Magazine Issue: June, 2010
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A proactive approach to technology investment can no longer be underestimated, stresses CEO, Illusions Online Arabia, Faisal Memon, who explained to Claudio Saghbini about the company’s own award-winning products
TTG: Please give us a brief overview of Illusions Online Arabia.
For over a decade now, Illusions Online has been focusing on providing unique and customised technology solutions for the travel industry, more specifically for end-toend outbound and inbound tour operators and DMCs. We have been in Dubai since late 2002, and since then we have had fantastic feedback from the companies we’ve been working closely with, which include some of the biggest names in the region and internationally. The real culmination for us however was winning the World Travel Award (WTA) last year for the World’s Leading Travel Technology Provider 2009. That was the biggest highlight in the company’s history. And we have followed this success by winning this year as well – the prestigious WTA for the Middle East’s Leading Travel Technology Provider.
TTG: How can Illusions Online help tour operators and DMCs achieve their goals?
Our philosophy, and a big part of our vision, is to make sure that we are always ahead in technology. With this in mind, we use the latest technologies to enable the automation of travel companies and provide consumers with a simple and cost-effective way to book travel.
The idea is to enable all travel technology solutions under one roof, so that our clients can steer clear of operational complications and improve their high levels of service. What we bring to the table is automation across every function of the business – contracting, reservations, operations, accounts, sales and marketing, and planning and logistics – everything is connected. We are much more than just a reservation system. Our services include providing complete product and supplier management, client management including pricing and tariffs and Internet booking engines for B2B and B2C, dynamic packaging, CRM, XML/Web services integration capabilities with partners and suppliers, and an outstanding reporting and business intelligence framework.
"Customers don’t always
understand what sort of benefits
automation can bring to their
business."
All these enable our clients’ distribution of
their products to the travel trade and consumers
efficiently with contractual changes, offers,
and new products on sale – much, much faster
than ever before.
TTG: What are some of the challenges that
your company faces in the region?
One of the key challenges we face is that customers
don’t always understand what kind of
benefits automation can bring to their business.
In general there’s two kinds of companies we
come across – those which do not have any
automation at all (or which is far too basic),
and those which have automation but which
they are not able to change in line with new
trends and demands or new technologies.
Which ever the case, our aim is to help those
who do not provide real time and online services
to their customers, and who are looking
to get to this level of automation. Our product
allows our customers to run their business effectively
and still be able to distribute to customers
at minimum costs.
Traditionally the whole thing was manual.
But now more and more customers are demanding
better connectivity and real time
access to products. Business today is becoming
much more last-minute. Our clients
have a very small window to be able
to distribute those holidays, and so they
need to have online real time information
to succeed.
TTG: How has technology investment
changed over the years in the industry?
We are seeing a huge change in management
thinking when it comes to technology. If I go
back to 2006-07, investment in technology
was quite limited. I’m mainly referring to traditional
companies here in the region – those
family-run businesses which have been around
for a long time and ask why they should
spend money on technology if business is
already strong.
What we’re seeing though, is that people
are starting to appreciate the value of technology
– looking at technology as an investment
instead of a cost. Getting to that stage was a
big challenge for us.
Of course in this industry it’s all about
the people, skills, and entrepreneurs, but
technology makes people work smarter.
It allows you to give consumers the services
they are increasingly demanding. With Illusions Online technology, the biggest advantage is
that our clients are online immediately, 24/7
in real time. And our technology brings a huge
change to the business as well – above all it
alleviates staff of time, allowing them to work
on the more complex bookings.
TTG: How would you advise travel
professionals looking to invest more
in technology?
Automate, innovate or die! This may sound
harsh, but it’s absolutely true. It’s a reality.
And the sooner companies realise and accept
this, the sooner they won’t be just another
number. It’s all about automation and innovation – you’ve got to be different. If you are just
like any other company out there then why
would I come to you? Technology helps you
to achieve things beyond just a strong company
vision and quality staff.
"People are starting to
appreciate the value of technology
investment looking at technology
as an investment instead of
a cost. Getting to that stage was
a big challenge for us"
TTG: What are your overall plans for the
MENA region?
Well with regards to our latest version –
Illusions V12 – the client feedback both in the
region and globally tells us that it’s been absolutely
amazing so far. I think the amount of
functionality we have built in the platform has
been tremendous – about a million dollars investment
has gone into developing the latest
version of our product.
