GTMC COLUMN PAUL WAIT Anger in the air
GDS access charges by airline operators are driving up travel costs for bookers and corporate travellers
– most recently BA – are in the throes of introducing charges for GDS access. This is not an issue I feel I can leave my current role without aiming a parting shot at those airline operators that feel such an approach is justified. BA and Lufthansa, among others, claim that the GDS is more expensive and, therefore, the introduction of such fees to the customer is totally justified. My challenge to all those operators that take this view is quite simply: prove it. Are any airline operators out there
I
resolute enough in their position to open up their books to public scrutiny and clearly and accurately show the true cost of each channel? What are the metrics in place to calculate the revenue and fares they
MOVERS & SHAKERS
PEN THIS AS MY LAST COLUMN in the role of CEO for the GTMC amid challenging times for the industry. Several airlines
each deliver and, more importantly, how do they calculate the true value of each one?
Paul Wait is chief executive of the Guild of Travel Management Companies (
gtmc.org).
If this was to be examined more closely I am fairly certain there would be a glaring omission from the balance sheet – the value of the GDS and the TMC. The proof of the pudding came
recently when BA descended into IT chaos over a bank holiday weekend. TMCs were quickly granted access to refund and rebooking options which swiftly kicked into action to support those passengers affected. No such luxury was bestowed on those who had booked directly. And here is the crux of the matter. It is particularly in times of crisis that TMCs come into their own – managing itinerary changes and bookings without breaking into a sweat.
For corporate customers who choose to book direct and avoid GDS charges, the end result will
inevitably be a much less efficient process. Their time is spent managing travel programmes which should be the realm of the TMC and the GDS. How can this possibly work in the long term? From speaking to fellow corporate travellers, the general feeling is that this is not a charge they are prepared to accept. The corporate community is a valuable one for all airlines. Without the credible, financial evidence to justify these charges, the airlines run the risk of losing it altogether due to nothing more than arrogance and greed. Discrimination against any sales channel and a lack of attention to channel parity will be to their cost in the end.
ADAM MORRIS Adam Morris has been appointed as director of industry relations EMEA at BCD Meetings & Events. He previously held various senior roles – most recently commercial director of venues – at Zibrant, which was acquired by BCD in 2016.
98 BBT July/August 2017
OLIVER BONKE
Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts has appointed Oliver Bonke as president and chief operating officer. He will start on September 1 and be based at the group’s HQ in Hong Kong. Bonke has 30 years’ experience in hospitality, most recently as COO of the Loews hotel group.
BEN ALLEN Ben Allen has recently been appointed as CEO at risk management firm Ijet International. He was previously president of insurance broker Marsh & McLennan and has also served as president and CEO of Kroll.
MARCO WILLA Lufthansa Group has appointed Marco Willa as general manager of sales for the UK, Ireland & Iceland. He was previously at Swiss in Lufthansa Group’s global corporate key account management team, and before that in aircraft asset management with Swiss.
BUYINGBUSINESSTRAVEL.COM
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