: “This ensures direct contact over customer service enabling our travel company to exceed customers’ expectations on a regular basis.”

CheapOAir has also been named a Silver Award winner in the category of Travel Apps. In October 2015, CheapOair launched its Predictive Home Screen on IOS Apps, a travel application offering simple navigation for customers who want to easily check their flight status, upgrade their trip or purchase extras. In addition, the application has interconnectivity with the Apple watch, allowing travelers to access the Predictive Home Screen right on their wrists, making CheapOair a true travel companion. Since the launch of the Predictive Home Screen, the app has been downloaded more than 1 million times and has received positive feedback for its design, interface and rankings.

“CheapOair uses cutting edge technology to make it effortless, affordable and enjoyable for our customers to book their perfect trip,” said Sam Jain, CEO of Fareportal, the parent company of CheapOair.

CheapOair also won the Bronze Stevie for its Consumer Friendly Homepage as one of the best home/welcome pages.

As a leading hybrid (online/traditional) travel agency, CheapOair strives to remain ahead of the curve with periodic enhancements to ensure that CheapOair.com is the primary go-to resource for consumers booking travel. Aside from daily updates, CheapOair.com provides a fast and simple booking path, features a live chat, allows consumers to check their flight status, conveniently provides CheapOAir’s customer service number on the homepage and provides customers with a quick and easy search/booking process with three simple clicks, compared to the standard industry protocol of the 5+ clicks.

“Once again, Fareportal’s company focus on technology enables CheapOair to provide a website, mobile apps and services that give our customers the ultimate service they expect,” said Jain.

2016 Stevie winners were celebrated and presented their awards during a gala event on Monday, June 20 at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in New York.  The presentations were broadcast live via Livestream.

Past Stevie Award winners including Apple, Ford Motor Company, Procter & Gamble, Samsung, among many others. The Stevie® Award trophy is one of the world’s most coveted prizes.  Since 2002 the Gold Stevie Award has been conferred for achievement in business to organizations and individuals in more than 60 nations.

The name Stevie is taken from the name Stephen, which is derived from the Greek for “crowned.” The Gold (soon to be Grand) Stevie is approximately 16 inches tall, and is hand-cast and finished in 24-karat gold. The crystal pyramid held aloft by Stevie represents the hierarchy of human needs, a system often represented as a pyramid that was developed in the 1960s by psychologist Abraham Maslow, who observed that after their basic needs are met, human beings seek the esteem of their peers.

 

About The Stevie Awards

Stevie Awards are conferred in seven programs: the Asia-Pacific Stevie Awards, the German Stevie Awards, The American Business Awards, The International Business Awards, the Stevie Awards for Women in Business, the Stevie Awards for Sales & Customer Service, and the new Stevie Awards for Great Employers. Stevie Awards competitions receive more than 10,000 entries each year from organizations in more than 60 nations. Honoring organizations of all types and sizes and the people behind them, the Stevies recognize outstanding performances in the workplace worldwide. Learn more about the Stevie Awards at http://www.StevieAwards.com.

 

About Fareportal

Fareportal is a high-tech, high-touch Travel Company that powers the next generation travel concierge. Utilizing its innovative technology and company owned and operated contact centers; Fareportal has forged strong industry partnerships providing access to over 450 airlines, 150,000 hotels, and 100s of car rental companies that serve millions of customers every year. With a portfolio of consumer travel brands including CheapOair and OneTravel, Fareportal’s airline partners can benefit from access to a broad customer base that books high-yield international travel and add-on ancillaries. To learn more, visit www.Fareportal.com

 

About CheapOair

CheapOair is a next generation concierge travel agency (online/traditional) that enables consumers to book travel online, on its award winning mobile app, by phone or live chat. CheapOair bridges the gap between an online and traditional travel agency with certified agents available to help find deals and offers to destinations worldwide on over 450 airlines, 150,000 hotels, and many car rental companies worldwide. Partner airlines benefit from access to CheapOair’s broad customer base that books high yield international travel and add-on ancillaries. Follow CheapOair on Facebook and Twitter to learn how to travel the world for less or go to www.cheapoair.com or call 1-646-738-4820.

