Online travel agency trade association rebrands

The Interactive Travel Services Association, which is the trade association and lobbying arm of the global distribution systems and major online travel agencies, has changed its name to The Travel Technology Association, and redesigned its website.

Founded in 2009, the association hopes to be known simply as Travel Tech.

The group, whose members include Amadeus, Expedia, Orbitz Worldwide, Priceline, Sabre, Travelport and Vegas.com, chiefly lobbies to force the airlines to distribute their ancillary services through the GDS and OTA channel, and also fights efforts by municipalities to get the OTAs to pay taxes on the retail rates in hotel sales.

The rebranding to Travel Tech fits in with the association’s desire to convince the DOT that its members have the technology prowess to handle airlines’ ancillary services. Members recently demonstrated their capabilities to the DOT.

An association spokesperson says there are no initiatives under way to broaden its membership or activities.