ATLANTA–(BUSINESS WIRE)–May 8, 2006–GetThere(R), the world’s leading online corporate travel reservation technology, introduced new user interface options for business travelers today at the Association of Corporate Travel Executives Global Education Conference in Atlanta. The new design is the latest installment of an ongoing technology-sharing initiative between Travelocity(R) and GetThere that brings many award-winning leisure travel displays and booking processes into the online business travel arena. Business travelers booked more than $6.3 billion in travel via GetThere in 2005.
GetThere leveraged Travelocity’s high-volume leisure experience and usability testing to build the new user-friendly interface and refine the system’s booking path for business travelers. Available to GetThere clients and agency resellers worldwide by the end of June, the design features a variety of color styles for corporations to choose from, each highlighted by a concise, visually-appealing block-style layout. New formatting makes it easier for travelers to see and search content throughout the site, from login page to availability, itinerary review and purchase.
The site also includes streamlined functionality, improving usability through:
-- better placement and flow of fields for quick data entry and
travel search;
-- easy to read corporate branding and messaging for traveling
employees throughout the site;
-- prominently displayed schedules and pricing on availability
screens; and
-- travel tools that include city information, driving
directions, maps, links to activities and dining, etc.
The unveiling of the new GetThere interface follows the successful implementation of Travelocity-themed car and hotel booking paths in 2005 and the air path in early 2006. Richer hotel property descriptions and Travelocity’s TotalPrice(SM) for Cars functionality contributed to the growth of GetThere’s hotel and car bookings in 2005; the value of hotel reservations made via GetThere in 2005 grew 29 percent, with car bookings up 23 percent. These figures support the results of GetThere’s 2005 Benchmark Survey, in which 71 percent of responding travel managers predicted online adoption rates will increase with the leisure look-and-feel of GetThere’s enhanced design.
“GetThere’s latest enhancements are driving increased adoption and customer satisfaction across our client base,” said John Smith, president of Chicago-based Tower Travel Management, which has more than 100 corporate clients using the booking engine today. “GetThere is clearly bridging the gap between corporate booking tools and their consumer-oriented counterparts. As road warriors find it even easier to book policy compliant travel online, their corporations are more likely to maximize savings.” According to a January 2006 Jupiter Research report, 55 percent of managed frequent business travelers are now booking online.
“Our new user interface and upgraded booking paths mark the latest step in the convergence of business and leisure travel in the online sector,” said Beverly Heinritz, general manager for GetThere. “The resources provided by Travelocity ultimately deliver unique advantages for GetThere clients – travel managers benefit from our unparalleled global reach and scale, while their travelers can book business trips with preferred suppliers in the same manner that they shop and book their vacation. We look forward to helping our clients implement the options that work best for their companies and travelers.”
Sample layouts for the new GetThere user interface can be viewed online at:
http://www.getthere.com/news/GetThereUnveilsUI.cfm
About GetThere
GetThere is the leading global leading online corporate travel reservation technology, surpassing $6.3 billion in gross travel bookings in 2005. An established innovator in the global travel arena, GetThere enables global corporations and government agencies to provide a convenient way for employees to book travel and plan meetings online while significantly reducing costs. GetThere’s advanced technology works with all major global distribution systems (GDS) and all travel management companies. More than 3,000 corporations, including a majority of Fortune 200 companies that have online booking sites, use GetThere. More information is available at www.getthere.com.
Sabre Holdings Corporation (NYSE:TSG) is a world leader in travel commerce, retailing travel products and providing distribution and technology solutions for the travel industry. More information about Sabre Holdings is available at http://www.sabre-holdings.com.
CONTACT: GetThere
Michael Brophy, 214-356-4326
michael.brophy@getthere.com
www.getthere.com
or
VOLLMER
Mary Kate Smither, 972-488-4790
marykate@vollmerpr.com
SOURCE: GetThere
