THEGUILDof Business Travel Agents is fighting proposals to allow hotels to have multiple representation on the global distribution systems.
The move is being investigated by the Hotel Electronic Distribution Network Association, after calls from representation companies.
Currently hotels can only be listed once on the GDSs, even if they are represented by more than one sales and marketing and representation group.
But representation groups are pushing for multiple representation to maximise their sales and marketing efforts.
GBTAproduct manager Julie Grout said business travel agents were totally against the move.
“It would mean that when agents go in and request a hotel, it could come up four or five times, with different data and different rates.
“If this is allowed, the whole system will be slower, data displayed could be confusing and contradictory, and rates could be inconsistent.
“We dispute the need to change the current system to one which will cause unnecessary confusion for business travel agents and ultimately their clients.”
Grout is on HEDNA’s Standards Sub-Committee which has been asked to examine this representation issue.
She has written to BTIUKHogg Robinson and American Express to gauge their views before preparing her response to the plans by the end of January.