And the third quarter of this year is going to
be very exciting as well. Our focus so far has
been mainly on big organisations – we’ve realised
this and so what we are looking to do is add
a more ‘scaled-down’, ‘off-the-shelf’ platform
to allow smaller-sized enterprises to access
our similar technology. We want to take our
product to the masses at a fraction of the cost
so that we can allow these smaller companies
to enjoy the benefits of our technologies. That
is going to be a huge part of our plans for later
this year. There is also another large project
we are working on but we will announce
that closer to the time of launch – watch
this space!
Source: www.ttgmena.com
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Magazine Issue: May, 2010
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Face-to-Face, Interview with Faisal Memon
Memon explains how the company is branching out into new sectors due to popular demand
Travel Daily: Tell us about the exciting new prospects you encountered at this year’s Arabian Travel Market (4-7 May).
Faisal Memon: This year’s ATM was a pleasant surprise. Usually we exhibit to make sure our branding is out there. We meet with existing customers and normally meet the same people. It’s important for us to be at ATM because it’s our home turf.
The feedback from the Illusions team on the floor at this year’s show was really good – we had a lot of good leads and new prospects, and not just from DMCs and tour operators.
We had a lot of hotels approach us asking if we could provide a system for them and when we thought about it, we realised there is no reason why we can’t do this. We provide a system for tour operators that connects them to suppliers so we can provide a system for hotels that connects to the tour operators and clients.
Travel Daily: Why do you think hotels are coming to Illusions?
Faisal Memon: One of the biggest challenges hotels face is distribution – to both the trade and the consumer. Why? There is not enough technology available to them. I’m not talking about the big chains and the five stars, but the independents and the four stars etc. There isn’t much available to them at a cost-effective price. So, there is no reason why a hotelier cannot use our platform to put in their inventory and distribute it. This is an entirely new system for us, but we can fill the gap in the market.
We can take our big elephant [for tour operators] and scale it down for hoteliers so they can use it for reservations, yield management and distribution etc – all online. We had at least 15 hotels interested in this concept at ATM alone. We are currently looking at our system and how it can be adapted – it’s an exciting development for Illusions.
Travel Daily: What other new avenues are you exploring?
Faisal Memon: Until now, our primary market has been big tour operators inbound and outbound – deals that require substantial outlay for the customer and take a long time to close. The barrier we
have seen is price, although we have seen the uptake of technology improving as people realise the long-term benefits.
But what we are noticing is that there are many small- and medium-sized travel companies who need technology and automated systems but they often
don’t have a big income for this. Again, we are looking to take our system and scale it down for them to create a new model. We would charge a fee per month and make it really affordable for them.
Travel Daily: Why should SMEs sign up with Illusions?
Faisal Memon: The beauty of it is that we have been browser-based since 2000. We know the internet in and out, but some travel companies are still struggling to move to the web. When it comes to selling online, most of them really don’t have a clue. But we have done the hard work and have created an enterprise system they can use. All we need to do is scale it down and make it available to the masses.
Travel Daily: Geographically, what trends are you noticing in terms of demand for your technology?
Faisal Memon: It’s a real mixture – we are commanding a lot of attention from around the world. In the Middle East, the action is in Libya and Syria – two amazing places that have been locked away from the world for years due to the fear factor, sanctions and terrorism issues, etc.
However, things are changing and tourism is playing a major role in each country.
We have already started looking at these areas. Jordan is also strong for us and Egypt is looking at coming back strongly. We have also had some amazing feedback from tour operators in the India Ocean, as well as Sri Lanka, which is great, as they are close to home. Eastern Europe is also on the map as more countries become part of the EU.
About Faisal Memon
Faisal Memon, often dubbed the ‘Master Illusionist’, is the driving force behind Illusions Online. The Dubai-born entrepreneur is a self-confessed techno geek and admits that he has “always been into technology”. In fact, at the age of 19, tech-savvy Memon had already set up a thriving business from his bedroom developing business software. One of his biggest breaks came in 1999 when he moved to London and was instrumental in developing an inbound tour operating system for a travel wholesaler – a system he moved online one year later.
“It was obvious to me then that the internet was going to be the future and so was the fact that I had to be focused on travel technology,” he says.
