Modernizing and Simplifying Travel Technology. Comprehensive yet reasonable allowing even travel SMEs & Startups to compete with the well established leaders within the industry.

Illusions Online is a travel technology company that offers a software for TOs, DMCs, TAs and Airline Holidays to manage their entire business operation involving Product/Contract Management, Client Management, Tariff/Markup Management, B2B/B2C booking engines for flights, hotels, services, car rental, packages, etc.Conduct thorough market/competitor research, promotional activities in target markets to generate sales leads which included cold calling, email marketing, social media marketing, road shows and attending trade exhibitions. Conduct system demos & price negotiations with C-Level staff, discuss implementation & Go-Live timeframes, taking it all the way to deal closure. Active involvement in the system implementation process to ensure smooth and timely transition until the scheduled Go-Live date. Also after sales follow-up and up-selling to existing clients.Tactical advertising in target markets based on work seasonality, financial year end, events of global interest, etc. to maximize the impact of the communication through various channels of online/offline marketing. Involves 50% traveling for meetings with potential clients and exhibitions.Extensive knowledge of travel services suppliers (air and land) offering XML connectivity as per requirement of each client viz. GDSs (Sabre SynXis & Travel Network, Amadeus APIs/NDC & Travelport Universal API), Hotel Wholesalers/Bedbanks/Dynamic inventory, OTAs, Services Providers (transfers & excursions), Channel Managers, LCC consolidators, etc.Promoted the Illusions iWTX Hotel Marketplace (products from DMCs, bedbanks, OTAs and Dynamic inventory) with travel agents and tour operators in various parts of the world. Extensively handled the GCC market as well as parts of Middle East, APAC, Africa, Europe and North America.Guiding and training new team members on how to best maximize their time and effort towards the desired results by providing the required product knowledge and tips on sales technique.

Profitably operated 20+ holiday destinations (GCC, ME, Indian Sub-Continent, Africa, CIS and Europe) with a 7 member team. Managed all aspects of the airline’s Holidays Department involving marketing planning, preparing the operational, marketing & sales budgets, product negotiation, creation & pricing, developing marketing strategies, advertising & promotions, operations (call centre & back office) and reporting.Successfully promoted holiday products from the home base, devising products and strategies to stay ahead of the sales targets even during the recession period. Liaised with outstations to develop holiday products for their markets based on preferences, competition and seasonality. Conducted system and product presentations to the trade at various destinations within the airline network and also attended useful exhibitions to promote the products. Developed the SRS (System Requirement Specification) for the IT Department to tailor make an online reservations system for the Holidays Department. Tested the initial product and advised periodical enhancements to further develop the system and make it more user friendly. Overlooked the product availability on the system and conducted various promotions to propagate the online access to the general public.

Inception and successful management of all holiday destinations within the airlines network (GCC, ME, Indian Sub-Continent and Africa) with a 3 member team.Was responsible for the P&L of the Holidays section under the Commercial Department of the airline. Responsibilities included Budgeting, Market Analysis, Product Development & Pricing, Supplier Negotiations, Marketing & Promotions involving Trade Presentations, Road Shows, etc., Department & Outstations Staff Training, Day-to-Day Operations, Customer Grievance Management and Reporting.Have conducted various workshops for the trade and have been involved in numerous promotional activities throughout the airline’s network. Represented Oman Air Holidays at various international travel & tourism exhibitions such as ITB, WTM, ATM, etc.Achieved profitable results for the department with valuable support towards the increment of the seat factor for the airline.The airline received the ‘Tourism Promoter of the Year’ award for 2002 as a direct result of my work with the Senior Manager Marketing in creating the ‘Magic of Muscat’ package and successfully promoting the same after 9/11.

Handled the books of accounts, cash flow, preparation of a Profit & Loss Statement and a Balance Sheet .Also assisted in the day-to-day tour operations as well as preparation of group costing and tour guiding .