Following the success of the World Travel Awards
2003, Internet Travel News brings you a winners-week special edition, complete with live photography and post-show interviews.
Today we speak to Alan Wong, General Manager Corporate Communication - Cathay Pacific, - “World’s Leading Use of Inflight Technology”Click here To see a complete list of travel technology winners.

1. What does a World Travel Award mean to you?

Cathay Pacific has won many awards for service, safety and business innovation. Nonetheless, it’s always very gratifying to win recognition - particularly from our peers.

2. Where did you put your trophy?

We have very large cabinet in the main area of our headquarters building at Cathay City, at Hong Kong International Airport. It may take some rearranging of our other trophies to find a space!

3. How important are awards in our industry?

Firstly, awards are very important for our staff, because winning them is entirely attributable to their dedication and professionalism. Cathay Pacific works very hard indeed to create and maintain a very high standard of customer service, both on the ground and in the air. So, too, do some very close competitors. It is tremendously gratifying, therefore, when this effort is appreciated by our customers, and by those in the travel business who have declared our product the industry benchmark.

4. How did you achieve the ‘world’s best’ in technology this year?

Our approach to technology is very customer driven. The reason behind every refinement is to improve our service and deliver greater customer value.

This ethos lead to the creation of such services as our online check-in, whereby passengers can select their preferred seat without having to wait in airport check-in lines. And our notifly service which uses SMS messaging technology to provide passengers real-time updates about their travel itinerary. Now we are rolling out inflight email services as well.


5. How will you ensure you maintain your high standards in the coming year?

By always keeping in mind that customer service and value are what matter most
The World Travel Awards, division of World Travel Group, will be making their presence felt at this year’s World Travel Market
(WTM), the travel industry’s biggest international business to business event, which will take place on Monday 10th - Thursday 13th November at ExCeL, London.
WTA will Take centre stage at the WTM for the re-enaction of the World Travel Awards ceremony to show the world who triumphed at last month’s award ceremony. WTA will also be hosting 10 internet cafes based at key locations around World Travel Market including the Asia, Africa, Latin America, Caribbean and UK areas with broadband wi-fi (wireless) access.
For more information please contact Manon Han: [email protected]

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