ASTA the winner here
When Northwest Airlines rescinded its proposed new ticket-booking charges after an industry uproar, the clear winner was travel agents, according to Richard M. Copland, president and CEO of the American Society of Travel Agents.
“This victory was driven by a unified industry that came together to communicate a shared set of values and ideas,” he said. He added:
“We showed that the travel agent is still a critical part of travel distribution.”
Northwest Airlines’ announced it was rescinding its decision to charge travel agents $7.50 roundtrip or $3.75 one-way for bookings made in through GDS’s for travel within the US.
Mr Copland said the move also reflected support from the GDS systems, “who told our story loud and clear to everyone who would listen, and also to the airlines who chose not to pursue the ‘shared fees’ idea.”
Others who lobbied against the changes included the Business Travel Coalition.
“This success is a clear example of what a unified industry can achieve,” said Mr Copland.
Added Bruce Bishins, president of Genesis:
“The Northwest GDS fee sharing plan and its quick demise proved one thing — travel agencies and the systems which power them are a formidable marriage of salesmanship and technology, an essential alliance which the world’s mainline carriers simply cannot afford to eliminate.”
Report by David Wilkening
David
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
Phocuswright reveals the world's largest travel markets in volume in 2025
Higher departure tax and visa cost, e-arrival card: Japan unleashes the fiscal weapon against tourists
Cyclone in Sri Lanka had limited effect on tourism in contrary to media reports
Singapore to forbid entry to undesirable travelers with new no-boarding directive
Euromonitor International unveils world’s top 100 city destinations for 2025