Tourism distribution channels: Knowledge Requirements

This chapter presents a summary of the presentations and the discussions concerning electronic distribution channels in tourism and hospitality held at the 2015 t-Forum. Both academics and practitioners examined the present situation and elaborated on the problems and possible ways to overcome them. The main topics that emerged were distribution channels and their best use and optimization, interoperability between the many different technological systems, the need for a standardized representation of data and transactions, and the role of the Internet and Web as source of information useful for market analysis and product planning. Finally, the importance and the necessity of a more intense collaboration among all the stakeholders and between academic researchers and the industry was emphasized.