American Express Global Business Travel

Dispatch 3

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…

Op Ed: Martin Warner On NDC Readiness And The Economic Impact

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…

Amazon Picks BCD Travel, Keeps CWT’s RoomIt For Lodging

Amazon is moving to BCD Travel from CWT, although the latter will continue to provide lodging services to the retailing giant. “We want to thank CWT for their partnership and work,” wrote Hillary Dallas, Amazon director of global travel and events, in a Wednesday email confirming the development. “As part of our regular course of…

American Airlines Builds NDC Service Desk

American Airlines is assembling a special servicing desk to help travel agencies with “NDC bookings,” a spokesperson confirmed. AA’s plan to make upwards of 40 percent of its content non-bookable through legacy indirect distribution has generated apprehension regarding post-booking tasks. How will TMCs deliver sufficient service when new connections between themselves, the airline and global…

Traxo And Its Ilk Were Made For These Times

Capturing pre-trip data from bookings made directly is one way to deal with American Airlines’ planned distribution fragmentation in April. Some see it as merely a backup plan. It likely requires change management and communications to corporate travelers. A leading player in this area, Traxo, in December got an endorsement from the largest corporate travel…

American Express Global Business Travel Sets Minimum NDC Requirements

American Express Global Business Travel developed guidance for a “minimum marketable product” using New Distribution Capability-compliant connections with airlines and distribution partners. The MMP has 162 use cases and helps demonstrate the depth of change management underway in airline distribution and retailing.  GBT, which eventually may donate the “living document” to the industry, has shared…

TMCs Still Need More People, GBTA Poll Finds

Ninety percent of about 60 travel management company personnel polled in January by GBTA expected their firms to increase staff size in 2023 compared with last year. Forty-six percent said their companies were still smaller than they were before Covid. TMC staffing shortages and resulting service problems are not as widespread as they were several…

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