The latest craze or trend — you pick the word — among global distribution system vendors apparently is audio on their websites.
I surf GDS websites from time to time, poking around for some news, and the disruptive tunes are getting annoying — forcing me to waste time closing tabs on my computer so I can shutter these GDS companies who, suddenly, have songs in their hearts.
It shouldn’t totally surprise me, though, because I recall that the Miami offices of Amadeus North America have occasionally fielded some belly-dancing classes, but I digress…
So, if you are in the mood for a musical ad, navigate to Amadeus.com, where you’ll see a bunch of people throwing balls, replete with music [it takes awhile before the music and drums start], and the ad repeatedly inquires:
“Are you missing out on something?
“Time to make your independence really pay.
“Save your clients money and earn big profits.”
Well, if you’ve earned enough “big profits” for the day, then go visit Travelport.com, where you will likewise find an advertisement set to music on the homepage.
“Welcome to Travelport.
“1.1 billion transactions daily.
“in 160 countries …
“Welcome to Travelport.
“The leading provider of informed travel choices.”
Here’s a secret.
One intended consequence of the GDS music-fest is that if you open Amadeus.com and Travelport.com and keep them both running, you’ll get a GDS remix.
The rhythmic sounds of the Amadeus GDS advertisement go really well with Travelport acoustics when they are played together.
Meanwhile, alas, Sabre hasn’t gone out and gotten all trendy.
There’s no music to greet you at the Sabre website.
No Lady Gaga.
No nothing.
Well, one major difference would be, when the sound starts. Travelport starts to play music as soon as it is loaded thus giving no real option for me. Amadeus, on the contrary, plays music once it’s activated by me.
That is huge difference that apparently is not well understood by Travelport marketers…
Ja: On my PC, the Amadeus music kicks in automatically — although it takes about 20 seconds or so before it begins.
Thanks for the feedback on the videos and sound. We have actually heard the same from some of our customers who find the repeating music a bit too intrusive so we have made new versions with the music default setting to off. If you want to listen to the GDS remix again then all you have to do is turn the sound back on! Thanks again for the comments and for helping us improve the site.
Gordon at Amadeus (the guy who decided to put the video together!)
Gordon: An optional GDS remix is cool and changing the default is right on. At least I wasn’t the only one who took issue with it. Thanks for the feedback.