Amex, TravelSky Partner To Launch Booking Tool In China

American Express last week launched a booking tool for companies with travelers based in China, leveraging a partnership with TravelSky, China's predominant global distribution system.

Citing "explosive growth" in the Chinese business travel market-both among China-based companies and multinationals-Amex president of global travel services Charles Petruccelli during a press conference and signing ceremony held in Shanghai last Thursday said the tool, American Express Online, is the first corporate-specific booking tool in the market.

Amex said the tool features such functionality as lower-fare bias, enterprise system integration, traveler profile management, real-time inventory and "corporate travel policy control."

"Currently, many China-based companies are seeing their travelers book online using consumer travel solutions, undermining the cost savings that a corporate travel management policy is intended to deliver," said Pierric Beckert, Amex senior vice president for corporate services in the Asian region, in a press statement. "American Express Online will help China-based companies increase online adoption and keep corporate travelers booking within the company program."

Through a three-year agreement announced last week in conjunction with the booking tool launch, TravelSky will be American Express's exclusive GDS partner in the country-even though other GDSs may soon enter the market, given China's recent accession to the World Trade Organization.