The Latin American online travel technology market is unique and rife with opportunity. Over the years online technology providers, suppliers and global distribution systems (GDSs) have progressed significantly and overcome the hurdle of content defragmentation, all in all opening the doors of opportunity for the Latin American region. However, some challenges remain that must be addressed to enable further market development, including content limitations, labor issues, and differences between in-country fares and restrictions.

Despite these hurdles, corporations still foresee huge cost-efficiency opportunities in Latin America and these opportunities are fueling their continuing online efforts. For example, a prominent multinational firm successfully implemented an online travel procurement solution in 10 Latin America countries over the past 12 months. Although online adoption rates varied between countries, some locations achieved over 50 percent adoption within a few weeks of roll-out.

But it’s not just multinational corporations that are implementing online solutions. Many Latin American firms in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Columbia, and Mexico have also introduced various online travel technology solutions in recent years. 

In Mexico, Cliqbook is establishing itself by offering solutions to the challenge of air content fragmentation. Chile is now also following suit and has started to initiate the use of Cliqbook, GetThere and AeTM. However, not all Latin American countries are able to utilize a global solution due to local country restrictions. For example, Argentina has different fares available depending on whether a traveler is a local resident or not. In Brazil, significant domestic content is not available in the GDS. As a result, local providers have a role to play in addressing this issue. 

Jahy Carvahlo, BCD Travel’s regional sales manager for Latin America, commented, “BCD Travel in Brazil has a strong partnership with ARGO IT, which pulls non-GDS content into their booking tool. Today, approximately 20 large corporations channel significant transaction volumes through the tool, effectively addressing both the market particularity and the customer need.”

Some global online booking solutions have the ability to display content in local languages.  These language options have made it easier for companies to integrate the online booking service into their company culture. As a result, these companies have noticed significant savings across their airfares, hotel rates and transaction fees, while increasing the use of preferred suppliers and raising awareness of corporate travel policy.

GetThere’s 2008 Benchmark Survey Report revealed that its customers in Latin America reported an average online adoption rate of 71 percent and its top customers exceeded 90 percent adoption rates, driving significant savings and efficiency.  According to Rodolfo Silva, director of GetThere Latin America, “GetThere’s experience in the region, as well as its on-the-ground support teams who work closely with BCD Travel and our mutual clients, make it easier for companies to see a quicker return on their investment.”

BCD Travel’s online implementations director in the U.S., Saurin Shah, has been tracking online business development in the Latin American region and commented, “The interest in online booking solutions has been growing since 2007. We saw a significant jump in implementations from 2007 to 2008, and the upward trend in implementations is continuing in 2009; we are seeing them double year on year.”

Over the last six months, BCD Travel's Online Technology Solutions’ implementation team has completed online implementations for four multinational customers in the region. Eleven implementations are currently in progress, and another six are scheduled in the near future. The majority of these implementations have taken place in Mexico, with others spread across Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Panama and Peru.