Corporate travel startup Taptrip recently changed course towards a partnership model with travel management companies, rather than becoming a TMC, albeit technology-led, in its own right.
CEO Thomas Young and Neil Ruth, the company's chief operating officer, say the change came as they observed and understood the market more and were approached by a number of TMCs.
The pair joined PhocusWire during Travel Technology Europe to talk about Taptrip’s recent tie-up, which includes investment, with ATPI.
They believe the partnership helps them accelerate product development while they bring their expertize gleaned from working with companies including Booking.com, Skyscanner and Pokerstars.
Young and Ruth also talk about Taptrip’s technology, which is based around consumer technologies and includes gamification techniques to help drive user engagement and travel policy compliance.
A further part of the discussion is legacy technology and whether the global distribution giants could be more perceptive about the market and act quicker when it comes to opening up access for startups.