Fareportal Wins Magellan Awards for the Fifth Consecutive Year

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Leading hybrid travel company once again recognized for innovation in online travel services marketing

 

October 1, 2014 — Fareportal, the parent company to leading hybrid (online/traditional) travel agencies CheapOair and OneTravel, announced today that Travel Weekly selected CheapOair as a Gold winner in the 2014 Magellan Awards in the Online Travel Services Marketing – TV Commercial category for its “Possibilities” spot. CheapOair also won the Silver award in Online Travel Services Marketing – Advertising/Marketing Campaign category for its APP-solute Getaway.

“Consistently winning the Magellan Awards for five years in a row is an exciting validation of CheapOair’s advertising and marketing efforts,” said Patriek Karayil, chief marketing officer at Fareportal.

From design to marketing to services, The Travel Weekly Magellan Awards honor the best in travel and salute the outstanding travel professionals behind it all. Since 2008, the awards have become some of the top accolades in the travel industry.

“Consistently winning the Magellan Awards for five years in a row is an exciting validation of CheapOair’s advertising and marketing efforts,” said Patriek Karayil, chief marketing officer at Fareportal. “At CheapOair, we aim to make travel effortless, affordable, and enjoyable by providing customers with the perfect trip, through relentless innovation in technology and unsurpassed customer service. Our advertising and marketing efforts support this mission and are designed to encourage millions of travelers to book their trips, effortlessly and affordably, with CheapOair every year.”

Previously, Fareportal won the following Magellan Awards:

  •     2013:
  •     Online Travel Services Marketing – Print Advertising for CheapOair NYC Campaign
  •     2012: three awards:
  •     Online Travel Services Marketing – App for “CheapOair Flight Search”
  •     Online Travel Services Marketing – Mobile Site for CheapOair Mobile Site
  •     Online Travel Services Marketing – Websites for OneTravel
  •     2011: three awards:
  •     Online Travel Services Marketing – TV Commercial for “Get There for Less”;
  •     Online Travel Services Marketing – Promotional Video for “Crazy in Love”;
  •     Online Travel Services Marketing – Overall – Blog for “CheapOair Travel Blog”
  •     2010:
  •     Online Travel Services Marketing – Promotional Video for “Lesson Learned”

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 450 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 http://www.Fareportal.com.

Fareportal Receives KEEN New York’s Proud Partner Award for 2014

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Leading hybrid travel brand recognized for leadership, dedication and support of KEEN New York

 

Maggie-and-Sam KEEN

September 23, 2014 –- Fareportal, the parent company to leading hybrid (online/traditional) travel agencies CheapOair and OneTravel, announced today that it was selected to receive KEEN New York’s Proud Partner Award for 2014. Each year, the award recognizes a company which contributed most to the organization’s mission of offering free recreational opportunities to children and young adults with disabilities.

 

“Continuing with our tradition, we have selected Fareportal for this special recognition in appreciation of the company’s leadership, dedication and continuing support for KEEN New York,” said Maggie Harrison, executive director of KEEN New York. “Together, Fareportal and KEEN New York are making New York a better place for children and young adults with disabilities to exercise and play and we look forward to expanding our partnership.”

 

Fareportal has developed a strong partnership with KEEN New York since the summer of 2013: sending dedicated volunteers, who assisted in KEEN’s inaugural Brooklyn Basketball program and who continue to help build other long-standing programs,  investing financially in the organization, and providing an opportunity to display KEEN’s Athletes’ artwork at the Fareportal headquarters with the creation of the Art@Fareportal program.

 

“Fareportal supports several charities worldwide, but as a company proudly headquartered in New York, with hundreds of New York-based employees, we are particularly honored to help support the great work being done in our local community,” said Sam Jain, CEO of Fareportal. “One of our favorite things to do is to give back to the New York community and that means helping every New Yorker, especially those who – like the boys and girls of KEEN – need our attention, time and support more than others. We are honored that our dedication and support of the organization is recognized with this prestigious award.”

 

The KEEN New York Proud Partner Award was presented to Fareportal’s leadership at KEENFest, KEEN’s annual fundraising gala, held on September 17, 2014. All of the proceeds from KEENFest benefitted free-of-charge, volunteer-based exercise and recreation programs serving children and young adults with significant disabilities.

About KEEN

Founded in 2008, KEEN New York is a volunteer-led, nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization and is an affiliate of KEEN USA headquartered in Washington, DC. KEEN New York’s local Board of Directors is comprised of community leaders, parents and volunteers with the purpose of overseeing the operation and ensuring that it remains true to KEEN’s mission: providing free recreational opportunities to children and young adults with disabilities by pairing them with trained volunteers for fun, noncompetitive activities. For more information, see: http://www.keennewyork.org.

