Mega travel management companies BCD Travel and HRG are expanding tests of their internally developed super passenger name record platforms that feature new agent point-of-sale and fulfillment applications, integrated technology suite components and non-global distribution system content.
Each TMC is increasing tests in the United Kingdom, the United States and Western Europe and each expects to deploy their super-PNR technology on a wider scale this year. They developed super-PNR systems to be less reliant on GDSs, but by enabling the agency to become the aggregation point for content, it would enable greater agent flexibility, improve data collection and reporting, and shield corporate travel buyers from GDS fees.
In July, BCD said it had been testing its super-PNR technology, which resides in its Source platform, with some divisions of one Sabre-based customer that booked reservations for one travel supplier through the Galileo GDS via BCD's Kansas City model reservation center
(BTNonline, Aug. 13, 2007). Other U.S. and Western Europe centers, including a set of agents in BCD's Mechelen, Belgium, office, since have been testing it, as have some smaller accounts, said BCD executive vice president of products, technology and supplier relations Dee Runyan.
Runyan said BCD plans to deploy super-PNR capabilities to more U.S. and Western European clients in the fall. Once some internal requirements, including some fulfillment capabilities, customer care and on-route traveler service developments, are complete, multinational service centers will be brought into the super-PNR system.
BCD's clients will not opt into the system "because this is the way we deliver information, reservation services and reporting, and how data collection will happen. All customers will migrate onto this application over the coming months," Runyan said. "Super-PNR exists and the challenge is making sure that interfaces with a variety of back offices around the globe."
BCD has started to roll out a more "dynamic user interface" to serve agents who handle specific types of reservations or functions, such as processing upgrades.
Runyan told BTN in July that Germany would be the biggest market for its super-PNR system, as the industry prepared for the European Commission to deregulate GDSs in Europe. In Germany, Deutsche Bahn rail content has been "embedded in the application," said Runyan, who noted some German BCD clients book rail for more than 50 percent of all transactions. Other direct-connect efforts in Germany were sparked by Lufthansa's recent GDS booking surcharges in four countries (BTNonline, Jan. 22).
"There is certainly some broader discussion being held in that market on distribution," Runyan said. "That was one of our targets because it appears the airline was interested and Deutsche Bahn historically has had a longer transaction time for agents who had to go out of their standard technology to do it."
HRG recently announced plans to launch its new agent desktop tool to integrate content from multiple channels. The applications reside in the HRG Universal Super Platform, which also houses the super-PNR. HRG Point of Sale includes content from GDSs, direct connects to suppliers and the Web, and replaces the current Sabre and Galileo desktops.
The system also provides more robust traveler profile information to the agent and can link with the recently redesigned HRG Online booking tool and externally developed self-booking options. HRG Online now integrates with the Web-based travel portal HRG I-Suite.
"Rather than having to rely completely on the GDS point of sale, we built a series of standards, put the infrastructure in play, built the super-PNR platform, and from that you are seeing the applications," said HRG business technology and distribution director Bill Brindle.
HRG will expand tests in March in the United States and United Kingdom. Currently, one large reservation center in Leicester, U.K., is building internal super-PNR records through GDS hotel bookings, Brindle said.
U.K.-based HRG is adding market-specific direct connects, including TheTrainline rail content and European low-cost carrier content.
Meanwhile, Carlson Wagonlit Travel, which delivers super-PNR capabilities through its Symphonie platform, has changed its development focus. "Stability in the relationships between the GDSs and suppliers has allowed CWT to shift the development focus of CWT Symphonie away from direct connections for the time being," said Mike Koetting, executive vice president of global supplier management. "CWT's recent and near-future development efforts focus on improving the shopping experience for the travel counselor and the traveler."
Koetting said Symphonie's user base continues to grow. "Its super-PNR system is used for millions of transactions each year and is favored by a majority of CWT's largest clients," he said. "I'm confident that some of the final Navigant integration work in 2008 will accelerate Symphonie's adoption among our midmarket clients as well."