Genesis all set for February launch

Wednesday, 06 Nov, 2003 0

Genesis has announced it will push ahead with launching its GDS alternative after finding a replacement technology company after the previous one went bust.

Genesis president, Bruse Bishins (pictured) says the current airline-controlled distribution system is flawed, and encourages agents to opt for his agent-owned alternative.

The controversial GDS alternative has been hotly debated on TravelMole in the past.

The alternative distribution system was originally being developed with the help of technology company Atraxis, which was owned by the now-defunct Swissair Group. Genesis says it has now found an alternative technology provider, which it will announce next week during the board meeting of the Association of Retail Travel Agents (ARTA).

The launch is now planned for February 2004, with travel agents aiming for a gradual migration from their existing GDS to Genesis. Towards the end of 2004/beginning of 2005, Genesis hopes to launch a B2C consumer booking and ticketing website to compete with the larger online agents.

Mr Bishins said: “The emergence of Genesis in February 2004, while having been a long and arduous process, comes at a time when industry stakeholders, travel agents, CRSs, airlines, and other travel suplliers know that a new distribution model must evolve.”

Genesis is a travel agent owned point-of-sale initiative which is jointly owned by USTAR (US), CSTAR (Canada), ESTAR (Europe), ASTAR (Australia), ISTAR (India) and MEXSTAR (Mexico).

He has previously told TravelMole: “There has been wide almost 100% positive grass roots support of Genesis, however the leaders of trade associations have ignored their constituents. When an occurrence such as this occurs in the electoral system, the incumbents are swept from office. If the ‘leaders’ are not prepared to listen to their constituents, then possibly they should consider resignation. Alternatively, do they truly believe they are right and everyone else is wrong?”

Read our previous stories:
31-July-2002 Genesis row continues on TravelMole
09-July-2002 The TravelMole Interview: Bruce Bishins, Genesis TDS
24-Jul-2002: ASTA supports call for review of IATA competition rules
09 Jul 2002: IATA in big trouble Down Under
02 Jul 2002 IATA row threatens industry status-quo