Future State

The last chapter of this book examines the future of product distribution. It specifically delves into the future of travel intermediaries. It analyzes the recovery of global distribution system (GDS) bookings, NDC aggregators, and the potential threat of disintermediation in terms of booking volumes, market share, and margins. Additionally, it evaluates the future roles of GDSs, travel management companies (TMCs), and online travel agencies (OTAs), and the transformation they need to make to protect their revenue streams. Can GDSs muster the courage to adopt new business models that utilize their existing infrastructure? This transformation is exemplified through various examples. The reinvention of TMCs and OTAs is necessary to safeguard and expand their revenue streams. This chapter also presents new capabilities that TMCs and OTAs can develop to differentiate themselves from individual suppliers. This differentiation is mandatory for their long-term survival in a future where peer-to-peer transactions become the norm.