Outtask CEO Slams GDSs, Online TMCsTrumpeting his booking tool's GDS-independence, Outtask CEO Tom DePasquale at the National Business Travel Association conference in Orlando noted that as such GDS firms as Sabre pursue deals that, for example, allow hoteliers to pay for preferential displays—allowed under the full GDS deregulation that began at the start of this month—Outtask's Cliqbook will offer "the best value for customers, not for Sabre." Outtask recently announced such new Cliqbook functions as ticket exchanges and limo reservations. Asked about the impact of online-originating agencies, given Outtask's model of partnering with agencies rather than attempting to be one, DePasquale said, "They are based on a false economy of empty hotel rooms. We have 150 travel management companies cutting costs for their clients, and the TMC cost represents less than 3 percent of total corporate travel spending."
JPMorgan Chase Launches New Reporting ToolCommercial bankcard issuer JPMorgan Chase used the NBTA tradeshow floor to unveil the latest version of PaymentNet—its Web-based reporting tool for corporate card administrators. JPMorgan Chase and Bank One last month completed a merger that created the second-largest bank in the United States and the next generation launch of PaymentNet solidifies reports that JPMorgan Chase's—not Bank One's—reporting system will be used for joint corporate card customers once fully integrated. Industry sources said since the announcement of the merger earlier this year, Bank One stopped developing its own commercial card reporting system. The new PaymentNet brings to customers such features as consolidated reporting on different payment products, such as T&E and purchasing cards, and real-time account maintenance. JPMorgan Chase last month also won the battle of the brands, announcing that both consumer and commercial card accounts for both companies will move under the Chase brand. While Bank One branches next year will be renamed JPMorgan Chase, newly branded credit cards will be among the first major changes. Meanwhile, former Bank One senior vice president of commercial card services, Steve Putney left the commercial card issuer to join Paymetric Inc., an enterprise payment solutions provider, as president and CEO.
Card Cos. Expand Acceptance, ReportingThe NBTA convention also showcased a menagerie of MasterCard partnerships: Diners Club was exclaiming its acceptance alliance with them on one end of the floor
(BTN, April 26), as AirPlus touted its recently launched co-branded MasterCard offering on the other end
(BTN, July 19). Now Expedia Corporate Travel has joined the ranks, using the conference to launch a co-branded MasterCard through an agreement with bankcard issuer GE Capital Financial. Expedia will act as a reseller of GE Capital Financial's MasterCard—adorned with all of the accoutrements of GE Capital's core MasterCard commercial offering. Reporting will be provided for clients of both products through GE Capital's reporting tools, said Matt Hulett, president of Expedia Corporate Travel. While MasterCard's partnership launched late last year with Travelocity offers customers reduced set-up fees for Travelocity Business and discounts with a bevy of travel providers
(BTN, Nov. 10, 2003), the Expedia deal has neither.
Travelport Adds Execs, PartnersTravelport Corporate Solutions earlier this month announced the appointment of Dean Sivley as chief product officer and Jack Staehler as chief technology officer. Sivley is responsible for developing and implementing Travelport's long-term product strategy, as well as managing all aspects of Travelport's product lineup that includes Travelport Online Booking and GDS services for business travel as individual products, packaged together or in combination with fulfillment. Prior to joining Travelport, Sivley served as the executive vice president and general manager at Creditek, an invoice-to-cash business processing outsourcing company. Previously, he was CEO of Atlas Travel Technologies as well as vice president of marketing and CIO of Rosenbluth International. Staehler most recently served as chief CIO for Cendant's Retail Travel Services group, where he focused on CheapTickets.com. "Both Dean and Jack have extensive experience in innovative product development and technology implementation, and their leadership will be invaluable as we capitalize on the successes we have achieved since launching as a complete solution for business travel one year ago," said David Falter, Travelport president. Meanwhile, Travelport agreed with fellow Cendant brands Avis Rent A Car and Budget Rent A Car to offer car rental discounts to Travelport corporate customers using its full agency services.