Amadeus
and Net Transv today announced the first automated commission clearing service available on a GDS for hotels. This means that travel agencies - both traditional and online - of all sizes can for the first time protect their hotel revenues by automatically securing prompt commission payments. This solution is available now to any Amadeus agent, regardless of size, geographic location, currency or number of bookings made, and at a preferential price.

Amadeus estimates that travel agencies lose between 18% - 20% of their hotel commissions a year due to non-collection. According to Net Trans figures, this represents over 110 million euros per year of non-collected commissions on electronic hotel bookings.

Today’s agreement comes in response to long-term industry demand for an automated solution to realise this revenue through guaranteed commission payment. Net Trans provides a subscription-based global solution, suitable for all types of online and offline travel agency volume, in all markets and regions, and in all currencies. Unlike other reconciliation services, Net Trans acts on behalf of the travel agent, not the hotel.

The Net Trans “Active Commission” solution is directly connected to the Amadeus GDS, which transmits the travel agency’s hotel booking data to the Net Trans commission processing service. Net Trans automatically claims commission due from the hotel on behalf of the travel agency, delivering much faster commission payments and significantly increasing commission revenue for the travel agency. Online and traditional travel agencies who subscribe to the NetTrans solution, receive a password protected personalised intranet site (NetTrans Active Commission) through which they can control and monitor commission due and commission paid.

“We have chosen to work with Net Trans for hotel commission collection for a number of reasons.Ê We at Carlson Wagonlit are keen to work with a contractor that acts solely on behalf of the agent in terms of service provision. The seamless integration with our back office systems coupled with the specialisation in commission handling has attracted an increasing number of our agents to the Net Trans service since the first market went live in 2001”, said Paula Batten, Senior Director Hotel Product Worldwide Carlson Wagonlit Travel.

“Net Trans has employed five years development on what we consider a vital service which is now going to be made available to almost 70,000 travel agencies across the globe thanks to our strategic agreement with the world’s leading travel distributor,” said Trond Sorensen, Chief Executive Officer, Net Trans.

“Some of our customers have seen commissions rise by as much as 40% using our service. That is not something any travel agency wants to walk away from and we provide a uniquely efficient way to recover lost commissions, independent of hotel chain or location.” he added.

“Amadeus is committed to delivering the most competitive solutions for our customers and we are confident that this agreement with Net Trans will add significant value to our hotel distribution offering. Last year’s launch of Dynamic Access highest-level connectivity and introduction of multimedia saw hotel bookings grow 11% in 2003, and already 15% in the first quarter of 2004, which shows how much value providers and agents see in our offering”, said Stephane Durand, Director Travel Service Partners, Amadeus.
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