SOUTHLAKE, Texas & LOS ANGELES–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Feb. 13, 2006–Sabre Travel Network, the leading provider of innovative travel distribution solutions for travel agencies and suppliers, announced today that it has acquired TRAMS, Inc., a leading provider of mid- and back-office solutions and unique marketing services for travel agencies.
The acquisition enables Sabre Travel Network to directly serve the end-to-end needs–from front- to- mid- to back-office, along with unique marketing capabilities–for a broad spectrum of travel agencies, including small and mid-sized leisure focused agencies. Sabre Travel Network is now in a position to more seamlessly integrate the TRAMS offerings with existing and future Sabre solutions, providing even greater capabilities and value to its agency customers and the marketplace.
“By aligning with Sabre, TRAMS is aligning with a leader that shares the vision of leveraging technology to help travel agents boost their revenues through enhanced marketing capabilities,” said Lee Rosen, founder and president of TRAMS. “I see this announcement as taking TRAMS to the next level for the benefit of all of our customers and employees, providing the potential for continued development in technologies that help stimulate demand and streamline agencies processes.”
“TRAMS has an outstanding reputation in the travel agency community, reflected in its 98 percent renewal rate,” said Chris Kroeger, senior vice president, Sabre Travel Network, North America. “We believe both TRAMS and the entire TRAMS team are tremendous assets that will further enhance the efficient marketplace we have built together with our customers. We look forward to serving the needs of all of TRAMS customers.”
To assist travel agencies in their efforts to grow revenue, optimize customer management and streamline processes, TRAMS provides the leading back office solution for small to mid-sized agencies, the leading agency customer relationship management (CRM) product, as well as unique agency marketing services. Over 11,000 agency locations currently use TRAMS solutions, with a report from ASTA indicating more than 80% of its members are TRAMS Back Office users.
The TRAMS complete product line includes:
-- ClientBase Plus with LiveConnect
A complete CRM solution, locally stored traveler profiles,
custom invoice/itinerary, super passenger name records (PNR),
traveler history and an agency marketing database complete
with email functionality, as well as LiveConnect which
provides users the ability to access a wide variety of travel
product suppliers.
-- TRAMS Marketing Advantage
A program that allows agencies to boost their marketing
capabilities--agency clients receive special agency-branded
offers and promotions from the suppliers the agency chooses.
-- TRAMS Back Office
A complete travel agency back office accounting package,
including Accounts Receivable, Accounts Payable, General
Ledger and Financial Reporting.
The addition of TRAMS to Sabre’s portfolio of assets provides the industry’s most complete offerings for the travel agency community. In addition to TRAMS, these assets include the world’s leading global distribution system (GDS); Nexion, the industry’s premiere host agency; and Jurni Network, Sabre’s leisure travel agency consortium. The combination of these assets will result in unprecedented offerings for the leisure marketplace.
Under terms of the acquisition, Lee Rosen will join Sabre, continuing as president of TRAMS, Inc., managing all aspects of the TRAMS business.
About TRAMS, Inc.
Founded in 1986, TRAMS, Inc. develops and supports software for retail travel agencies in the United States and worldwide. TRAMS software helps travel agency owners and employees become more efficient and productive. TRAMS, Inc. is the leader in providing such technologies with over 11,000 travel agency locations currently using our products.
TRAMS, Inc. products include TRAMS Back Office Marketing, Management and Accounting System; ClientBase Plus Marketing Data and Agency Information Manager; and TRAMS Marketing Advantage.
About Sabre Travel Network
Sabre Travel Network, a Sabre Holdings company, provides access to the world’s leading global distribution system (GDS). The Sabre GDS is a ready-built efficient marketplace that connects suppliers, including hundreds of airlines and thousands of hotels, with more than 50,000 travel agency locations. Suppliers get access through one single connection; travel agents get real time access to thousands of travel products from multiple suppliers through one source integrated into their businesses; consumers get access to a global supermarket of the world’s greatest travel possibilities.
Key brands of Sabre Travel Network include GetThere, the leading Web-based corporate travel reservation technology, and Jurni Network, the unique leisure travel agency consortium that enables members to sell more products from preferred travel suppliers using sophisticated market intelligence.
Sabre Holdings (NYSE: TSG) connects people with the world’s greatest travel possibilities by 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.
Statements in this release which are not purely historical facts or which necessarily depend upon future events, including statements about Sabre Holdings Corporation’s forecasted financial performance or other statements about anticipations, beliefs, expectations, hopes, intentions or strategies for the future, may be forward looking statements within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward looking statements. All forward looking statements are based upon information available to Sabre Holdings Corporation on the date this release was issued. Sabre Holdings Corporation undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Any forward looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from the events or results described in the forward looking statements, including risks or uncertainties related to Sabre Holdings Corporation revenues being subject to adverse changes to our travel supplier relationships and potential substantial decreases in travel transaction volumes. Sabre Holdings Corporation may not succeed in addressing these and other risks. Further information regarding factors that could affect our financial and other results can be found in the risk factors section of Sabre Holdings Corporation’s most recent filing on Form 10Q with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
CONTACT: Sabre Travel Network
Kathryn Hayden, 682-605-2252
kathryn.hayden@sabre-holdings.com
or
TRAMS, Inc.
Diane Petras, 805-688-5018
diane@trams.com
SOURCE: Sabre Travel Network
