Agents offered complete non-air GDS

WTM Special: A GDS has been developed that allows agents to book non-air products on the same integrated distribution and settlement system as airline GDSs.

BSPONElink will enable agents to receive commission up front for booking non-air products. BSPONElink sales and marketing director, Kerry Wilce told TravelMole: “We are addressing the whole non-air administration problem and putting it into a single portal for agents.”

The suppliers are paid through IATA’s BSP system, so also receive payment on booking. Mr Wilce told TravelMole: “The problem of no-shows will disappear because it is a pre-pay product”. Smaller travel suppliers without a CRS provide an allocation to BSPONElink and will receive an email to confirm a booking.

The product is being tested in Ireland during December, and Mr Wilce told TravelMole that between now and April he will be signing up suppliers. He said BSPONElink was at WTM to talk to a number of suppliers. Europcar and Sixt have signed up for the Irish pilot and the Heart of England Tourist Board has signed up, bringing with it local attractions and accommodation.

BSPONElink will automatically be available to all IATA agents, and will also be available to non-IATA agents who pass a vetting process. Non-IATA agents will pay an annual fee for the product, but it is free to IATA agents.

Mr Wilce said it was up to the local tourist boards to vet the accommodation, but if one complaint is received regarding a mis-description of any travel product it will be scrapped. “We are adopting a ‘one stike and you’re out’ rule said Mr Wilce”.

BSPONElink will launch in the UK and Ireland in April 2003 with its accommodation, rail and car hire components. Ferries, events and attractions will follow towards the end of 2003. It will be launched across Europe soon after April, and be launched worldwide gradually during 2003.

Mr Wicle said the system will enable agents to book complicated itineraries that they were put off booking before because of the problem of receiving commission payments. He said: “It opens up new sales opportunities as agents will be able to sell products that were traditionally not available, like four days in Tenerife, instead of a week”.

Suppliers are currently being signed, but include Seligo, Hertz, Orient Express and Heathrow Express. Mr Wilce said BSPONElink was also in talks with some major hotel chains.

When a booking is made it goes to BSPONElink, which takes a percentage transaction fee that varies according to product. BSPONElink then passes the money, minus the fee, to the supplier.

BSPONElink has been set up as an independent company, headed by Geoff Mullett. The product is being previewed in Room City 12 at WTM.