eu travel tech uses its technological expertise and position at the centre of the travel and tourism sector to contribute constructively to policymaking.
eu travel tech (formerly The European Technology and Travel Services Association - ETTSA) was launched in 2009 to represent and promote the interests of global distribution systems (GDSs) and travel distributors towards all relevant European stakeholders from industry to policymakers.
Technology is changing travel. The travel landscape operates as it does in large part thanks to the efforts of eu travel tech members’ services, their investments in R&D and commitment to providing cutting edge solutions.
The ability to buy travel online has delivered unprecedented choice to consumers. Only thirty years ago, organising travel was expensive and complicated with users’ ability to compare options was extremely limited.
Among eu travel tech members, all of the players in the travel tech ecosystem are represented, and know that the future of our sector rests on the achievement of our common goal: to build a consumer-driven, innovative and competitive travel and tourism industry that harnesses digitisation and is based on transparency and sustainability.
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30.000
direct jobs in the EU – enabling a sector that provides 1 out of every 10 European jobs
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all EU member states
eu travel tech members operate in all EU member states
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SMEs and startups
services provided to millions of EU companies – most of them SMEs and startups.
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€320bn
sectorboosting the EU travel and tourism sector – worth €320bn by 2021 with 80% growth online.
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billions every year in R&I
members invest billions every year in R&I, and include some of the sector’s biggest investors
Now consumers using online travel agencies (OTAs) can compare thousands of different accommodation and travel options and select products that suit their needs – while millions of businesses can gain access to a global customer place. Business travellers, using the services of Travel Management Companies (TMCs), can get the most out of every euro they spend on corporate travel.
Metasearch engines (MSEs) let consumers compare the offers not just of airlines or hotels but also of hundreds of different OTAs. The growth of these online tools over the past ten years is a testament to their popularity with consumers.
This ecosystem is made possible thanks to transparent and neutral marketplaces offered by Global Distribution Systems (GDSs), connecting service providers (airlines but also hotels, cruises, car rental companies, tour companies) with travel agents. GDSs provide the technological infrastructure for nearly all phases of travel.