This is when Illusions Online was really born. By 2002, the fi rm had opened an office in Melbourne, Australia and at the end of that year the business brought him to Dubai, where a booming market was “awaiting some serious changes”, according to Memon. Illusions Online now boasts clients across five continents and is headquartered in Dubai Media City, employing more than 30 staff .
About Illusion online
Illusions Online is a global travel technology company providing online
enterprise travel solutions software for tour operators and DMCs. Recent
client additions in Dubai include Lawand Tourism and SNTTA. The solutions
automate travel companies and provide consumers with a simple and
cost-eff ective way to book travel. Services comprise complete product
management, pricing/tariff and internet booking engines for travel agencies
(B2B) and consumers (B2C), dynamic packaging, CRM, XML/web services
integration capabilities with partners and suppliers and a reporting and
business intelligence framework.
Illusions’ system enables the distribution of products to the travel trade and
consumers effi ciently with contractual changes, off ers and new products on
sale delivered quickly.
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Magazine Issue: May, 2010
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Hotels and SMEs demand Illusions products
Dubai-based travel technology provider Illusions Online is witnessing demand for distribution technology from new customer types.
The firm, which has traditionally catered to the technology needs of large inbound and outbound tour operators globally, said it had been approached by several hotels and smaller travel firms who cannot find solutions to meet their budget and requirements.
As a result, the company, was inundated with new prospects at the recent Arabian Travel Market (4-7 May).
“We had a lot of hotels approach us asking if we could provide a system for them and when we thought about it, we realised there is no reason why we can’t do this,” Illusions Online CEO Faisal Memon told TDME in an exclusive interview.
“We provide a system for tour operators that connects them to suppliers so we can provide a system for hotels that connects to the tour operators and clients.”
He said that one of the biggest challenges facing hotels was distribution, to both the trade and consumers.
“I’m not talking about the big chains and the five stars, but the independents and the four stars etc,” said Memon.
“There isn’t much available to them at a cost-effective price. So, there is no reason why a hotelier cannot use our platform to put in their inventory and distribute it. This is an entirely new system for us, but we can fill the gap in the market.”
He said Illusions would take its “big elephant”, which was normally designed for tour operators and “scale it down for hoteliers so they can use it for reservations, yield management and distribution etc – all online”.
“We had at least 15 hotels interested in this concept at ATM alone. We are currently looking at our system and how it can be adapted,” he added.
Memon said there were also many small- and medium-sized travel companies crying out for distribution technology and automated systems and that Illusions was looking to create a concept for this market.
“We would charge a fee per month and make it really affordable for them,” he said.
Memon stressed that when it came to selling online, most travel companies “don’t have a clue” and that they should leave it to Illusions to get them up to date.
“The beauty of it is that we have been browser-based since 2000. We know the internet in and out,” he said.
“We have done the hard work and have created an enterprise system they can use. All we need to do is scale it down and make it available to the masses.”
www.traveldailyme.com
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Magazine Issue: May, 2010
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Q & A with Faisal Memon
Illusions Online is a major enterprise software provider, based in Dubai, Faisal Memon, CEO of the company spoke to Travel Trade Weekly about the importance of technology in difficult times.
Travel Trade Weekly: Please tell me about what Illusions offers to its customers and who your product is for?
Faisal Memon: Our main offering is something called Illusions Enterprise; which is essentially a complete suite of tools for tour operators and wholesalers, for managing every aspect of the business. In the Middle East region there is a very grey area between travel agents, tour operators and wholesalers, but our dealings are very much with the brick and mortar kind of operation.
However, even though we work with real-world businesses, we allow these businesses to be online and compete in that market.
Travel Trade Weekly: Has there been a lot of interest in enterprise software in the Middle East?
Faisal Memon:The interest has been huge; however, where the issue lies is that because we are offering an enterprise product, we focus on enterprise customers, which means the big boys in the market.
The barrier is the cost of the product, which can be up in six figures. We have obviously tried to be very creative in the way we priced the product, through user licensing and other initiatives, but it can still be difficult to convince smaller players to make the investment.
On top of which, it has always been a challenge to get people to adopt new technologies.
Travel Trade Weekly: Is there a particular resistance to new technologies in the Middle East?
Faisal memon: Oh yeah. You are bang on there. What you have to remember is that a lot of these travel companies, particularly the big ones like Kanoo or Al Rais, have been around for a long time.
These big players, many of them have boomed and grown because of the boom in the region.