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 450 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 www.Fareportal.com.

Travelong recognized as Avianca Airlines Club Honores member

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Fareportal and its consumer travel brand CheapOair recognized for sales achievement in third consecutive year

Travelong, Fareportal, Avianca, airlines, Carolina Serrano

August 19, 2014

Travelong, a Fareportal company, announced today that it was recognized by Avianca Airlines Club Honores program for the third consecutive year. To be admitted as a Club Honores member, Travelong generated excellent results for Avianca in terms of profitability, market share and sales volume. These performance indicators are measured annually by Avianca, and awards were given this year at Antigua, Guatemala where Travelong joined other top performing U.S. travel partners.

“We are proud of the relationship between Travelong and Avianca,” said Rolando Damas, managing director of North America and Asia at Avianca. “We have been happy to honor their outstanding results in revenue and market share for the past three years, and we look forward to continuing to work together in the years to come.”

Through parent technology company Fareportal and its consumer travel brand CheapOair, Travelong works closely with the airlines to promote their products and services. The company’s continued success has been acknowledged by awards from numerous airlines, as well as inclusion in Travel Weekly’s esteemed Power List.

SOURCE Travelong

CheapOair data reveals deals for Labor Day weekend

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Travelers will find deals to low-demand U.S. destinations and off-peak international destinations

August 5, 2014

CheapOair today released data showing the top destinations where its customers will be traveling over the Labor Day weekend. Labor Day travelers are typically faced with high summer fares, but due to a low-demand for U.S. destinations, and an increase in travel to off-peak international destinations, CheapOair is reporting more affordable airfare deals this year.

“By booking ahead of time, travelers will find tremendous Labor Day airfare deals,” said Thomas Spagnola, senior vice president of supplier relations at CheapOair. “We are seeing an extraordinary 106 percent increase in bookings to international beach destinations throughout Mexico and the Caribbean, demonstrating that our customers are finding low airfare deals to help them make the most of their last long summer weekend.”

This year, the average domestic airfare over Labor Day weekend on CheapOair is $310 roundtrip. Travelers seeking the best value can find low airfare deals to Denver, Orlando and Tampa, all under $300 roundtrip.

Most Popular U.S. Destinations Avg. Roundtrip Airfare Airfare Price Change 2014-13
Denver $268 40%
Orlando $269 -15%
Tampa $276 -6%
Washington, D.C. $289 -16%
Boston $293 -32%
Fort Lauderdale $310 -26%
Miami $336 10%
Los Angeles $339 -19%
San Francisco $354 -19%
Seattle $369 -1%

Looking abroad, off-peak international destinations such as St. Thomas, Cancun and San Jose Cabo are seeing a great increase in bookings. The average international airfare is just $537 roundtrip, and booking ahead could mean a trip to the Bahamas for almost half that price.

Most Popular International Destinations Avg. Roundtrip Airfare Airfare Price Change 2014-13
St. Thomas $278 -26%
The Bahamas $389 -17%
Puerto Vallarta $437 New to list
San Jose Cabo $469 5%
Aruba $474 6%
Panama City $487 -40%
Cancun $513 6%
Puerto Plata $577 -16%
Reykjavik $635 New to list
Dublin $1,149 New to list

The average prices above are based on bookings made on CheapOair.com by July 30, 2014 for travel between August 28 and September 3, 2014. Fares are roundtrip and include taxes and fees. Fares are based on historical data, are subject to change, and cannot be guaranteed at the time of booking. 

SOURCE CheapOair

Travelong receives recognition from Turkish Airlines

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Sam S. Jain, CEO of Fareportal and its consumer brand CheapOair, recognized for sales achievement in 2013

Sam S. Jain, Fareportal, Travelong

(L-R) New York regional marketing manager for Turkish Airlines Alp Ozaman, CEO of Travelong Sam S. Jain, and senior vice president Sanjay Hathiramani accept the Turkish Airlines award at Fareportal’s New York headquarters.

July 23, 2014

Travelong, a Fareportal company, announced today that it was recognized by Turkish Airlines for its high sales achievement in 2013. The award is based on 2013 sales results from its leading consumer travel brand, CheapOair, the hybrid travel agency that allows consumers to book travel online, on mobile apps, and by phone with certified travel agents available 24/7.

