Distribution

Scroll down to review The Company Dime‘s coverage of travel distribution.

The travel industry thrives on a complex network of channels connecting travelers with desired experiences. The Company Dime‘s travel distribution category delves into this intricate system, offering subscribers invaluable knowledge and insights. Our in-depth articles explore the various channels that constitute corporate travel distribution, both traditional and emerging.

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 often favor direct distribution over third-party channels. That creates complexity in business travel technology.

Readers can expect thorough coverage of the relationships and dynamics between airlines, hotels, travel management companies, global distribution systems and other suppliers and intermediaries. We closely examine developments associated with the New Distribution Capability (NDC), direct booking initiatives and the rise of new entrants looking to disrupt legacy models.

Subscribers benefit from our scrutiny of the often-opaque world of distribution costs and revenue streams, including incentive payments, agency commissions and booking fees. We shed light on these essential commercial arrangements.

We also track the technological forces reshaping distribution, from the positioning of online booking tools to the potential of emerging solutions like artificial intelligence, blockchain and virtual payment. Readers stay informed on innovations that could unlock efficiencies and improve the traveler experience.

Our coverage clarifies major industry debates, such as the relative merits of GDS and NDC content, and our Op Eds deliver provocative thought leadership from all corners of the industry. Contributor insights on timely issues — like rethinking travel management company commercial models — make for essential reading.

With a critical eye and a healthy dose of skepticism, The Company Dime delivers must-have intelligence for anyone seeking to understand the present and future of travel distribution.

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You get what you pay for, and most travel industry business news is free. We sell insight. Our mission is quality journalism for those interested in business travel services, expense management practices and travel industry change. Our features, exclusives and analysis equip business travel professionals with vital info for top performance.

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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…

Previously Unnamed Blockskye Client Is PwC

The plan by blockchain company Blockskye to reinvent corporate travel processes is underway at PwC, according to sources. The accounting giant, with plenty of interest in blockchain technology for its own services, was not named in earlier coverage. Its participation has been one of the industry’s worst-kept secrets. PwC moved its travel management business in…

Dispatch 5

[CORRECTION, Aug. 11: The last line of this Dispatch was updated to eliminate an inaccurate description. AmTrav’s findings are that American Airlines’ NDC fares beat the GDS fares “33 percent of the time for Main Cabin and 93 percent of the time for Main Cabin Flexible.”] Last month, United Airlines chief commercial officer Andrew Nocella…

Big Three Results Manifest Divergent Airline Distribution Strategies

Arguably the first quarter since before the pandemic in which year-over-year comparisons are instructive, the three-month period ending in June produced financial results for the big three U.S. airlines that attested to trends in distribution. Overall, the airlines paid out more than $1.6 billion in an expense category comprised predominantly of travel agency, global distribution…

The Corporate Travel World According To Flight Centre’s Leiss: Staffing And Service Are Back, Data’s A Challenge, NDC Is Nascent But Driving Economics

The Company Dime‘s Jay Campbell on June 28 interviewed Flight Centre Travel Group’s president of the Americas, Charlene Leiss, on a live show via LinkedIn Audio. They surfaced some potential conventional wisdom about a variety of topics. An edited transcript follows. So, Charlene, there’s a lot going on in the industry, but as often happens,…

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