With the holidays rapidly approaching and the yearend only one week away, it is no surprise that the last week was fairly quiet. The one notable exception, however, was Trip.com, which released its financials on Thursday, December 16.
Trip.com Grows European
Market Share with Superior Technology
("Trip.com Bolsters Flight Search Engine to Boost
European Bookings," December 17, 2021 via Skift) (subscription
may be required)
Leveraging its increasingly superior technology platform
(particularly around flight search), Chinese platform Trip.com is
making huge strides in growing its European market share. Not only
is Trip.com's internally developed flight search engine better
at delivering users appropriate fares and itineraries, but the
systems' ability to offer ancillary products and services is
attracting the attention of European airlines. (Trip.com owns
Travelfusion, one of a handful of technology vendors that aggregate
airline NDC content for onward distribution.) Trip.com also plans
to be one of the first online booking platforms to
roll out Hopper's price freeze tool (allowing users to pay
to freeze fares up to 14 days) to users in North American and
Europe as part of a previously announced deal.
Sabre Adds Travel Management Company
Veteran
("Sabre Names Former CWT Head Ekert
President," December 15, 2021 via Business Travel
News)
Last week, Sabre announced that Kurt Ekert, former President and
CEO of travel management company, CWT, will become President of the
global distribution system (GDS) operator. According to the
announcement, Ekert will oversee all aspects of Sabre's
business and technology operations and report to current CEO, Sean
Menke. Prior to his position at CWT, Ekert served as Senior Vice
President and CCO of GDS competitor, Travelport, for five years.
Business as usual for Sabre or perhaps a further evidence that
Sabre hopes to take a far broader role in travel distribution, not
just GDS?
Have a great week. Happy Holidays.
Other news:
Booking.com
Travel Predictions 2022
December 15, 2021 via Hospitality Net - Latest Industry
News
60 percent of travelers are looking forward to meeting new people
while on vacation. The pandemic has forced us to focus on what and
who is a priority in our lives - and freedom has never been so
valued. Now that we are able to get back to travel once again, 2022
will not only see people reconnecting with friends and family, but
also seeking new connections with 60 percent wanting to meet new
people while away.
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