“Turkish Airlines is happy to award Travelong for its exemplary performance, outstanding efforts and dedication to supporting our sales efforts in 2013,” said Alp Ozaman, regional marketing manager, New York, for Turkish Airlines.

Through parent technology company Fareportal and its consumer travel brand CheapOair, Travelong works closely with the airlines to promote their products and services. The company’s continued success has been acknowledged by awards from numerous airlines, as well as ranked in the top ten on Travel Weekly’s esteemed Power List.

“We are thrilled by the measure of success achieved by working closely with Turkish Airlines,” said Sam S. Jain, CEO of Travelong. “We look forward to working with Turkish Airlines in the year ahead to continue offering our customers the widest selection of flights at affordable prices.”

CheapOair enables customers to book bags on Spirit Airlines in industry first

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New feature will help travelers save time and money by paying ahead for bags

July 8, 2014

CheapOair announced today that it has been chosen by Spirit Airlines as the first distribution partner to offer its customers the airline’s paid baggage options. Customers who book their Spirit Airlines ticket on CheapOair will be offered this time and money saving feature, which can save them up to 50 percent by purchasing checked or carry-on bags at the time of booking instead of at the airport gate.

“Making sure Spirit customers are fully informed about our low Bare Fares(TM) and how they control their options is our goal,” said Rich Lowry, Director of Distribution and Sales at Spirit Airlines. “CheapOair is helping us achieve this goal as they are the first online travel agency to sell our baggage options on their website. We are looking forward to working with CheapOair as together we can save people money on their air travel.”

CheapOair customers can benefit from the ability to pay for their baggage option ahead of time, which will simplify their experience at the airport. At the same time, a more streamlined check-in process will also help Spirit Airlines realize more efficient airport operations and predictable baggage sales.

“We’re happy to offer our customers the option to pay for their bags ahead of time,” said Tom Spagnola, senior vice president of supplier relations at CheapOair. “We encourage travelers to book on CheapOair as they can find deals with leading low-cost airlines like Spirit that give them greater control over the perks that will save them time and money, and enhance their trip.”

SOURCE CheapOair

Fareportal makes the top ten on Travel Weekly’s esteemed 2014 Power List

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Parent company of CheapOair advances one spot from 2013

July 2, 2014

Fareportal, the parent company to leading online travel agencies CheapOair and OneTravel, announced today that it was ranked number ten on Travel Weekly’s esteemed Power List. This recognition from one of the top publications in the trade industry, coupled with the company landing within the top ten, further solidifies Fareportal as a leader in the online travel space.

“We are honored to have been named in the top ten on this year’s Power List,” said Sam Jain, founder and CEO of Fareportal. “As a company, Fareportal strives to offer travelers the perfect trip through relentless innovation in technology and unsurpassed customer service. We are pleased to receive a reward that reinforces our position as a leader in the travel industry.”

The 2014 Power List recognized Fareportal’s achievements throughout the past year, including its 2013 sales of $3.5 billion. In 2013, Fareportal focused on increasing its partnerships with major airlines, like American Airlines and US Airways, as well as releasing updated versions of its mobile apps and mobile websites for CheapOair and OneTravel.

Looking to 2015, Fareportal is continuing to grow its arsenal of products in order to assist its customers in a multiple ways. Much like the past two years, Fareportal will focus on adding airline ancillaries to integrate value-added products and international expansion in more than ten countries and languages.

Fareportal and its affiliate company Travelong have been continuously acknowledged for outstanding work, placing them among industry leaders such as Expedia, Priceline American Express, and AAA Travel. In the past year, Travelong has earned numerous performance accolades from partners including the Sabre Travel Network, Qatar Airlines, LAN/TAM Airlines, Avianca Airlines, SriLankan Airlines, Korean Air, China Airlines and Malaysia Airlines.

SOURCE Fareportal

Travelong receives Million Dollar Sales Award from China Airlines

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Parent technology company Fareportal and its consumer travel brand CheapOair recognized for sales achievement

June 26, 2014

Travelong, a Fareportal company, announced today that it was awarded China Airlines’ Million Dollar Sales Award for the fifth consecutive year. The award recognizes the company for its sales, exceeding one million in 2013, and its achievement as an inventive business leader in the travel industry.

“This outstanding achievement is the result of close collaboration between Travelong and China Airlines,” said Wei-Tuan Chiu, general manager for China Airlines in the United States. “We look forward to reaching new milestones with Travelong in the year ahead.”

