GDSs join new industry association
Friday, 03 Apr, 2009
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A new body set up to encourage fair competition and consumer choice in the travel distribution chain has attracted the major GDSs as members.
The Brussels-based European Technology & Travel Services Association (ETTSA) has been established by a number of Europe’s leading travel intermediaries.
Members include Amadeus, ebookers, Expedia, Opodo, Sabre – including its affiliate lastminute.com – and Travelport. Affiliated members include Booking.com.
The association aims to raise awareness of the benefits provided to consumers by travel distributors and technology providers when planning and booking travel.
Through working with consumers, policymakers and other members of the travel value chain ETTSA seeks to ensure that the role and market realities of travel distributors and technology providers are properly understood, a statement said.
The focus of ETTSA’s activities include:
1. Measures introduced by airlines to prevent online travel agencies from making price comparisons;
2. The implementation of the new code of conduct for Computer Reservation Systems (CRS); and
3. Airlines’ abusive (Preferred) fares and surcharge schemes.
Tomas Lopez Fernebrand, vice president and chief legal officer of Amadeus, was elected ETTSA chairman after the first general assembly of the association.
He said: “In providing technology and services that encourage transparency, choice and value, travel distributors and technology providers play a vital role in the travel distribution chain.
“ETTSA’s aim is to ensure that the role of travel distributors and technology providers and the benefits they bring to consumers are more widely recognized and understood. Our task is to promote transparency, fair competition and consumer choice in travel distribution.”
by Phil Davies
Phil Davies
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