Expedia Partner Solutions (EPS) has launched a Certified Technology Partner Program to forge closer relationships as well as deploy services faster.
To be part of the program, partners need to be up to speed with Rapid, Expedia's latest API technology, to ensure they have most of the company’s content integrated at any given time and be able to meet EPS launch requirements.
Fritz Oberhummer, director of account management platforms in EMEA and LATAM for EPS, says the company currently has about 120 technology partners globally.
He anticipates between 30 and 40 will end up being part of the certified program, but that does not preclude others from continuing to work with the company.
“The only limitation is internal resources. We’re looking for a proven track record, and we usually say they need to have partnered with us for 12 months. We also want, geographically and product-wise, a balance across the globe," he says.
Technology companies such as TravelGateX were among the first to be certified, while most recently, wbe.travel was announced as a certified technology partner.
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The initiative underwent a “test and learn” phase, with 10 initially accepted into the program. The plan is to add a further 10 in 2019.
Oberhummer says the test period established what exactly the technology partners needed and the resources required from EPS.
Once accepted, partners get access to EPS marketing and technology advice and expertise.
They also get to attend quarterly Think Tank events where they can share wish lists on the future development of EPS technology.