Addis Ababa, Ethiopia — August 14, 2023
In short: Wakanow CEO Adenike Macaulay joins Offers and Orders panel at IATA Focus Africa, highlighting OTA’s critical role in African travel retailing.
Wakanow Joins IATA Offers and Orders Panel
According to Travel Distribution News, Adenike Macaulay, CEO of Wakanow, took her seat on the Offers and Orders panel at IATA Focus Africa in Addis Ababa. The presence underscores the growing importance of the OTA layer in enabling modern retailing for African travelers.
Industry Context
This marks a shift from airline-focused discussions to recognizing the OTA’s central role in connecting airlines with travel trade professionals in Africa. While airline readiness for NDC activation has been a primary focus, the OTA layer now determines whether African travelers can access these products at all.
Key Details
- Wakanow joins the Offers and Orders panel at IATA Focus Africa.
- The panel discussion underscores the critical role of OTAs in enabling African travelers to access airline products.
- The event took place August 14, 2023, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
What Travel Professionals Should Know
TMCs managing African corporate accounts should note that the inclusion of OTAs like Wakanow in key industry discussions signals a shift in how travel products are built, priced, and sold. This development may influence pricing strategies and product availability for African travelers, requiring TMCs to adapt their offerings to align with OTA-driven retailing models.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Wakanow’s role in this context?
Wakanow, as an OTA, will participate in the Offers and Orders panel discussions, highlighting its importance in facilitating the sale of airline products to African travel trade professionals.
Which travel trade segments does this affect?
This development primarily impacts Travel Management Companies (TMCs) and other travel trade professionals operating in Africa, as it reflects the growing significance of OTAs in the travel retail ecosystem.
When does this take effect?
The inclusion of Wakanow in the Offers and Orders panel is effective immediately, following its participation at the IATA Focus Africa event on August 14, 2023.
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