Despite what the calendar might say, winter has definitely arrived in the Pacific Northwest. This week's Update features a variety of stories, including a story or two on online travel agencies (OTAs), and stories on Vacasa's public debut and Amex GBT's planned public debut. Tis' the SPAC season. I hope you enjoy.
Agoda Debuts Additional New
Offerings
("Agoda launches Beds Network to help hotels distribute
wholesale rates," December 9, 2021 via Phocus Wire)
Last week, we included a story detailing the launch of several new
Agoda products. Last week, Agoda launched yet another new product,
Beds Network, which represents Agoda's formal entry into
wholesale distribution. The Network will leverage Booking
Holdings' existing affiliate network to allow participating
suppliers to distribute rates and inventory on a wholesale or B2B
basis. According to the announcement, suppliers who participate in
the program will have complete control (fully yieldable) over the
rate and inventory offered through the solution (which if true,
would be quite a departure from competitors' similar wholesale
distribution offerings). Existing Agoda suppliers won't need to
enter into new, or amend existing, contracts to participate.
Agoda's plans call for the Network to be rolled out initially
in Asia, the Middle East and Europe, with other markets added
throughout 2022.
Booking.com Reins in Suppliers'
Promotions
("Booking.com Warns Car Partners About Using
Over-the-Top Promo Lingo," December 7, 2021 via Yahoo Finance
- Top Stories)
Talk about a role reversal...It wasn't that many years ago that
complaints by suppliers and consumer groups over the promotional
practices of the large online travel agencies (and other online
retailers) have led to a string of investigations by European
competition authorities and ultimately the issuance of online
promotional regulations. Now, the tables have turned, as
Booking.com steps up efforts to rein in the promotional practices
of its supplier partners.
Amex GBT Continues Its
Transformation
("American Express GBT and Sabre partner on tech
development," December 3, 2021 via Travel
Weekly)
Recently, Amex GBT announced plans to go public through, you
guessed it, a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC)
transaction with Apollo Strategic Growth Capital. Gross proceeds
from the transaction are expected to total $1.2 billion, $335
million of which is being contributed by new investors, including
global distribution system (GDS) provider, Sabre. Following the
close of the transaction, GBT's shareholders will include
Expedia Group, Sabre, American Express and Certares. According to
GBT's investor presentation, the new company's primary
focus (at least for now) will continue to be managed corporate
travel (including SME travel). Also recently, GBT announced that it
was partnering with Sabre to develop technological solutions for
the future of corporate travel. What the public debut and Sabre
partnership might mean practically for GBT's suppliers, is
unknown.
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