Visionary solution from Sabre Pacific

Melbourne-based FarSight Travel has signed with Sabre Pacific in an arrangement that allows legally blind travel agents to access the GDS and continue to follow their dreams in the travel industry.

General Manager - Sales, Marketing & Product of Sabre Pacific, Richard Morgan, says his team is proud to be partnering with agent David Lee of FarSight Travel, and excited to be assisting them in their work with the Sabre GDS.

"Sabre teaming with FarSight Travel demonstrates how flexible and easily accessible our solutions really are," says Richard.

"David Lee is legally blind, but this was no barrier to us bringing him on board with Sabre Pacific.

"We developed systems that enable David to easily access the Virtual Trainer and Personal Trainer programs which gave him tips and insights into how to most effectively use our GDS," says Richard.

"We used PDF clue cards and scanned our training documents into files that allowed them to be magnified on David's customised screens.

"Our technology team also installed the Sabre products on David's various computers so that he could access the magnifier program that radically increases the font so it can easily be read."

Across the USA and in Asia, no blind association or organisation has been able to access the GDS; those with visual impairment typically have to rely on sighted travel agents to work as an intermediary.

"We hope that the Sabre Pacific solution we have customised for FarSight Travel, with its unique needs, can be introduced to other customers with similar requirements in other markets," says Richard.

"Now with full access to Sabre Pacific's suite of solutions, David has paved the way to follow his dreams and continue to forge a successful and independent career as a travel consultant."

David Lee says the Sabre solution is as good as a new lease on life.

"I was actively involved in various facets of the travel industry up until losing my eyesight to an hereditary disorder some ten years ago," says David.

"At that point I had to move away from an industry and an occupation about which I was (and remain) very passionate. 

"This advance in technology by Sabre Pacific has allowed me the opportunity to return to an occupation I absolutely enjoy."

Sabre Pacific has partnered with FarSight Travel to donate a $1000 international travel voucher with FarSight to 'julEYE' - the annual campaign run by the Eye Foundation, a not-for-profit organisation, to raise the profile of eye health in Australia.