Getting all the relevant, bookable inventory in front of business travelers is a never-ending challenge. Airlines, hotels and other suppliers constantly tinker with their products and pricing, and usually favor direct distribution over more costly third-party channels. That creates complexity in business travel technology.
The venture capital-backed startup basket of the economy is a bit unsettled at the moment but that’s where card and business software firm Brex puts most of its eggs. It’s now competing for that market with a business travel service backed by Spotnana. Available to users of Brex’s Empower platform, Brex Travel offers desktop and…
We broke the news on December 1 but it’s still sinking in. After hearing no mention of it on investor calls, we tried to contact the loquacious JPMorgan Chase analyst Jamie Baker to talk about it. We didn’t get a hold of him. This week, Baker told AA, “It feels as if you are taking…
Boston – With its plan to phase out traditional, EDIFACT-based indirect sales by the end of 2025, Finnair’s alternative distribution vision is among the world’s most ambitious. During a panel discussion at a UATP event here last week, its head of strategy admitted to a lack of familiarity with corporate needs in terms of duty…
Former CWT executive Martin Warner, of late a consultant to various players in corporate travel, knows as well as anyone the impact that distribution changes have on travel management economics. Here he reminds us that’s an unresolved issue with NDC. The recent article in The Company Dime on “readiness” for NDC was an excellent summary…
Travelport acquired corporate travel booking and ground tech firm Deem from Enterprise Holdings for an undisclosed sum. Travelport plans to integrate Deem’s travel solution with its Travelport+ platform in the coming months and enable access to NDC offers, products and services. Travelport CEO Greg Webb in 2021 said he did not want to be in…
The owners of Options Travel backed Mark Walton, for the past five years an EVP at their Chicagoland travel management company, in a new Spotnana-powered venture. Walton is now CEO of Solutions Travel, a TMC targeting mainly small and midsized firms using Spotnana’s online booking tool, agent desktop, mobile app, records system, content engine and…
Amadeus, Sabre and Travelport say they are mostly ready for April 1. After checking many boxes for NDC preparation, they’ll access, display and provide booking and agency servicing capabilities for all American Airlines content. That’s part of the solution for the carrier’s planned removal of many fares from legacy distribution. Agencies also must get various…
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