American Society of Travel Advisors

Ninety-Nine (NDC) Problems And The Tweaks Aren’t Done

Airline officials and other proponents of the New Distribution Capability have described its servicing challenges as “edge cases,” but travel management companies are finding more than that. Limitations on exchanges and unused ticket tracking are the most crucial on growing lists of issues. It’s no wonder that, by most accounts, corporate adoption of American’s NDC…

Looking To Meet An Acute Need, ASTA Creates Corporate Travel Agent Training

The American Society of Travel Advisors this month plans to offer training for those interested in the corporate travel agency environment. ASTA SVP of industry affairs and education Mark Meader called it a “missing component in the industry today.”  Travel management companies do their own training, but the industry needs all the help it can…

Notebook: Empathy On Fumes As Airfare Fragmentation Bears Down In America

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…

Dispatch 2

Before the pandemic, American Airlines crowed about adding to its sales force and growing market share in corporate travel. Conditions have changed. Both corporate travel and airline capacity growth are depressed. Improving profitability and paying down debt are top priorities. After cutting back last year on customer benefits including perks and discounts, now AA is saying goodbye to its…

Corporate Travel Rebound May Have Plateaued, Suppliers Still Have Pricing Power

Travel demand remains strong but there are some signs of a cool-off in corporate travel. Nevertheless, buyers should not expect the sting to come out of travel prices anytime soon as supply and demand remain out of whack. According to American Express Company, after domestic U.S. consumer travel surpassed its pre-pandemic level in the first…

Travel Again Gathers 19 Groups To Unify Business Travel’s Voice

The Travel Again initiative is gaining steam as travel industry associations endorse its framework for recovery. Meeting Professionals International in February and the National Limousine Association this month announced support for the framework’s priorities and recommendations. On Tuesday, leaders from Travel Again and 18 other industry groups including GBTA held a roundtable discussion to keep…

Questions For GBTA’s Next Executive Director

The corporate travel profession’s only U.S.-based, dues-generating membership association is hoping to announce its new executive director soon. Filling the role on an interim basis, initially through the end of 2020, Dave Hilfman now likely will stay on the job through the end of this month. The new full-time, professional leader of GBTA’s paid staff…

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