Corporate travel agencies and tech firms concerned about competition from suppliers won’t find comfort in the latest business travel moves from Hilton Worldwide. Last month, the company announced it would launch by early next year a program offering discounted rates, company loyalty points and program management tools to small and medium-sized enterprises booking on its…
Surprised to find last week that United Airlines made their negotiated rates available to travelers via its website and mobile app, some corporate travel buyers took a closer look at functionality the airline built to support their needs. While United has done more than some other carriers to legitimize supplier-direct channels for managed travel, “better…
Oneworld partners American Airlines and Alaska Airlines no longer coordinate corporate sales for mutual accounts. They did not give a reason or say how many customers were impacted. “We are sunsetting our joint contract agreement with American Airlines, but it will take some time to work through the processes,” according to an Alaska Airlines media…
An American Airlines exec said the carrier’s new loyalty program rewarding both travelers and employers was squarely focused on small and medium-sized enterprises. But buyer anecdotes and the company’s own program materials tell a different story. Moreover, that the program is available only on website or mobile app bookings was seen as a slap in…
Marriott isn’t happy with its offering for small and medium-sized enterprises, so it’s building a new one. The plan comes at a time when customer cohorts are jockeying for rooms and rates, and virtually all intermediaries and suppliers are prioritizing small and midsized enterprises for growth. “This is probably the best time ever” for SMEs,…
United Airlines is asking corporate clients to help grow loyalty program membership as part of its new contracting process. “Because we do value our frequent flyer program, it is a consideration when we look at other things we might give that corporation, whether it be discounts, Jetstream [soft-dollar] funds or other things they want in…
It’s nothing new for an airline to generate revenue from something other than ticket sales, but Delta Air Lines is taking this to new heights. The company expects sales of SkyMiles points to co-branded card partner American Express to top $7 billion next year. That would be about as much as American, Southwest and United…
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