Online Travel Update: Agoda Debuts Additional New Offerings; Booking.com Reins In Suppliers' Promotions; Amex GBT Continues Its Transformation
December 20, 2021 at 11:22 pm EST
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Despite what the calendar might say, winter has definitely arrived in the Pacific Northwest. This week's Update features a variety of stories, including a story or two on online travel agencies (OTAs), and stories on Vacasa's public debut and Amex GBT's planned public debut. Tis' the SPAC season. I hope you enjoy.
Agoda Debuts Additional New Offerings ("Agoda launches Beds Network to help hotels distribute wholesale rates," December 9, 2021 via Phocus Wire) Last week, we included a story detailing the launch of several new Agoda products. Last week, Agoda launched yet another new product, Beds Network, which represents Agoda's formal entry into wholesale distribution. The Network will leverage Booking Holdings' existing affiliate network to allow participating suppliers to distribute rates and inventory on a wholesale or B2B basis. According to the announcement, suppliers who participate in the program will have complete control (fully yieldable) over the rate and inventory offered through the solution (which if true, would be quite a departure from competitors' similar wholesale distribution offerings). Existing Agoda suppliers won't need to enter into new, or amend existing, contracts to participate. Agoda's plans call for the Network to be rolled out initially in Asia, the Middle East and Europe, with other markets added throughout 2022.
Booking.com Reins in Suppliers' Promotions ("Booking.com Warns Car Partners About Using Over-the-Top Promo Lingo," December 7, 2021 via Yahoo Finance - Top Stories) Talk about a role reversal...It wasn't that many years ago that complaints by suppliers and consumer groups over the promotional practices of the large online travel agencies (and other online retailers) have led to a string of investigations by European competition authorities and ultimately the issuance of online promotional regulations. Now, the tables have turned, as Booking.com steps up efforts to rein in the promotional practices of its supplier partners.
Amex GBT Continues Its Transformation ("American Express GBT and Sabre partner on tech development," December 3, 2021 via Travel Weekly) Recently, Amex GBT announced plans to go public through, you guessed it, a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) transaction with Apollo Strategic Growth Capital. Gross proceeds from the transaction are expected to total $1.2 billion, $335 million of which is being contributed by new investors, including global distribution system (GDS) provider, Sabre. Following the close of the transaction, GBT's shareholders will include Expedia Group, Sabre, American Express and Certares. According to GBT's investor presentation, the new company's primary focus (at least for now) will continue to be managed corporate travel (including SME travel). Also recently, GBT announced that it was partnering with Sabre to develop technological solutions for the future of corporate travel. What the public debut and Sabre partnership might mean practically for GBT's suppliers, is unknown.
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Vacasa, Inc. is engaged in providing a vacation rental management platform in North America. The Company's integrated technology and operations platform is designed to optimize vacation rental income and home care for homeowners, offer guests an experience, and provide distribution partners with a variety of home listings. The Company's Guest app, Vacasa.com, helps guests to search, discover and book properties. The Guests from around the world utilize the Companyâs technology and services to search and book Vacasa-listed properties in the United States, Belize, Canada, Costa Rica, and Mexico. The Company provides home care solutions provided directly to homeowners such as home maintenance and improvement services, linen and towel supply programs, supplemental housekeeping services, and other related services. The Company also provides other offerings, such as real estate brokerage services and residential management services to community and homeowner associations.
VACASA, INC. 
