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‘GDSs are not user-friendly interfaces’
Agents should turn to web-based booking systems like Octopus, says its managing director, Ray Mason, because GDSs are too complex.
Mr Mason said the Octopus website was easier for agents to use than GDSs. He told TravelMole: “GDSs are not user-friendly interfaces, we are getting lots of agents using Octopus who don’t use GDSs.”
Daniela Wagner, Octopus international managing director added: “GDSs are geared to agents with a specific set of skills, whereas our site is very simple to use – you can master it in minutes.”
Mr Mason said that another advantage of Octopus over GDSs was that the hotels listed by the site came with independent reviews written by Octopus staff and plenty of photographs.
“The hotel reports are honest, and when an agent is selling to a consumer they can pass on this knowledge – they can be an expert on everything.” He added: “A lot of our competitors only publish information provided by the hotels themselves, with additions like wide-angle lense shots that make rooms look twice the size.”
Expect further expansion from the company said Ms Wagner. She said Octopus has plans to enter markets where GTA has a good foothold.
Madrid, Taiwan and Dubai are all recently opened offices, where contracts with third party websites have already been established. According to Ms Wagner, when a new contract is signed Octopus’ negotiators will increase inventory in areas that are poorly covered. She used the example of improving hotel content in Tripoli when a contract was signed with Qatar Airways recently.
Despite maintaining its branding on third party websites, rather than white-labelling the product, Octopus bosses say the company is unlikely to start pursuing direct consumer bookings and start competing with websites like lastminute and Expedia. Mr Mason said that the company doesn’t have the advertising spend of B2C websites like Expedia – less than 10% of bookings are direct from consumers, he said.
Report by Ginny McGrath
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