Leading Online Travel Agency’s Data Shows Airfare is Down 10% Since Last Year

 

NEW YORK, June 15, 2016: CheapOair, a leading flights-focused hybrid online travel agency, announced today the top ten domestic and international destinations its consumers are traveling to for the 4^th of July holiday.  Data shows that travelers are taking advantage of lower airfare prices, which are expected to last throughout the peak summer travel season.

 

“Independence Day signifies that the height of the travel season is in full swing.  The airline industry is expecting a record-breaking 220 million passengers this year during the summer season – a 15% growth in number of air travelers since 2013, for the same three months of travel,” says Tom Spagnola, CheapOair’s Senior Vice President of Supplier Relations.  “Lower fuel prices and airline capacity growth both play a major role in the decreases in airfare, which results in these record breaking travel numbers.”

 

The largest price decrease seen between 2015 and 2016 for domestic destinations was reflected in bookings for Chicago, IL, showing a 19% overall decrease in airfare costs.  CheapOair’s data further shows that those who may be looking to pay the lowest price for their trip should consider Atlanta, GA, as a destination, as the average airfare costs $271.  Orlando, FL came in as the most popular destination for the holiday, with a 16% decrease in airfare, rounding out at $294.

 

CheapOair’s Top Domestic Destinations for July 4^th Holiday Travel

Destination	Average Roundtrip Airfare*	Price Decrease from 2015
Orlando, FL	$294	-16%
Los Angeles, CA	$371	-9%
Denver, CO	$332	-6%
Chicago, IL	$292	-19%
Las Vegas, NV	$337	-8%
Dallas-Fort Worth, TX	$291	0%
Fort Lauderdale, FL	$295	-7%
Seattle, WA	$399	-8%
New Orleans, LA	$387	-11%
Atlanta, GA	$271	-16%

 

For international destinations, Cancun was ranked as the number one destination for this time of year but saw a slight price increase of only 1%, adding on $6 from last year’s average price.  According to CheapOAir data, Belize had the largest decrease in airfare costs by far, dropping a total of 38% since last year, and Mexico City had the lowest airfare for a roundtrip, at a price of $396.

 

CheapOair’s Top International Destinations for July 4^th Holiday Travel

Destination	Average Roundtrip Airfare*	Price Decrease from 2015
Cancun, Mexico	$521	1%
San Juan, Puerto Rico	$458	-11%
Mexico City, Mexico	$396	-22%
San José del Cabo, Mexico	$566	38%
Barcelona, Spain	$1,172	-25%
Lima, Peru	$698	-21%
Grand Cayman Island	$538	7%
San José, Costa Rica	$471	-29%
Belize City, Belize	$496	-38%
Dublin, Ireland	$1,096	-8%

 

“Capacity growth causes competition between airlines, which drives cheaper prices for consumers.”  Spagnola adds.  “Although summer is peak travel season, consumers should take advantage of the deals becoming available before they miss out on some great travel opportunities.”

 

*The fares referenced are averages, based on bookings made beginning January 1^st, for travel anytime between June 26^th and July 11^th, 2016.

 

Travelers can sign up to receive daily travel deals to various destinations, including the top Independence Day Holiday getaways for 2016, by making a CheapOair profile at CheapOair.com.  For more information, please visit CheapOair.com, CheapOair.com/mobile, or check out CheapOair’s Miles Away blog for travel tips and trends.

 

About CheapOair

CheapOair is a flights-focused hybrid travel agency that enables consumers to book online, on mobile apps, by phone, or live chat.  CheapOair (http://www.cheapoair.com, 1-646-738-4820) bridges the gap between an online and traditional travel agency, with certified travel agents available to help find deals and offers to destinations worldwide on over 450 airlines, 150,000 hotels, and 100s of car rentals. Partner airlines benefit from access to CheapOair’s broad customer base that books high yield international travel and add-on ancillaries at above the industry average.  Follow CheapOair on Facebook and Twitter to learn how to travel the world for less.