For example, a couple of years ago in 2007 and 2008, these companies did not have to work too hard because there was so much going on in the area and everyone rode the wave.
At that time, we would go into offices and try to convince managers to spend six figures on a new program - well , you would see a lot of eyebrows.
You would usually get shown the door, too!
I think the actual understanding of the benefits of technology has not yet become widespread and this is something that can be seen in the travel industry around the world. Sure, in the US you have companies like Expedia and Orbitz, but this is a very different business model and traditional tour operators have remained very slow on the uptake when it comes to new technology.
So yes, although things are changing, there is definitely big resistance.
Travel Trade Weekly: How are things changing now?
Faisal Memon: We have seen a shift recently, as the market has not been as rosy as people have to work hard for pennies these days.
The biggest cost for travel enterprises is human resources, and our product is about automating procedures that would otherwise take up the time of staff.
What this means is that in hard times companies can operate with fewer employees and when things get better the can either manage greater loads with the same number of staff, or redirect staff to work on more complicated, high revenue business.
Another thing that is driving interest at the moment is that we are seeing the old school hand over the reins to the new school.
As the fathers in the big family business that are our main clients hand over the management to their songs, we are seeing a lot of new interest coming in.
www.traveltradeweekly.travel (PAGE 19)
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Magazine Issue: December, 2009
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Illusions bags Lawand Tourism account
Dubai-based solutions firm creates unique identity for Aussie inbound specialist
Illusions Online has signed a deal with Australian inbound tour operator Lawand Tourism, which will see the Dubai-based technology specialist provide the travel firm with a complete seamless front and back-office system.
The booking engine Illusions has created for Lawand, an operator that has its own permanent regional marketing and support office in Dubai and a marketing liaison office in Riyadh, has its own "unique identity" according to Illusions Online CEO Faisal Memon.
"There are so many DMCs using Illusions that we need to make sure that each solution we provide is different," he explained. "What we have done is create a unique identity [for Lawand] in terms of the colour, the themes and the brand. We have done something similar for [UAE DMC] SNTTA." Memon continued. "We are taking the systems of these operatiors to the next level with XML."
He explained that this involved seamlessly linking DMCs to their clients so that all booking systems were in sync through interface.
Lawand Tourism's solution, he added, also included crucial elements such as product management and pricing, in addition to the booking tools.
"They have also gone for B2C, as well as B2B solutions," Memon said.
The roll out of the Illusions system will be completed in phases, starting with the back office system to include product loading that is based in Bangalore, India.
once up-and-running, it will be pitched to individual agents within the Gulf who wish to interface their booking systems with Lawand.
In other Illusions news, the first won the coveted World's Leading Travel Technology Provider accolade at the World Travel Awards in London on November 8.
Memon said he wasn't surprised to win the award, which is usually given to on of the four GDS providers.
"The GDS aren't doing anything new at the moment and there is no one else," he said.
The firm has also revealed that Al Rais Travel has finally gone live with its GTA interface so all of the wholesaler's inventory is now available to Al Rais travel consultatnts.
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Magazine Issue: December, 2009
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Through every downturn, we've emerged stronger
Interview with Faisal Memon, CEO, Illusions Online
Can you provide us a brief description of what your company does?
We specialise in software solutions for your operators and we cater for both inbound and outbound markets, which is quite unique. We pride ourselves in being able to provide a full, comprehensive service - it's much more than just a booking engine.
You've just been awarded by the World Travel Awards Middle East's leading Technology Provider 2009 and the World's Leading Travel technology Provider 2009, why do you think you won and what are you doing to capitalise on this?
We're the best, of course! but honestly, this was huge for us, it shows that no matter how big or small a company is, if you stick to your goals and your targets, you get rewarded. Before us, the winners used to be really traditional, well-known companies like Amadeus and Galileo, so to be rewarded for all our hard work is really great. Now we just have to concentrate on getting the message out there.
This has been a tough year for everyone, how do you think you've managed?
We started in Bombay in 1997 and since then we've known one or two recessions, maybe not always in economic terms but the travel industry, especially, has always been very up and down. And, like I mentioned earlier, because we analyse market trends, we weren't completely surprised when this happened, we were prepared. We've actually been expanding this year. Every downturn we've been through, we've emerged bigger and stronger. The reason for this is that I believe you must always invest when it's quiet, because when it's busy you don't have time. A quiet time gives you an opportunity to look at how to improve the efficiency of a business, where to cut costs. You're preparing, so that when business comes back, and it always does, you're prepared to hit the ground running.
