Distribution

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.

Some examples of our coverage
• Commissions and other remuneration
• Industry rules of thumb and trade secrets from the US Airways v. Sabre and U.S. v. Sabre trials
• Such newer concepts as New Distribution Capability and personalization

Archive

United Pulls Some Commission Programs

United Airlines last month informed travel management companies of significant cutbacks in certain commission programs, according to several industry sources. A press official with the airline declined to comment. The impact varied across several travel distributors reached by The Company Dime. One TMC source said they had not heard about United’s changes; another said negotiations…

Notebook: Travel Buyers Discuss Booking Channel Policy Flavors And Tradeoffs

Asked how corporate travel buyers should deal with fares found outside preferred booking channels, Cisco senior global procurement service leader for travel and card Carlos Almendros said, “You’ll get a different answer for every buyer.” Travel managers also speaking at the Global Business Travel Association convention last month supported the variety of approaches and considered…

Amex GBT Wins Citi, Develops Its Services For Companies Across The Spectrum

Interviewing American Express Global Business Travel CEO Paul Abbott during a Sept. 7 investor meeting, Citi equities analyst Pete Christiansen referenced a “really good” financial services company that GBT had recently won. Turns out, it’s Citi. Implementation in multiple countries is due by year-end, sources said.  CWT, which declined to comment, has been Citibank’s primary…

Travel Leaders Corporate Offers NDC To Clients At No Added Cost

Travel Leaders Corporate confirmed that as of Sept. 5, it opened to clients New Distribution Capability-based bookings on participating airlines, through enabled agent and self-booking channels, for no additional cost.  During a Tuesday interview, Travel Leaders Corporate president Michael Boult acknowledged concerns and criticisms of NDC but said that doing what’s best for the client…

RTX Takes On The Challenge Of Shifting From American Airlines

RTX, the $67 billion multinational aerospace and defense conglomerate, mainly uses American Airlines. It’s been … difficult. RTX associate director for travel Colleen Kearney at the GBTA convention last month said the company was “actively managing against what’s happening in the industry,” but that’s “not easy, by any means.” “By far” RTX’s largest airline, AA…

As Sabre Invests In GetThere, It’s Still Concur Travel’s World

SAP Concur’s languishing online travel booking interface has frustrated customers for years. Even Delta Air Lines took shots. When American Airlines lowered its New Distribution Capability boom, beginning with an announcement in December and content differentiation in April, it seemed things would only get worse. Perhaps there was a new basis on which rival tools…

Notebook: NDC As Contract Component? It’s Under Consideration

Dallas – Utilization targets for the New Distribution Capability are part of the “new contracting process with many of the airlines,” according to FCM Travel’s head of consulting for the Americas, Ashley Gutermuth.  That companies could negotiate with airlines on this basis was fascinating and “eye-opening” for Matt Patterson, senior director of client relationship management…

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