Advantage and Travelogix to launch airfare data tracker for Focus agents

Travel data systems specialist built Farecast for consortium’s Focus business travel members

Independent travel agency consortium Advantage Travel Partnership is to provide members with an airfare trends service developed in partnership with Travelogix.

The travel data systems specialist has built Farecast for Advantage’s Focus business travel members.

It claims to be the world’s first custom, travel, data collection platform for Focus members and will launch in April.

Farecast will collect Global Distribution Service data in real time from the 60 Focus members providing air booking trends, volumes and revenues to track and aid airfare negotiations with airlines.

Advantage said Farecast will allow the consortium to provide Focus partners with “tangible data and insights, negotiate the best possible deals, and help Focus partners to source new corporate business”.

Abby Penston, head of Focus at Advantage, said: “As we move into 2019 and look at data solutions and innovation to strengthen our Focus Partnership services, we couldn’t be more delighted to partner with Travelogix.

“The Focus exclusive solution will provide both our central team and our Focus partners a platform to utilise and control their individual data, as well as demonstrating our collective strength as a Partnership when negotiating with suppliers, ensuring that our Focus Partners are always competitive.”

Chris Lewis, founder and chief executive of Travelogix, added: “We are thrilled to have partnered with Advantage Focus Partnership to conceptualise, design and build this brand new, innovative platform.

“Farecast will be a completely unique concept within the industry; it will put Focus and their members back in control of their airline data and provide an immediate timesaving incentive to the group.

“The increase in visibility and control of data will result in increased revenues, as well as the delivery of reliable data to assist airline negotiations.

“The detail and immediacy of the data will mean that users can take fast, appropriate action based on the metrics the platform delivers, ensuring that airline revenues and booking trends can be tracked and override targets measured and achieved.”

Scott Pawley, managing director of Focus member Global Travel Management, said: “As a Focus partner we absolutely welcome any advancements that benefit us as a collective group.

“This particular solution allows us to best utilise our own data through negotiations with the airlines, we can then share our competitive fares with our corporate clients. It’s a win-win as I see it for all parties in the supply chain.”

The collection of data from Focus members began on January 1 ahead of the launch of reporting capabilities in April.

Focus members will have exclusive use of the platform for its first year. Override tracking intelligence and member contribution analysis will be delivered later in 2019.