For a guy who runs a company called Farelogix, Jim Davidson offers precious little logic about fares in his recent commentary, in which he dismisses BTC's and its allies efforts to promote full disclosure of airline content as "scaremongering".
Over 100 highly experienced and knowledgeable travel industry participants - all of whom toil in the field of travel procurement daily as opposed to Davidson's field of dreams -- have joined in an outreach to the airlines to persuade them to respect our travel procurement needs.
None of us is appreciative of patronizing insinuations that we've been scared into "doing what might otherwise not make logical sense".
In fact, we know exactly what we're doing and why we're doing it.
Davidson's statement that XML provides airlines with more opportunity to differentiate and control its products is like saying rocks fall.
We all know that, and no one in the supply chain is endeavoring to impede that process, including TMCs or corporate travel managers or GDSs.
Put another way, his hypnotic incantation of "XML, XML" does nothing to advance claims that BTC and its allies are somehow resistant to change.
Farelogix and the airlines have no patent on XML; it's a protocol widely used by many travel technology companies. The power of XML as an enabling tool to facilitate airline unbundling strategies is acknowledged; what's not acknowledged or appreciated is using the XML mantra as a pretext to withhold critical airline fare content from consumers or to force them to use the walled gardens that are today's and - in Davidson's field of dreams - tomorrow's airline.com websites, powered by Farelogix.
Davidson demonstrates his real agenda and divulges the end game he wants to see when he states:
"It is important to note that Direct Connect is not a synonym for GDS or TMC bypass...most airlines investing in Direct Connect will still embrace a multi-channel strategy, in which GDS and other intermediaries are granted access to a newer, improved airline product."
Hold onto your wallets folks as Davidson lapses into the passive voice to lure you into passively accepting what is completely unacceptable.
His use of the phrase "are granted access to" is code for "at a dear price to the consumer" and "at the total discretion of the airline".
This carefully crafted wording obviously reflects a "user-pays" world view that is totally airline-centric and entirely oblivious to the interests of the travelers who underwrite the air transportation system and those in the supply chain who serve their needs.
A "user-pays" model that shifts costs to consumers for choosing efficient distribution channels would benefit Davidson's business dream of automating airline websites, period, full stop.
His industry-relations campaign of late is designed to belittle anyone who bursts his dreamy bubble as hopelessly tied to the status quo. That's not a particularly useful or effective way to lead change.
Supply chain participants want to support airline merchandizing efforts but in a way that respects the interests of all parties, especially the end consumer.
Corporate travel managers are advocates and leaders of travel management change, but we are no longer shy about demanding a seat at the table when airlines or others are considering misguided distribution changes that could negatively impact the quality of our choices and our bottom line.
To make up their own minds, readers can also review the BTC-distributed documents.
http://businesstravelcoalition.com/dc_ceo_letter.html.
NB: This guest post is written by Kevin Mitchell, chairman of the Business Travel Coalition.
For a guy who runs a company called Farelogix, Jim Davidson offers precious little logic about fares in his recent commentary, in which he dismisses BTC's and its allies efforts to promote full disclosure of airline content as "scaremongering".
Over 100 highly experienced and knowledgeable travel industry participants - all of whom toil in the field of travel procurement daily as opposed to Davidson's field of dreams -- have joined in an outreach to the airlines to persuade them to respect our travel procurement needs.
None of us is appreciative of patronizing insinuations that we've been scared into "doing what might otherwise not make logical sense".
In fact, we know exactly what we're doing and why we're doing it.
Davidson's statement that XML provides airlines with more opportunity to differentiate and control its products is like saying rocks fall.
We all know that, and no one in the supply chain is endeavoring to impede that process, including TMCs or corporate travel managers or GDSs.
Put another way, his hypnotic incantation of "XML, XML" does nothing to advance claims that BTC and its allies are somehow resistant to change.
Farelogix and the airlines have no patent on XML; it's a protocol widely used by many travel technology companies. The power of XML as an enabling tool to facilitate airline unbundling strategies is acknowledged; what's not acknowledged or appreciated is using the XML mantra as a pretext to withhold critical airline fare content from consumers or to force them to use the walled gardens that are today's and - in Davidson's field of dreams - tomorrow's airline.com websites, powered by Farelogix.
Davidson demonstrates his real agenda and divulges the end game he wants to see when he states:
"It is important to note that Direct Connect is not a synonym for GDS or TMC bypass...most airlines investing in Direct Connect will still embrace a multi-channel strategy, in which GDS and other intermediaries are granted access to a newer, improved airline product."
Hold onto your wallets folks as Davidson lapses into the passive voice to lure you into passively accepting what is completely unacceptable.
His use of the phrase "are granted access to" is code for "at a dear price to the consumer" and "at the total discretion of the airline".
This carefully crafted wording obviously reflects a "user-pays" world view that is totally airline-centric and entirely oblivious to the interests of the travelers who underwrite the air transportation system and those in the supply chain who serve their needs.
A "user-pays" model that shifts costs to consumers for choosing efficient distribution channels would benefit Davidson's business dream of automating airline websites, period, full stop.
His industry-relations campaign of late is designed to belittle anyone who bursts his dreamy bubble as hopelessly tied to the status quo. That's not a particularly useful or effective way to lead change.
Supply chain participants want to support airline merchandizing efforts but in a way that respects the interests of all parties, especially the end consumer.
Corporate travel managers are advocates and leaders of travel management change, but we are no longer shy about demanding a seat at the table when airlines or others are considering misguided distribution changes that could negatively impact the quality of our choices and our bottom line.
To make up their own minds, readers can also review the BTC-distributed documents.