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Operator/agent boundary blurring – Genesys
The line between tour operators and travel agents is blurring as some
travel suppliers – hotels, airlines, etc – are refusing to hand any allocation to tour operators, according to new research.
They are negotiating preferred rates but are requiring operators to
electronically access allocations using XML as and when bookings are made.
This is allowing suppliers to close out operators whenever they wish, perhaps denying them allocations during peak periods.
This puts operators in a similar position to agents who are also selling from bedbanks and are being encouraged to link their sales systems electronically, according to the 2008/09 Tour Operator Technology Review by technology consultancy Genesys.
Other findings of the review include showing just how advanced systems have become.
All the systems reviewed allow tour operators to sell online, but the better ones are offering a complete solution with content management and customer relationship management.
The review has details of 60 systems and their suppliers across 170 pages. Details provided in the review include company backgrounds, system features and technical data, options, links to other systems, support, training and client lists.
*The review is available at www.genesys.net/publications.htm at �64.50.
by Phil Davies
Phil Davies
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