Good news for TA’s as Travelport revealed new partnerships with a number of big name agencies, to roll out the New Distribution Capability (NDC), giving participants access to the enhanced bookings content.
Following the first the first live booking using NDC content through Travelport’s Smartpoint tool, by UK firm Meon Valley Travel in October last year, the company was able begin recruiting agencies in earnest.
The broad spectrum of companies coming on-board, helping to ensure the booking system works for agencies of all sizes, including American Express Global Business Travel, DNATA, Gray Dawes Group, Global Travel Management, Meon Valley Travel, Premier Holidays, TAG, Travel Counsellors and Travel & Transport Statesman.
Seamless
Commenting on the landmark development, Nick Dagg, SVP of global agency sales said: “We work at the heart of the travel industry and our agency customers rely on us to provide them with choice through access to the broadest range of travel content. NDC is no exception and we’ve taken great care in managing the roll out of our NDC booking capability through Smartpoint to our agency customers.
This has allowed us to learn as we go, listen to the important feedback from our customers as they operate in this new distribution era and refine our NDC solution to ensure it provides seamless, integrated travel choice. I’d like to thank all our customers for collaborating with us as we deliver an NDC solution which works for everyone.”
Scalable and cost effective
John Bukowski, director of content and distribution at American Express Global Business Travel said: “We are working with key parties to ensure we continue to deliver access to all content, with a focus on improving traveller experience, controlling cost, maintaining full end to end servicing, as well as transparent fares, pricing and comparison shopping.
NDC is an important step in advancing airline offers and fare options, which we believe should remain focused on delivering value to corporate clients and not as a means to limit access to content, add cost, or force new and costly airline connectivity. We look forward to continuing to engage with Travelport, airline partners, and others to continue to progress NDC capabilities while maintaining a focus on delivering a scalable, cost effective way to access content for our clients.”
“The best way to be ready for the new era of content distribution”
Mervyn Williamson, managing director of Travel and Transport Statesman, said: “If you’re involved in travel, you’ve probably had a conversation in the last few months on NDC. It’s having a major impact on all of us as we work through the best way to be ready for the new era of content distribution, maintaining at the same time optimum fulfilment service for our clients.
Having access to NDC content as soon as possible was of vital importance to us and our travellers so we were pleased to have been part of the initial group of NDC-connected agencies through Travelport Smartpoint.”
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