For many travel managers, the tools and processes that once defined a managed program are no longer keeping pace with today’s realities. In the latest episode of Direct Travel’s Altitude with Attitude podcast, we explore how legacy systems are falling short and what travel leaders should expect going forward.
Ruben Leal, Sales Director at Spotnana, joins the conversation to reflect on the operational frustrations travel managers have long navigated and the technological shift now reshaping the industry. Throughout the discussion, we explore how real-time data, automation, and open platforms are changing what’s possible for both travelers and program leaders.
Follow along as we unpack the key takeaways below, and listen to the full podcast here:
Travel Manager Frustrations
In the past, running a global program meant working with fragmented, siloed systems. Programs were built country by country, often taking years to fully implement. Even with the same TMC and OBT in place, consistency was difficult to achieve.
Content gaps only added to the frustration, as travelers questioned the value of a managed program when consumer tools appeared faster and cheaper. Travel managers understood that sentiment, but lacked the technology needed to close those gaps.
This fragmentation kept travel teams focused on tactical execution rather than strategy. Much of the day-to-day was spent explaining system limitations to stakeholders, managing delayed or unreliable data, and reacting to traveler disruptions as they arose. Over time, this constant firefighting became a sign for travel managers that their program had surpassed the systems supporting it.
The Limits of Legacy Tools
One of the clearest indicators that a travel program has outgrown its existing technology is whether it is difficult to access timely, reliable data. If basic questions like “How much did we spend on travel last week, globally?” takes weeks and involves manual cleanup to answer, the system is no longer serving the business.
Unused ticket management is another common breaking point. In many programs, tracking credits remains a complex procedure, with travelers unaware of credits they could be using. This traps travel managers into overseeing a manual process that should be automated.
“If your TMC is giving you a long list of reasons why a solution you’re looking for is just a pipe dream, think twice. Challenge that. That may have been true years ago when there weren’t alternatives, which was frustrating. But now, there is something better. There’s a better world and a better tool waiting for you.”
– Ruben Leal, Sales Director, Spotnana
This growing gap between what legacy tools allow and what modern programs require is where Spotnana enters the picture.
Why Spotnana is Different
For Ruben, what stands out about Spotnana isn’t just the technology itself. The platform was built to advance the industry by putting both the travel manager and the traveler at the center, with a clear goal of delivering better outcomes, not just a better interface. From the flexibility of the booking experience to the way the platform is architected with direct connections and real-time data, it represents a rare moment of clarity: a modern solution that actually works as intended.
Unlike legacy tools that focus primarily on surface-level UI updates, Spotnana invested in rebuilding the foundation of travel technology. That work “under the hood” enables greater agility and faster innovation. Just as importantly, it lets technology handle routine tasks, allowing TMCs like Direct Travel to deliver higher-value service.
“Agents can focus on delivering outstanding service for complex itineraries or when a traveler needs to get in touch with someone for support, and not for day-to-day, easy tasks. Pairing service and technology together puts the traveler at the center of the experience. That’s the ‘human’ part of travel.”
Preparing for a New Travel Era
Today’s travel landscape calls for a closer look at how legacy tech stacks operate compared to modern, API-driven platforms. When evaluating partners or issuing an RFP, travel managers should be asking more forward-looking questions, including:
- What does your API structure look like, and how flexible is it?
- What integrations are already in place, and how fast can additional ones be added?
- What steps are you taking to react to and evolve with AI?
- How quickly can you connect to new platforms, technologies, and content sources?
Beyond access to content, assess how well it can be serviced. Showing, selling, and supporting content are three distinct challenges, and many solutions fall short once a trip is disrupted. Asking these questions now helps ensure your program is built not just for today’s needs, but for what comes next.
Building a Frictionless Future
As travel technology continues to evolve, no single provider can deliver a truly seamless experience alone. That’s why open, connected platforms matter. By combining Spotnana’s modern architecture with Direct Travel’s service expertise, Avenir is designed to give travel managers a foundation that can continuously evolve. The result is a more flexible, resilient program that balances automation with human support and brings the industry closer to #ThePerfectTrip.
To hear even more insights from the Altitude with Attitude podcast, listen to the episode in its entirety.
Did you miss a previous edition of the podcast? Catch up on episode 1 and episode 2 here.
