TORONTO — Ensemble Travel Group members in Canada and the U.S. will soon have access to a new air booking engine – a business tool that will provide its approximately 850 agencies with the ability to shop, book and earn on up to 70 international and U.S. carriers.
The technology is free to all Ensemble agencies and will be accessible on ensembleagent.com, the organization’s member-only information portal.
“It’s ‘A New Day’ at Ensemble Travel Group and everything we do looks at creating opportunities by collaborating,” said Ensemble’s Lindsay Pearlman, co-president, during a live radio discussion aired on the Stuart Cohen Show.
“The new Ensemble air booking engine is a great example of our successful North American platform that leverages our airline deals on both sides of the border for our members.
“In past, if you were a regional player in the agency community, you were likely to only get a regional deal. But now, with our strengthened U.S.-Canadian strategy, we can leverage deals on both sides of the border for all members, regardless of their size or business model. It’s all about leveraging that buying power to the max for our members.”
The new technology platform provides considerable earning power through agreements on both net and published fares. While specific amounts will vary based on carrier, route, and respective contract, it’s possible for members to earn more than a thousand dollars on an air ticket, according to Ensemble’s Brian Chapin, CTC, CTIE, senior director of air and business development.
“And, while our members do sell a lot of business class air, the earning potential is there in all levels of service. In addition, the Ensemble air booking engine allows for origination in the U.S. and Canada and, with many of the agreements, tickets can be issued in Canadian dollars.”
Final beta testing of the Ensemble air booking engine is near completion with the product rollout to all members set for July. Webinar training will begin immediately after the launch, with additional educational opportunities available at the 2011 Ensemble Travel Group International Conference in Las Vegas in October.
The new air booking engine serves all Ensemble Travel Group members’ business models – from the traditional retail agent to the home-based and independent contractor without a GDS. “Our focus is on equipping members with tools and programs that help them simplify their business practices while expanding their profit potential. The 70 airlines available through the new booking engine essentially represent 70 new revenue streams for many of our members,” added Ensemble Travel Group Co-President Libbie Rice.