This year has been huge for us, our members of staff has increased three times as much as before, we've got big accounts, and we're lucky that technology has become an integral part of doing business now, and the companies who realise that are the ones who emerge as the winners, and they tend to be our clients.
Illusions Online was conceived in 1997, you've come a long away since then spanning across the five continents, why do you think you've been so successful?
We're a small company hat has been able to adapt quickly and effectively to change. We look at automating every aspect of a tour operator's business, be it contracting, brochure producing, pricing, accounting, logistics and planning, content management systems, etc. But one of the really big things that has helped set us apart from our competitors is that we provide a consulting service. We know world trends and we are able to pass that on to our customers. When we deal with a client we look at it as a long-term relationship - they stick with us, because we're constantly enhancing their products.
How do you stay ahead of the competition?
For us, technology is key, so we always make sure we are aware of the latest software trends etc. Also, a lot of our competition has been around since 19080s, so they have quite rigid systems and it's not easy for them to adapt as quickly as us. I also think it helps that i come from a technology background. Most CEO's are normally from finance and so resent having to spend money, whereas I can look at it from the other side. Plus, we always make a point of listening to our customers, for without them we wouldn't know what works, what doesn't, what they want and what they don't.
What do you hope to achieve in 2010 and where would you like to see the company opening up in next?
Next year is going to be really big for us. It will be the time when all the work preparation we've done this year will come to fruition. We're opening up soon in South America as it bugs me that we don't have any customers there. Seriously, though, I personally believe that South America is a really untaped source. With regards to travel, you've got some of the best travel opportunities around, but you need the infrastructure in place first before you can progress in anything else, and I think South America is ready now, It's opening itself up to tourism and where there's tourism, there's Illusions. But I never look further than one year ahead, because markets change so quickly. I like to play it by year.
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Magazine Issue: September, 2009
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SNTTA seeks competitive edge with Illusions
IT Solutions
Sharjah-based SNTTA Emir Tours has chosen Dubai-based IT solutions provider, Illusions, to building a system that it believes will run it's FIT business most efficiently.
"All of our partners have been asking for this system and the same must be true for our competitors - so it definitely gives us an edge." said SNTTA senior general manager David Milican.
"It is also very user friendly, which helps us to encourage new partners to consider adopting the system."
Milican added the technology would give SNTTA " total flexibility in revising and implementing business decisions quickly."
"This will provide the cutting edge, even in volatile markets," he said.
The system will allow users to give immediate answers to clients as it works in real time offering instant rates and confirmation. It will also ensure maximisation of the available room allocation.
"The backbone of the FIT business segment is contracting, inventory management and tariff fixing. The new technology has very robust modules for managing all these three areas," Milican added.
A travel professional looking to use the system can first visit a test site to learn how the IT works.
The are given a login and password, allowing them full access to book hotels, transfer and excursions. The system automatically generates invoices, client itineraries and vouchers.
"Technology [such as this] is the future of the travel industry globally." said Milican. "In these very difficult times, effective use of technology can only help companies optimise services, increase efficiency and there by increase revenues."
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Magazine Issue: September, 2009
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Letter to the Editor
Technology Challenge
I read with interest your article (Agents warned about challenging future: July issue) in which Danny Dinesh of IABA stated that we would be living in a fool's paradise if we were to think that the region's travel trade wouldn't be affected by the consumer switch to booking online.
The answer is quite simple, agents need to adopt a strategy that gives them the edge technologically and the need to do it now. The initial outlay may be perceived to be high, by what it the cost to that business if a web strategy is not adopted? I am constantly amazed at the lack of online agency activity in this region.
Sure, we are getting there, but the industry here is so far behind the travel trade in other parts of the world. However, the opportunities to adopt a web strategy are right there in front of them, with many companies operating in the region that can take their business to the next level.
John Flower, Illusions Online, Dubai |
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Magazine Issue: July, 2009
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Illusions Increases
With more than 28 years of leadership experience in operations, Mini Nimkar joined Illusions in May 2008 as a training manager. She has a diverse background which includes a wealth of experience in tour operations, Human Resources, administration and education.
Mini is now responsible for business development in GCC, Indian Subcontinent, Indian Ocean and Africa.
