Low-cost airlines a trend
The low-cost Canadian air market is a trend that will be seen in the US and other areas, believes Ivan Bekkars, president of AgentWare.
“Most of the airlines there still pay commissions and are very internet savvy,” he told TravelMole.
AgentWare, which has flagship products that allow agents and others to find the lowest airfares, recently opened a Toronto office. “About 40% of our subscribers are in Canada,” said Mr Bekkars.
The company also recently unveiled a new web site.
“We wanted to highlight the value we provide for travel professionals,” said Mr Bekkars.
He said a study comparing rates found at AgentWare compared to GDS showed “we either matched or beat their price 75% of the time.”
With GDS deregulation, airlines everywhere are looking to lower their distribution costs, Mr Bekkars said.
Services as Travel Console and Web Point allow agents to access 30 different suppliers in seconds, he said.
The new web site allows agents not only to book fares, but also view product demos, utilize training and support systems, and gain a comprehensive view of the company’s services.
“For a small subscription fee, agents can still make commissions and also improve their service to their customers,” said Mr Bekkars.
Mr Bekker said agents have shown themselves to be resilient in the face of many changing travel trends.
“Ten years ago, everyone said the agency channel was dead. But agents have proven to be very creative and resilient,” he said.
Report by David Wilkening
David
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