TMCs have the knowledge, contacts and back office systems that can prove invaluable in assisting buyers with the management and planning of their programmes but may show disposition to certain suppliers and impose expensive transaction fees.
Being confined to one provider also means there's an inherent lack of choice and flexibility with the kinds of booking tools on offer.Meanwhile, the industry is on the cusp of changes that will help facilitate greater transparency - but this may require buyers to "knit together" their travel programmes in ways they have not had to previously.
For example, the buyer may need an agreement with several airlines, a TMC, a reporting company, an online booking tool, potentially a GDS … and others. While those separate relationships bring the transparency some buyers have been asking for, they are not as easy as having a centralised service offering via the TMC.
As these models evolve, do buyers still want transparency if it also means greater complexity, or are they happy to keep paying TMC transaction fees - even if those costs may need to change as the industry commercial models change?
We must also consider how NDC will change the airline distribution model and what will this mean for the customer? NDC has promised to deliver a seamless booking experience for the customer by allowing airlines to provide an enhanced retail offering through indirect distribution channels. This means third parties like agents/TMCs have full access to all of an airline's product, including ancillaries, and can book non ticket items in one transaction.
Next week, these issues will be discussed at the CAPA-ACTE Global Summit & Corporate Lodging Forum in Sydney. Taking place amidst the vibrant bustle of the Sydney CBD at the Sofitel Sydney Wentworth from 03-Dec-2018 to 04-Dec-2018, the event will explore the theme of 'Embracing Change'. Managed Travel is rapidly evolving and successful travel programmes and providers will need to adapt to change, rather than seeking to simply manage/control it, or seek to avoid it.
The concluding session 'The future of corporate travel, the evolving role of the TMC and the impact of NDC' on the afternoon of 04-Dec-2018 will bring together some of the most influential people in the corporate travel industry today to discuss the future of the industry and the key drivers for change. During the interactive roundtable session delegates will have the opportunity to learn more about the status of NDC, discuss the key drivers of change across the business travel industry and interact with our panel of experts to hear their views on "what's next?"
This panel will provide an overview of what NDC means for the travel industry and travel buyer and whether it is having a material impact on how airlines are marketing and distributing their product. It will examine the future role of incumbent intermediaries such as the GDS and whether airline surcharges on fares booked outside NDC channels is a sustainable strategy.
FIND OUT MORE… visit the CAPA-ACTE Global Summit & Corporate Lodging Forum homepage to find out more about this not-to-be-missed opportunity to discuss relevant issues impacting the aviation sector and learn meaningful insights from your industry peers.