Data shows airfare costs are down 7% domestically and 9% internationally for season

 

NEW YORK, March 21, 2016: CheapOair, the first flights-focused hybrid travel agency, announced today the top ten international and domestic destinations consumers are traveling to for spring break, between March 1^st and April 4^th. This year, spring has proven to be an ideal time for travel, as airfares have significantly decreased for top destinations, with domestic prices averaging $302, a 7% decrease from last year, and international prices averaging $546, a 9% decrease from the same period last year.

 

“After analyzing our year-over-year data on bookings, our 2016 prediction of declining costs in airfare has proved true thus far.  Due to the low prices of oil and airline capacity growth, airfare prices have dropped significantly across the board,” said Tom Spagnola, CheapOair’s Senior Vice President of Supplier Relations.  “Our data shows that it is the perfect time for travelers to take advantage of these lower prices, for both domestic and international travel.”

 

Among this year’s top domestic destinations, Los Angeles is the most popular city, with a roundtrip price of $313, down 13% from last year.  Out of the top ten domestic destinations, those who may be looking to pay the lowest prices for their trip should consider Dallas-Fort Worth, with an average airfare cost of $251.  Of the top ten cities, San Juan, Puerto Rico has seen the largest decrease in airfare price, dropping 18% since last year.

 

CheapOair’s Top Domestic Destinations for Spring Break 2016

Destination	Average Roundtrip Airfare	Price Decrease from 2015
Los Angeles, CA	$313	-13%
Las Vegas, NV	$290	-8%
Miami, FL	$294	-17%
Orlando, FL	$297	-8%
Ft Lauderdale, FL	$284	-10%
Phoenix, AZ	$338	-3%
Tampa, FL	$304	-5%
Dallas-Fort Worth, TX	$251	-9%
Denver, CO	$277	-2%
San Juan, PR	$374	-18%

 

Among international destinations, Manila topped the list as the most popular international destination to visit during Spring Break. Lima, Peru, had the largest decrease in airfare cost by far, dropping a total of 22 percent since last year, and Guadalajara, Mexico, had the lowest airfare for a roundtrip, at a price of $545.

 

CheapOair’s Top International Destinations for Spring Break 2016

Destination	Average Roundtrip Airfare	Price Decrease from 2015
Manila, Philippines	$842	-12%
Cancun, Mexico	$480	-10%
Mexico City, Mexico	$373	-15%
Bangkok, Thailand	$914	-14%
Guadalajara, Mexico	$355	-6%
Montego Bay, Jamaica	$410	-9%
San Salvador, El Salvador	$495	-15%
Lima, Peru	$603	-22%
Guatemala City, Guatemala	$545	-12%
Kingston, Jamaica	$439	-3%

 

By consistently monitoring travel trends, CheapOair’s mission is to educate and aid consumers and travel professionals in both planning their travel accommodations and staying current on the most popular destinations. With a portfolio of products, including rate and schedule information from 450 global airlines, CheapOair is a great way to book the travel that’s right for you.

 

The fares referenced are averages, calculated based on bookings made beginning January 1^st, for travel anytime between March 1^st and April 4^th, 2016.

 

Travelers can sign up to receive daily travel deals to various destinations, including the top spring break locations for 2016, by making a CheapOair profile at CheapOair.com. For more information, please visit CheapOair.com, CheapOair.com/mobile, or check out CheapOair’s Miles Away blog for travel tips and trends.

 

About CheapOair

CheapOair is a flights-focused hybrid travel agency that enables consumers to book online, on mobile apps, by phone or live chat. CheapOair (http://www.cheapoair.com, 1-646-738-4820) bridges the gap between an online and traditional travel agency with certified travel agents available to help find deals and offers to destinations worldwide on over 450 airlines, 150,000 hotels, and 100s of car rentals. Partner airlines benefit from access to CheapOair’s broad customer base that books high yield international travel and add-on ancillaries at above the industry average. Follow CheapOair on Facebook and Twitter to learn how to travel the world for less.

 

CheapOair, OneTravel and other Fareportal brands serve customers non-stop during the winter storm

NEW YORK, NY – Feb 10, 2016 – Fareportal, a technology company that operates consumer travel brands CheapOair and OneTravel, today released statistics of its customer care accomplishments during the recent snowstorm Jonas during the weekend of January 22, 2016.

