SAYONI BHADURI – Mumbai
Kuoni Academy has signed an agreement with Abacus International to make them a strategic education partner with the academy. This agreement will allow Kuoni Academy to train its students and travel agents on the Abacus platform. Upon completion of training, each participant will receive a formal certificate stating that they have been trained on all levels of the Abacus GDS platform. The programme is a stand alone unit available in two levels, which later will be subtly incorporated into the course content.
Rajeev Wagle, MD, Kuoni Travel Group said that they intend to extend this course to other Kuoni Academies. “We are still in the consideration stage for the same,” he added. “The addition of this course allows us to add value to the industry by providing them trained professionals from day one. Travel as a profession is a last choice for students, we as an industry have to make an effort to change that,” Wagle said. Jeet Sawhney, MD India, Abacus Distribution Systems (India) added, “As a GDS we owe it to the travel fraternity. We earn our profits from the industry, but what is our payback to them. I believe education and training is a crucial element where we as an industry need to focus.”
The agreement has been signed for three-four years, both parties are hopeful that this will turn out to be a long standing association. While currently, the focus is primarily the students of Kuoni Academy, travel agents’ training will be incorporated in the future. Kuoni Academy and Abacus will formally announce all course offerings for the travel fraternity and will jointly hold a series of awareness programmes across India on Abacus. All courses offered by Kuoni Academy will have this programme as part of their curriculum.
