ACTE PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release
ACTE Provides Concrete Answers to GDS Deregulation
at Upcoming London PowerTalk
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London -- 16 November 2004 -- The Association of Corporate Travel Executives (ACTE) on 30 November, at 8:30am, will return to the Sol Melia White House in London for an important breakfast PowerTalk on looming deregulation of global distribution systems in Europe. The morning, intensive forum builds on the success of ACTE's Annual Global Conference, held last month in Stockholm, and responds to members' requests to gather more information about the effects GDS deregulation will have on their businesses.
Leading the seminar is industry pundit Alex Cruz, founder and managing consultant, ALNAD Ltd., based in London. Before creating ALNAD, Cruz spent a decade at Sabre, where he delivered multiple IT and consulting solutions to the company's international travel partners. He is also a former partner at Arthur D. Little, where he headed the Travel & Transportation practice.
In his presentation, Cruz will explain why GDS deregulation in Europe is a concern for ACTE members, what companies can do to prepare for it.
For corporates, Cruz says deregulation is a concern because potential alignment of travel suppliers with GDSs could reduce overall content richness, and require corporate travel agents to connect to more GDSs or alternative channels. This, in turn, could result in additional technology costs and loss of agent incentives as bookings become more diversified.
On a more positive note, Cruz will outline how companies in Europe can learn from their counterparts in the US, which is currently undergoing the aftershocks of deregulation, finalised earlier this year.
"Because the EU has already studied the subject and is considering a number of recommendations on the types of regulations to impose in Europe," Cruz says, "we may be able to avoid some of the hiccups that occurred in the US, such as the recent attempt by Northwest Airlines to charge agents a fee on GDS bookings."
However, Cruz will note that Europe potentially faces different challenges because Amadeus is still owned by three airlines -- Air France, Iberia and Lufthansa. The GDS is currently going through a potential sales process which would affect the actual timing of deregulation. It is likely the European Commission will delay its decision whether to deregulate the industry until after the airlines have divested their interests in Amadeus.
Cruz will provide tips for ACTE members to ensure their interests are protected under a GDS deregulated environment
Forum delegates will have the opportunity to ask questions and share their concerns and expertise with their peers. In addition, attendees will be asked to participate in a survey of EMEA members that ACTE is preparing to gauge perception of GDS deregulation in Europe and measure the impact on the various travel industry segments. This survey is available on ACTE web site and will be sent to EMEA members.
Information:
The ACTE London, PowerTalk:
November 30, 2004
8:30am - 11:00am
Melia White House Hotel at Regents Park, London, U.K.
Register online at: http://www.acte.org/events/power_talks/113004/teaser.shtml
Fees:
ACTE Member - 43 Euro
Non-Member - 86 Euro
Non-Member Joining - 340 Euro
For more information, contact:
Stanislas Berteloot
Regional Director EMEA
Association of Corporate Travel Executives
Tel +33 1 60 19 39 07
Mobile + 33 6 80 40 40 56
E-mail: [email protected]
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