Although Fareportal’s corporate offices and one of the main customer call centers in New York City stood directly in the path of Jonas, a staff of nearly 3,000 people internationally was working tirelessly to support customers 24 hours a day without interruption through the entire weekend. Despite the ferocity of the storm, which caused power outages up and down the East Coast, Fareportal’s websites, call centers worldwide, and social media pages were all up and running to serve customers’ needs without interruption. With nearly 11,000 U.S. flights cancelled and about 21,000-25,000 of Fareportal’s customers affected, representatives in call centers globally fielded an approximate total of 65,000 phone calls during the weekend. Despite the heavy call volume, the average handling time was only 8-9 minutes per call and it led to an equally impressive average call abandonment rate of just 6.5 %, globally.

“On January 22, the day before the storm, while New York City and other cities and towns along the East Coast were busy readying emergency snow removal and rescue staff in anticipation of the big storm, Fareportal was forming emergency troubleshooting teams of our own and ensuring that we would have extra staff in our customer care departments,” said Ritesh Chaturbedi, general manager of global operations at Fareportal. “Throughout the entire weekend, Fareportal relayed crucial travel information, including the many flight cancellation notices, to our customers on the customer support pages, and we treated every of the 65,000 calls we received with utmost urgency. We were there for all of our customers.”

The winter snowstorm Jonas brought an average of 2 feet of snow, hurricane strength winds, and coastal flooding from Louisiana to Maine and across parts of the southern Midwest, causing upwards of $850 million worth of damage, according to The Weather Channel. The 4th largest blizzard on record, Jonas halted business and travel for a large part of the U.S., as it buried roads, railways, and runways.

About Fareportal
Fareportal is a travel technology company that powers hybrid (online/traditional) travel agencies. Utilizing its innovative technology and company owned and operated contact centers, Fareportal has forged strong industry partnerships providing access to over 450 airlines, 150,000 hotels and 100s of car rental companies that serve millions of customers every year. With a portfolio of consumer travel brands including CheapOair and OneTravel, Fareportal’s airline partners can benefit from access to a broad customer base that books high-yield international travel and add-on ancillaries. To learn more, visit www.Fareportal.com.

Hybrid travel agency, Fareportal, recently recognized for airline sales performance by Avianca Airlines

NEW YORK, NY – December 22, 2015 – Fareportal, one of the fastest-growing travel companies in the world and the technology behind consumer travel brands CheapOair and OneTravel, recently received its fourth Club Honorees award from Avianca Airlines, South America’s leading airline carrier.

“Avianca Airlines’ partnership with Fareportal has contributed to the brand’s overall growth, and we thank Fareportal for its continued support and excellent results in revenue and market share,” said Rolando Damas, Managing Director, North America and Asia.

To be recognized as a Club Honorees member, a travel agency partner must generate exceptional results for Avianca in terms of profitability, market share and sales volumes. These performance indicators are measured annually by Avianca Airlines.

“It is an honor to be recognized as a Club Honoree,” said Carolina Serrano, Assistant Vice President of Supplier Relations, at Fareportal. “As a company, Fareportal is committed to offering customers a wide variety of travel choices, and our relationship with Avianca Airlines makes this possible.”

Fareportal customers can search for and book flights on Avianca Airlines by visiting CheapOair.com or OneTravel.com or by calling the company’s call center directly to speak with a trained travel agent.

About Avianca Airlines
Avianca is a leading Latin American airline that is working to provide a world-class service to garner the preference of travelers. Its route network includes more than 100 destinations in 27 countries in the American continent and Europe, with Connection Centers in Bogota, El Salvador and Lima. Via its Star Alliance membership, the airline offers the possibility of global connectivity.

About Fareportal
Fareportal is a travel technology company that powers hybrid (online/traditional) travel agencies. Utilizing its innovative technology and company owned and operated contact centers, Fareportal has forged strong industry partnerships with over 550 airlines, 150,000 hotels and 100s of car rental companies to serve millions of customers every year. With a portfolio of consumer travel brands including CheapOair and OneTravel, Fareportal’s airline partners benefit from access to a broad customer base that books high-yield international travel and add-on ancillaries at a rate higher than the industry average. To learn more, visit .