release

BTC Creates Online Forum

RADNOR PA., September 13, 2006–The Business Travel Coalition (BTC) today announced the implementation of a new online forum for corporate travel managers (CTMs) and travel management company (TMC) executives interested in furthering travel distribution reforms. Importantly, it is imperative that CTMs and TMC executives become fully engaged in policing new airline-global distribution system (GDS) so-called “Full-Content Agreements” for compliance. CTMs, in particular, need to respond to senior management expectations for immediate cost offsets to new distribution fees.

According to BTC chairman Kevin Mitchell, “Now that corporations will be “writing a check” for a portion of distribution costs, the strategic opportunity for CTMs is to leverage this new responsibility to influence the larger travel distribution cost structure (beyond the 80 cent fees); to impact the development of new distribution products; and to help determine the way distribution system services are delivered in the future.”

The Coalition has long deplored the airline practice of removing fare content from buyer-preferred GDS channels and enticing business travelers with exclusive web site offers. These offers work at cross-purposes with corporate traveler security policies and undermine the credibility of corporate managed travel programs. What’s more, such practices create costly work-arounds for corporations seeking to ensure access to all available airfare inventory. BTC is actively exploring strategies for policing these new full content agreements as a deterrent to abuse.

The BTC forum will bring shape and expertise to these critical efforts. There are general forums open to all travel industry participants and two private forums for CTMs and TMC executives only. Travel industry participants can visit http://www.businesstravelcoalition.com/phpBB2/ to join. There is no cost for participation.