ASTA and the Business Travel Coalition (BTC) will hold a joint-session, “The Future of Travel Distribution-The IATA Solution,” at ASTA’s Travel Retailing & Destination Expo (Los Angeles, Sept. 7-9).
Is there reason to be concerned when the global airline industry comes together to decide on standards that will govern air travel distribution for everyone? What does this mean for travel agents, and equally important, what does this mean for their clients? To answer these questions, ASTA and the Business Travel Coalition (BTC) will hold a joint-session, “The Future of Travel Distribution-The IATA Solution,” at ASTA’s Travel Retailing & Destination Expo (Los Angeles, Sept. 7-9). This highly interactive session, to be held Sept. 8 from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., will bring together travel agents, top travel management companies (TMCs) and interested travel agents to update them on what IATA calls “authenticated shopping.”
Last month, IATA’s Distribution Data Exchange Working Group met in Geneva to discuss a “new messaging standard” based on the idea of “authenticated shopping,” a system where before receiving information about price and service options, a consumer or a travel agent working on their behalf, must first identify himself to the airline in such a way that permits the airline to tailor the “offer” to the traveler’s personal characteristics. IATA says it is “trying to bring the entire value chain together,” so that the consumer interacts with the airline as if they were in a direct channel (i.e., on the airline’s website).
“These developments raise many questions. Among them are whether a collective global effort by airlines will sweep aside current managed-travel community economic relationships, the remaining visibility of fares and ancillary services, and the ability of travel managers to effectively control business travel costs, among many others,” said Business Travel Coalition Chairman Kevin Mitchell. “This session will address those issues and provide an opportunity in which participants can air and discuss their concerns.”
“Participants have a tremendous opportunity though this workshop to get to the heart of one of the most critical issues facing our industry,” said ASTA President and Chair Nina Meyer. “We are pleased to be able to offer a forum for the industry’s top travel sellers to share ideas for coping with the challenges such initiatives may create.”
All workshop participants are invited to attend ASTA’s black-tie Advocacy Dinner on Sept. 8 at the famed Millennium Biltmore, Crystal Ballroom. To reserve and pay for your seat, contact Courtney Beddia. [Participation in the Advocacy Dinner is not covered by the general event registration.] The Westin Bonaventure is offering special room rates to participants; see other hotel options and reserve a guestroom here.
ASTA’s Travel Retailing & Destination Expo provides agents the chance to gain an advantage from an all-new educational program and to advance their professional career; exchange ideas and network with the industry’s top agents to build their business; and diversify their partners with the latest products and destinations on the show floor to increase revenue.
Tatiana is the news coordinator for TravelDailyNews Media Network (traveldailynews.gr, traveldailynews.com and traveldailynews.asia). Her role includes monitoring the hundreds of news sources of TravelDailyNews Media Network and skimming the most important according to our strategy.
She holds a Bachelor's degree in Communication & Mass Media from Panteion University of Political & Social Studies of Athens and she has been editor and editor-in-chief in various economic magazines and newspapers.
