IAAI powers new “I-Top” booking system to deliver NDC listed airline products
IAAI powers new technologically advanced i-Top booking portal (Indian Travel-Agents Own Portal) to deliver complex travel itineraries which includes offers coming directly from airlines using the latest New Distribution Capability (NDC) from IATA to User Agents and other Corporates. The GDS connectivity is being presently offered through Galileo and soon to be extended to Amadeus and Sabre also.
IAAI has recently signed an exclusive contract with Verteil Technologies for access and distribution of NDC listed airline products through its direct connect platform, “VDC” (Verteil Direct Connect) which is integrated with i-Top. This NDC-aligned innovative tool allows i-Top Users to display and connect airline inventories directly to its host reservation system providing access to availability, pricing, shopping and ticketing plus facilitating ancillary sales of excess baggage, visas, chauffeur service and more, but within the purview of IATA financial guarantee and remittance through the prevailing weekly payment system.
IAAI National President Biji Eapen reaffirmed that, ”today, in this ‘zero’ commission scenario, i-Top will provide Users a guaranteed opportunity to earn substantial commission for the sale of NDC airline tickets and also significant remuneration for other services like cancellation, refund, rerouting, date change etc, for which airlines used to charge penalties without giving a share to travel agents. The direct connectivity to airlines will also result in a substantial reduction in Agent Debit Memos (ADMs), since in an NDC environment, the airline makes the offer directly to travel agents.
i-Top truly represents the changes that are taking place in the Global Information Technology and it can be integrated with IATA functionalities, BSP billing and payment systems or interlining with the New Distribution Capabilities and the XML models.
In addition, i-Top shall be integrated with Overseas Medical Insurance companies, Forex, Rail & Bus Reservations, Tour Packages, Cruise, Car Rental and all such facilities which could be termed as being under Tourism and Aviation segments. Stimulatingly, i-Top will facilitate Consolidators, OTAs or even any Member Agent to sell their own products through i-Top to the Network Users and the User Agents will have the flexibility to display all such related services, compare quality, services, trustworthiness, pricings and remunerative benefits that will help him to promote products without any compromise.
This unique product, i-Top, the “magic lamp”, will be launched at ICON2017 and as per the Convention Theme, “redefine the PROTOCOLS” - a new revenue generating machinery for the traditional travel agents to have their legal remuneration within the purview of IATA Resolutions and the Indian legal regime
The Agent-friendly i-Top offers flexibility for B2B, B2C and B2D and is openly accessible to IATA Agents in the ‘Active Member’ category and, with certain limitations, also to the ‘Trade Partner’ category Members (Tour Operators & non-IATA Agents).
News By : Editorial Desk | Posted On:July
