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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Amex GBT Considers Aggregators

American Express Global Business Travel engaged airline tech consultancy T2RL to gather information about non-GDS airline content aggregators.  “It’s important for GBT to stay informed of all industry innovators and tech developers, and we often work with people who look at the industry differently,” said Martin Ferguson, the company’s VP for global communications, public affairs…

Aggregator Aeronology Gears Up For Full NDC Servicing On American Airlines

Industry agitators including the outspoken Johnny Thorsen of Spotnana assailed American Express Global Business Travel’s list of 162 NDC requirements as a barrier to innovation. Not Aeronology CEO Russell Carstensen. The Australia-based travel management veteran welcomed GBT’s prerequisites for full NDC support.  He claimed his company’s Taero agent booking platform has checked off 155 of…

Traxo Posts Free NDC Resource

Traxo published a free NDC Tracker to help corporate travel managers stay updated on airline NDC program developments. At the moment, it lists 67 carriers in varying states of evolution. Pulling from airlines, ARC, IATA, news sites and other sources, the tracker provides deadlines and program status info to help corporate travel programs adapt to…

CWT Partners With Spotnana

CWT and Spotnana are preparing to announce an alliance in which the former offers its customers services powered by the latter’s tech, according to people familiar with the matter. The companies did not comment. They also declined to comment on information from sources suggesting that Walmart intends to use Spotnana internally, following similar word about…

In NDC, ‘When?’ Takes Back Seat To ‘How Much?’

One challenge for the New Distribution Capability in corporate travel is that its protocols emphasize offers over schedules. This flips on its head the typical way travel counselors find flight options for business travelers. Sabre is trying to get airlines to adjust the NDC protocol to facilitate schedule-led search out of the box. In the…

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