A Travelport GDS senior executive said premium and business class travel to and from African countries increased a marginal 2% in the first six months of the year.   Premium and business class travel in other regions dropped 20%.   GDS provider executives say the Middle East hospitality industry has fared better than others during the economic slowdown, and they are regionalizing their services to increase their market share.

Travelport Vice President Rabih Saab said “Travelport, like all players in the travel industry, has not been immune to the global economic downturn.  But we have also continued to build our business and invest heavily during this recession to ensure we are well positioned once a travel recovery takes hold.”  Mr. Saab said Travelport has signed many deals this year and their supplier roster now includes “virtually all carriers of any size or international route network.”