Travelport’s New Tech Chief Aims to Modernize How Agencies Book Trips
Photo Credit: The Langley, UK, headquarters of Travelport. Travelport
Andrew Jordan arrived at Travelport six months ago with a mission to reduce the frustrations travel management companies have with the software their agents use.
The new chief product and technology officer has worked previously at Carlson Wagonlit Travel, where he led technology transformation at the $27 billion travel management company.
That experience, he said, taught him what agencies actually need from the global distribution systems like Travelport, which they use to book trips for road warriors.
"The number of conversations I will have with customers where I start to talk their language and they go, 'Finally, finally, somebody on the GDS [global distribution system] side now understands us,'" Jordan said in his first media interview since joining the company. "I've lived their life."
Shifting ExpectationsRelations with travel agencies matter because Travelport faces competition, having recently lost accounts with BCD Travel, Worl