Lisa Shortland began her career in the travel industry more than 18 years ago as a reservations agent for one of Australia's largest wholesalers, Qantas Holidays.
Lisa moved to Dubai in 2008 and spent six months as operations manager with a local DMC.
Maheen Mohamed started her career some moon ago as a front office staff at the Oberoi Sheraton Hotel in Bombay before moving to Dubai in 1979 to seek new pastures and adventures.
She joined Emirates in 2986 as sales co-ordinator for DNATA and then moved to Emirates Holidays.
Maheen has joined Illusions as business development manager and lives in Dubai.
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Magazine Issue: June, 2009 |
New Recruit
New Illusions Business Development manager John Flower explains why he believes an investment in technology will be the catalyst for a more professional travel trade
What is your trade background?
I've been in the industry 17 years. I started my career in 1993 with STA Travel in Australia. I moved to Dubai four years ago and have worked with Emirates, DNATA and Alpha Holidays.
What are your responsibilities in your role?
Increasing the distribution and awareness of Illusions technical solutions and concentrating on getting them out into the marketplace.
How do you intend to do this?
We've territorialised the globe and we're trying to get products out to DMCs and wholesalers around the world through trade fairs, direct marketing and utilising my existing contacts.
Are agencies in this region open to change?
I think a lot of agencies are starting to realise if they don't invest in technology they'll be left behind and there's a huge push at the moment within a number of agencies. They're reviewing their technology and it's quite surprising to see some of the larger travel agencies don't have up-to-date solutions.
What are the challenges involved?
The biggest challenge is getting out there and becoming familiar with the expectations of the industry.
Is now the right time for agents to invest?
This is a time when companies are looking at business and realising they have to make changes to make money. If that involves adopting new technology, then so be it. I think this is the perfect opportunity to invest. Technology won't make staff work harder, it'll make them work smarter.
Does more technology mean less staff?
Maybe in the long run, but the reality is not to cut staff but to grow distribution, allowing you to employ people more readily. If the the agent is able to spend less time processing they can improve their product knowledge. I believe technology is the catalyst for a more professional trade.
What if the regional industry fails to adopt the new technology?
There's a lot of potential here, but the industry needs to move quickly towards technological advancement, there is no doubt about it. The rest of the world is steaming ahead.
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Magazine Issue: June, 2009 |
Inaugurate or Liquidate
Illusions CEO Faisal Memon explains why only the travel agencies that invest in technology will survive the downturn
It's not a question of whether travel agencies should invest in technology; it's how soon they should.
In these challenging times; technology that simplifies processes is the only way to grow a business without recruiting 10 extra staff.
Many agents in this region are still using traditional simple and time consuming methods, such as ringing around suppliers to perform their day-to-day roles.
So much time is spent doing the administration and mundane tasks, which could easily be taken care of by an advanced application; leaving agents free to improve their knowledge and provide a service that consumers are happy to pay for.
On the other hand, we've got some amazing partners in this region that have looked at the downturn as an opportunity.
Illusions understands times are tough so we're offering more commercial options, such as rental and transaction models, as well as pay-as-you-go options. We're flexible to market needs.
Travel is the most resilient industry in the world. It's those agencies which have taken advantage of business solutions offered on a flexible basis, which will be able to respond to the market challenges.
Illusions scooped the Middle East's Leading Travel Technology Provider award at the World Travel Awards 2009. |
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Magazine Issue: March, 2009 |
Talking Techno - Illusions MICE
Illusions Online has taken its tour operator solution and adapted it to meet the demands of the meetings, conventions and exhibitions sectors, providing B2C system to streamline all bookings and requests related to specific events.
Now, using Illusions MICE, PCOs are able to create a dedicated B2C website for each event and encourage attendees to register online. using the system, attendees for events, exhibitions and conferences can access the site, register for the event, book their hotels and any tours (taking advantage of group discounted rates), arrange for their meet and assist and then pay via the integrated payment gateway.
The software is programmed so that once a client is registered their history is kept on file for future events, meaning that they only have to enter vital information such as contact details once. This also enables the DMC or PCO to build up a comprehensive picture of their clients and their booking habits, which assists with event planning and business forecasts.
"Illusions MICE is a very flexible programme. It enables the user to decide what they are selling and to whom," said Faisal Memon, CEO, IIlusions Online.
