MTA’s single-screen advance

MOBILE Travel Agents (MTA) is preparing to roll-out a Global Fares Search and Booking Tool for its members, providing a single- screen comparison of all airfares.

The tool is one of several initiatives planned by MTA this year, along with a member mentoring program and an elite accreditation scheme.

Speaking to Travel Daily at the home-based group’s annual conference on the weekend, MTA ceo Don Beattie highlighted the Global Fares Search and Booking Tool as one of the most significant new developments offered to members in recent years.

“Productivity will be immensely improved and members’ competitiveness in the marketplace will be significantly improved,” Beattie said.

“Before you might have had to read wholesale sheets, fare rules, every single independent deliverer of fares… compare them across all the private fares, published fares, all the wholesaler fares and all the corporate fares,” he said.

“Now it will be all on one screen – you’re going to be able to see every fare that’s available to you no matter what type of fare.”

The system has been created by the developer of Virtuoso Air, eGlobalfares, and has been under trial in recent months.

Beattie said MTA also planned a voluntary accreditation program that would allow members to attain recognition for additional training and education.

“I think it will be a first in the country, with a view to people having to obtain a certain level of expertise,” he said.

“And it won’t be Mickey Mouse achievements, it will be real achievements and it will cover all aspects of business.”

MTA was also preparing a mentoring program among new and established members, allowing a sharing of knowledge among the group.

Beattie is pictured, left, with MTA co-founder Roy Merricks at the group’s annual conference.