Total commissions paid to travel agencies by U.S. airlines in 2017 reversed a 20-year trend and jumped 15 percent year over year, according to U.S. government data. The data reflect a fight for market share as the Big Three enjoy strong demand and healthy balance sheets. On domestic U.S. tickets, commission dollar volume in 2017 rose for a third consecutive… Read More »
Three unidentified travel management companies have enlisted 30SecondsToFly’s Claire chatbot, according to co-founder Felicia Schneiderhan. Claire’s parent is de-emphasizing direct client servicing in favor of powering other business travel entities due to the cost and limited return of maintaining small-business accounts. Claire uses the Facebook, Skype, Slack, SMS and web platforms to communicate with users about their bookings. “All… Read More »
Lyft and Uber are feeling their way into the corporate market. Lyft had a rebate program. That’s done. Uber For Business had free and premium tiers. Now it’s all premium. Both fast-growing ride-hailing companies are aligning with corporate travel management companies but so far mostly for referrals. It’s clear these remain early days. Lyft has deals in place… Read More »
Timing on global distribution system readiness to hook up New Distribution Capability connections for full functionality remains a mystery. Sabre, for one, has committed to achieving that goal with American Airlines. When GDSs do bring in the highest-level NDC functionality of, say, American Airlines, what will that mean for travel management companies that want to access it through… Read More »
Last week the American Society of Travel Agents and The Company Dime announced a research partnership to learn more about the barriers and opportunities related to converting “unmanaged” business travel to managed travel. Why do businesses large and small implement travel management practices? What role do travel agencies play in that, and what other services are crucial to… Read More »
Informing clients of its new “high-cost” supplier expense recovery program, American Express Global Business Travel indicated $10 per transaction would apply not only to non-global distribution system participants, but also to airlines that are not in billing settlement plans like ARC. What’s ARC got to do with it? Booking managed corporate travel on airline websites is a drag… Read More »
Adoption of online booking technology means corporate agencies can grow without a commensurate increase in headcount. But when new travel agents are needed, especially as the retirement bubble looms, how do they find them and what competencies are they looking for? For young people considering their careers, travel isn’t as glamorous as it used to be. There are… Read More »