"It allows clients to use the same common platform - content, photos, company information - for each event. All that varies are the specifics for the event itself. The idea is very smple but powerful and effective when it comes to converting browsers into bookers."
Illusions Online has been providing it's tailored tour operator back office solutions of over 10 years and now boasts of a network of clients spanning five continents.
www.illusions-online.com
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Magazine Issue: March 09
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What is Cloud Computing and why should agents invest?
Illusions CEO Faisal Memon : In the traditional client-server environment, where the client is the end user, the agency or opertor buys software and hardware and installs the application on each individual computer.
But this can be time consuming and costly.
'Cloud Computing' on the other hand means all of your applications, tools and data are stored on the internet so agents don't need to spend money investing in software and hardware before a booking has been made.
Technology companies can even provide the service on a pay-as-you-book basis, where the agent is charged per transaction or booking.
While this isn't a new concept, there has been reluctance amongst agents in this region to put confidential data online. But now people are becoming more cost conscious it is starting to take off in this region. Now is the time for travel companies to start thinking about the whole operting and booking process, and how every penny is spent.
Visitwww.illusions-online.com
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Magazine Issue: February 2009
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Illusions looks at the bigger picture
Arabian Travel News talks to Illusions CEO Faisal Memon about the company's niche product and its strategy to attract more business from the region's travel trade
Travel operator business solutions specialist Illusions Online is looking to secure deals with top travel companies across the region having ended 2008 with a major coup.
The Dubai-based firm, which offers the tour operator system Travellusions to companies across the globe, recently signed a deal with Dubai's Al Rais Travel, to provide all of it's software solutions and help integrate its online-offering.
To build on the momentum of this sign-up, Illusions CEO Faisal Memon is on a mission to score more big names, but will be choosing his partners carefully, he told ATN.
It's both an advantage and a disadvantage for us that a lot of travel companies out there haven't been prioritising the sort of online service solution that we can offer", he mused.
"In the short term it's been good because what we do is so specialised we have been able to create a specific niche in the market for ourselves - but the downside is that we really do have to be careful when it comes to who we align ourselves with."
He continued: "It's absolutely no use to us to partner with a company that things we can deliver a business solution like it's a commodity. What we do is more complicated and time consuming than that - the benefits are enormous but we have to be sure that we are aligned with a company that we are satisfied we can deliver a solution that matches the levels of our own high standards."
Memon conceded that initial consultation periods and business analysis with travel companies could be slow going, but was adamant that the practice was necessary."
"It is not our way to implement a quick fix." he stressed.
"Through us our clients will enjoy complete business automation that is also customisable. We don't look at just one section, we build a platform structure for all aspects of the business: we can facilitate one system to cover the entire business from pricing, reservations, operations, bookings - the whole lot- so it can make a massive difference.
Memon added that he expected increasing numbers of travel companies across the UAE to gradually embrace the idea of implementing technology solutions.
"Companies in this region will see the benefits eventually." he said, "which is good for us of course because we are already established here. This means we will have the inside track and we can point interested parties in the travel industry to our track record so they can see our quality and what we are all about."
He added that the agreement with Al Rais Travel was "a good indication" of the stage at which the travel market was at in terms of solution uptake.
"As a company, they are becoming more technology and web savvy and they recognise the benefits of working with us and we're really pleased to be aligned with them as well, because of their approach and understanding of how our partnership will work." he said.
"If you just look at Dubai alone you can see the speed that things change - and the travel industry is changing every day."
He stressed that in the current financial climate, it would be the most forward thinking companies that would do well.
"We have a lot of negotiations going on behind the scenes and expect more announcements to be made soon, so it's a case of watch this space," Memon concluded.
About Illusions Online
Illusions Online Arabia is a travel operator business solutions company based in Dubai Media City with its development centre based in Mumbai and sales and marketing offices in London, UK and Melbourne, Australia. The company's enterprise travel solution for tour operators, Travellusions, is recognised as one of the leading software solutions for the travel domain and has been implemented at travel organisations worldwide. Features of the Travellusions product include a mark-up wizard, which allows tour operators to increase of reduce mark-ups quickly, the ability to make immediate rate changes in real time, handles data in such a way that makes products bookable on the web, and data input into multiple systems. For more information visit www.illusions-online.com |
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Magazine Issue: January 2009
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Al Rais in Illusions Deal
Dubai-based travel company Al Rais Travel has signed an agreement with travel operator business solutions specialist company Illusions to provide al of it's software solutions and help integrate its online offering.
