Travelport Continues to Make Strides in Evolving Distribution Environment

Greg Webb, the CEO of Travelport, has been at the forefront of the company’s evolution in recent years. Travelport has made significant strides in its product offering, acquiring the online booking tool Deem and launching Travelport Plus, a unified distribution platform. Webb recently discussed the progress and plans for Deem, American Airlines’ NDC about-face, and the next frontier in lodging distribution.

When Travelport acquired Deem, Webb did not initially plan to re-enter the online booking tool space. However, after evaluating Deem, he believed it was the best product available and a good fit for Travelport’s portfolio. The integration of Deem into Travelport’s realm went smoothly, with a focus on simplifying the complex business travel landscape and putting the consumer first.

Deem, primarily North America-based, has expansion plans to increase its global footprint. Travelport aims to strategically expand Deem into key countries and regions, aligning with the theme of modern retailing and consumer-centric approach.

Client migration to Travelport Plus is progressing well, with completion expected by 2025. Travelport has been working with airlines to distribute NDC content, signing agreements with carriers like Etihad, Emirates, Qatar, SAS, and Virgin Atlantic. Despite variations in NDC implementations, Travelport is focused on improving the buying experience for consumers and suppliers.

American Airlines’ recent recalibration on distribution strategies has had broader implications in the airline community. Webb believes that airlines need to cater to the diverse needs of travelers, offering both direct-to-consumer options and distribution through industry partners. Travelport has maintained a strong partnership with American Airlines, supporting their strategies and technical needs.

In terms of GDS booking share, Travelport has steadily grown its market share over the past four years. With a focus on technological advancements like AI, machine learning, and content curation, Travelport aims to be the leading multi-source content aggregator in the industry.

Looking ahead, Travelport is preparing for advancements in hotel distribution, including attribute-based selling and cross-selling opportunities. The company is replatforming its hotel components within Travelport Plus to streamline processes and simplify the complexity of the lodging distribution landscape.

Overall, Greg Webb’s insights shed light on Travelport’s progress and plans for the future, emphasizing a consumer-centric approach, technological innovation, and strategic partnerships in the evolving travel distribution landscape.