“Travel unbundled, travel simplified.”
That’s how Lloyd Barkhuizen, Ticketpro’s Head of Travel described the company’s new corporate travel management solution to Travel News last week, saying that this new subscription-based model is a new deal for corporates.
Ticketpro Travel Solutions is taking on the legacy business travel market with the launch of a comprehensive, technology-first travel solution, which, it says “puts the power back in the hands of the business traveller.”
Barkhuizen told Travel News Ticketpro has been around for a while, an operation well-known for packaging travel around events, concerts and sports fixtures. 18 months ago the company launched Ticketpro Travel, and online travel agency offering flights, buses, accommodation and car rental, plus packages. “It was then a natural progression to move into the business travel space,” said Barkhuizen.
“The world has changed and travel has changed. There has been a massive loss of skills. I estimate around 50% of agents have pivoted to other industries. We aren’t attracting new talent. Technology is inevitably the future of travel. And with our solution, the client has much more control.”
Barkhuizen says the system has no bias. “All suppliers get a seat at our table. Additionally, the GDS is not the primary source of our content. It also includes APIs, NDC and direct-derived content and we will distribute all travel content that meets the required API standards.”
“Spotnana’s new system is new architecture from the ground up, and all in a single platform. And it can be set up in a couple of weeks,” said Barkhuizen.
Partnering with Spotnana and using its “Travel-as-a-Service” platform to power an end-to-end travel solution, Ticketpro is confident that this will attract corporate customers by enhancing efficiency, reducing costs, and improving traveller satisfaction. Spotnana is a cloud-based corporate travel platform aiming to enable the travel industry to lower operating costs, accelerate innovation, and deliver unparalleled travel experiences.
Unseen fees
“This level of innovation is what the business market has needed for some time now. For too long we have hidden behind unseen fees and legacy systems. For the actual traveller this engenders frustration for what should be the most seamless part of their journey,” said Brandon Duffield, CEO of Ticketpro Travel Solutions.
Spotnana’s core infrastructure includes:
- Online Booking Tool – a modern, white-labelled user experience for travellers, travel arrangers, and travel managers.
- Agent Desktop – tools for maximising agent productivity, that sit on the same infrastructure as the online booking tool and access the same profiles, policies, and negotiated rates.
- Booking Engine – automated workflows for booking and modifying trips as well as configurable logic for policies, payments, and more.
- System of Record – extensible data structures that eliminate the need for PNR comments, simplify integrations, and power real-time analytics.
- Content Engine – technology for integrating and normalising travel content from any source so all available options can be presented seamlessly to travellers.
Spotnana enables any TMC or technology provider to begin selling travel quickly, improve traveller experiences, increase operational efficiency, and set the business up for success.
Ticketpro says that with intuitive tools for travel booking, expense management integration, traveller tracking, and policy compliance – businesses can now effortlessly streamline their travel operations. Spotnana’s advanced reporting and analytics capabilities provide valuable insights, allowing companies to optimise their travel spend and make more informed decisions.
Spotnana's innovative technology enables users to receive personalised recommendations, real-time updates, and proactive support throughout their journey. Travellers can access real-time information on flights, accommodation, transport and more, all within a user-friendly interface. The platform's intelligent features incorporate traveller preferences, ensuring a personalised and delightful experience.
“By leveraging Spotnana's cutting-edge technology and Ticketpro Travel Solutions' vast network of partners, businesses can access a wide range of services through a single integrated platform. We are moving into new and much-needed territory with new technology now driving the most significant change to the way companies manage their travel programmes,” said Duffield.
“We are future -proofing the travel industry for new generations. By 2025, 75% of the workforce will be millennials (born 1981-1996), and by 2030, 30% of the workforce will be Gen Z (born after 1997). How will they want to book their business travel?” asks Barkhuizen.