"Al Rais Travel is becoming more technology and web savvy," said Illusions CEO Faisal Memon.
"We've had a dialogue with them for some time and it will be a privilege to help take them to the next level.:
Memon conceded that the shift into embracing more advanced online options was "noticeably slower" in the Middle East compared to other areas of the world, but said that for a niche company like Illusions, the situation had it's advantages.
"We have to be very picky about who we align ourselves with," he said.
"Anyone can make a sale; what we're interested in is building partnerships where we can genuinely provide a service. For that we need to be able to trust the company we are woring with, it's a very niche are that we work in and the standards that we set for achieving our goals are very high."
Memon went on to hint that Illusions was in the process of negotiating with other "major" travel companies in the region and to expect further "exciting announcements" in the coming months. |
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Magazine Issue: 2009
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Company Profiles - Illusions Online
It is a known fact that travel and tourism has evolved tremendously in today's world. Bringing continents and narrowing the planter within minimalist time frames is the call of the day. Most of the travel companies are time and again harnessing the nature of the wanderlust in everybody. And thereby making the entire process of traveling, simpler.
Illusions is an alter ego of the persona itself, a manifestation of its illustrious founder and CEO, Faisal Memon. An individual with the dint of sheer dynamism and vision lives and adheres by his promise of providing new age travel technology solutions, in an evolving world. Keeping abreast of the changing trends, yet stealing a march over it. The endeavor being to stand head and shoulders above the commonalities.
Illusions paradoxically is all about reality and offers a plethora of services under one roof to well and truly make it an organisation which offers you Travel Technology solutions across the spectrum.
Illusions is a global travel technology company providing online enterprise travel solutions software for tour operators and destination management companies (DMCs).
In a nutshell, it brings into play the latest technology enabling the automation of travel companies and provide consumers with a simple and cost-effective way to book travel. Plainly put, a complete solution for the entire business under one roof, devoid of operational nightmares and complications.
It simplistically adapts and responds effectively to the ever changing market requirements and conditions. And results in providing optimum levels of service to their clients. Making it one of a kind travel technology provider among its divisive fraternity.
Illusions Online was conceived in 1997. Over the years with its meteoric rise it has established client base spanning across the five continents, garnering blue chip clientele in the process, illusions has been a pioneer in its sphere.
To encapsulate things in a holistic manner its services comprise of providing complete product management and contracting, pricing and tariff management, internet booking engines for travel agencies (B2B) and consumers (B2C), Dynamic packaging, CRM, XML/Web services integration capabilities and partners and suppliers and an outstanding Reporting and Business Intelligence framework.
This enables distribution of products to the travel trade and consumers efficiently with contractual changes, offers and new products on sale, much, much faster than ever before. Specifically, Illusions helps to deliver targeted operational efficiencies and increased product choice and flexibility to further improve the high levels of service. Endowed with a dedicated research and development team it always ensures that it's clients are in the know and thereby in the forefront of technology.
It's visionary approach has held it in good stead which in itself is the proof of it's every burgeoning clientele. A clear-but understanding of the travel trade has helped in firmly setting their sights with objectives in-place to ensure optimum client satisfaction.
To sum it up Illusions Online is a trusted ally of yours in providing an enterprise-wide IT strategy and solutions to reduce manpower, increase sales revenues, automate and improve customer relationship management and increased levels of employee productivity.
Illusions, setting standards and going places, literally and figuratively, gives you myriad of reasons to be your partner in progress.
Illusions Online Arabia FZ LLC
Box: 500627, Dubai, United Arab Emirates, building 6, Office G06, Dubai Media City.
Phone: +971 4 3902300, Fax: +971 4 3908367
Email: iolsales (at) illusions-online.com
Website: www.illusions-online.com
Office Hours: 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM
Key Personnel:
Faisal Memon - Chief Executive Officer
Mini NImkar - Customer Service Manager
Dorothee Leipnitz - Business Development Manager
Julia Makarova - Marketing Manager
Activities: Online Enterprise Software Solution for Tour Operators & DMCs. Complete Product management, Pricing / tariff & Internet Booking Engines for Travel Agencies (B2B) & Consumers (B2C), Dynamic packaging, CRM, XML / Web Services Integration capabilities.
Number of Employees: 30
Bank: HSBC
Year Established: 1997 |
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