Ex-Orbitz chief technology officer from 2000 to 2003 offered his 12-step process to “GDS independence and gaining control of your supply line”.
Alex Zoghlin, now president and CEO of G2 Switchworks, said the first step was to realise the problem.
“Admit there is no one GDS in the market that will take care of all your needs,” he said during a presentation at ResExpo 2005 in Atlanta.
“Maybe an agency is selling a $150 ticket. Combined with others they may end up with distribution costs of up to $40 or one third the cost of the ticket. That’s an untenable position,” he told the event.
GDS systems tend to thwart a company’s ability to control its costs. He said: “Decide to take control of your own future and turn your business over to your customers to meet and exceed their expectations.”
He urged companies to take control of their costs associated with operating in a fractured distribution environment.
Another step he urged was for companies to make a list of all the things they spend time and money on to support their customers.
“You’ll be surprised at the things you spend time on,” he said.
He urged the re-thinking of how travel is bought and sold.
Mr Zoghlin’s company says it is building what it calls the “next generation of travel distribution services.”
G2‘s technology is focused on developing highly automated, customer centric travel reservation and management solutions that allow travel suppliers and travel sellers to more effectively serve their customers.
G2’s TRUEconnectTM network offers travel seller savings up to $11 per ticket in servicing and support costs, while at the same time increasing product choices and the ability to manage business decisions, according to the company.
Report by David Wilkening