Through parent technology company Fareportal and its consumer travel brand CheapOair, Travelong works closely with the airlines to promote their products and services. The company’s continued success has been acknowledged by awards from numerous airlines including Qatar Airlines, LAN/TAM Airlines, Avianca Airlines, SriLankan Airlines, Korean Air and Malaysia Airlines, as well as inclusion in Travel Weekly’s esteemed Power List.

“We are honored to receive this award for the fifth consecutive year,” said Sanjay Hathiramani, senior vice president of supplier relations at Travelong. “This achievement is a continuous testament to our growing business and ability to work closely with partners like China Airlines. We look forward to strengthening our airline partnerships and continuing to offer our customers the widest choice of air products.”

SOURCE Fareportal

CheapOair announces top 4th of July destinations

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Nearly 50 percent more Americans will travel abroad over the long weekend this year compared to last

June 17, 2014

CheapOair, an online travel agency serving customers online, by phone and mobile apps, today released data showing the top destinations where its customers will be traveling for the 4th of July. The CheapOair data shows fares to both domestic and international destinations are down, and has found that more travelers are choosing international destinations over domestic this year compared to last for the long holiday weekend.

“Travel to celebrate the 4th of July has historically been within the United States,” said Patrick Fragale, chief content officer at CheapOair. “This year, the data shows that nearly 50 percent more travelers, compared to last year, are using the long weekend to take their celebrations abroad to exotic destinations including Reykjavik and Grand Cayman.”

Travelers planning to vacation between July 3 and July 6, 2014 will find average airfares to domestic destinations including Boston, San Diego and Fort Lauderdale at $356.67 roundtrip. International destinations have also seen a huge increase in popularity this year, with average roundtrip airfare just $578.42 to destinations like Mexico City, San Jose Cabo and the Bahamas.

Most Popular U.S. Destinations with Avg. Roundtrip Airfare and 2014-13 Cost Change

1. New Orleans ($493.24) 15%
2. Seattle ($379.94) -23%
3. Boston ($353.52) -17%
4. Atlanta ($306.64) No change
5. San Diego ($332.82) -13%
6. Orlando ($332.60) -3%
7. Denver ($312.82) No change
8. Los Angeles ($384.53) -6%
9. New York ($344.64) No change
10. Fort Lauderdale ($289.91) No change

Most Popular International Destinations with Avg. Roundtrip Airfare and 2014-13 Cost Change

1. Puerto Vallarta ($497.74) New to list
2. St. Thomas ($416.64) New to list
3. Reykjavik ($513.00) New to list
4. St. Maarten ($324.74) New to list
5. Mexico City ($411.09) -32%
6. The Bahamas ($347.13) -14%
7. Cancun ($573.15) No change
8. San Jose Cabo ($538.01) -13%
9. Grand Cayman ($542.64) No change
10. London ($1,312.79) -4%

The average prices above are based on bookings made on CheapOair.com by June 9, 2014 for travel between July 3 and July 6, 2014. Fares are roundtrip and include taxes and fees. Fares are based on historical data, are subject to change, and cannot be guaranteed at the time of booking.

SOURCE CheapOair

American Airlines group and Fareportal announce global, multi-year distribution agreement

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June 4, 2014

American Airlines Group and Fareportal announced a broad agreement to distribute American Airlines and US Airways content including ancillaries through Fareportal’s consumer travel brands CheapOair and OneTravel. This announcement extends and enhances the long-standing successful partnership between the companies. This is the first post-merger online travel agency agreement signed by American Airlines Group.

The agreement includes support for American Airlines Group distribution in all of Fareportal’s existing and future geographies, as well as through multiple channels and partners. Access to American Airlines and US Airways content will be available to Fareportal’s vast customer base in multiple countries.

“We are pleased to build on our existing and successful partnership, as Fareportal was the first company to integrate ancillaries in the booking path for both American Airlines and US Airways,” said Cory Garner, managing director – distribution and data commercialization, American Airlines. “American is committed to leading the industry in providing valuable choices to our customers around the world.”

In 2013, Fareportal became the first travel company to partner with American Airlines for the distribution of Choice Essential, Choice Plus, Main Cabin Extra and Preferred Seats, and US Airways for the distribution of ChoiceSeats. These successful programs have made it easy for Fareportal’s customers to enjoy many of the same value-added air travel services they have come to trust.

“Fareportal is focused on making it easy and effortless for our customers to book their perfect trip,” said Sam Jain, CEO of Fareportal. “Fareportal’s model provides a customized extension to our partners in order to differentiate their product offerings and enhance customer value and optimize revenue on a per seat basis.”

SOURCE Fareportal