Carlson Hotels Worldwide First Travelocity Merchant Partner to Adopt Travelocity’s New, Industry Leading Platform; Further Advances Efficiency
SOUTHLAKE, Texas–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Sept. 7, 2004 Carlson Hotels Worldwide has become the first Travelocity(R) merchant hotel partner to implement the latest advances in Travelocity’s already industry-leading merchant hotel platform.
Carlson Hotels Worldwide now automatically “pushes” updated merchant rates and availability to Travelocity whenever there are modifications, thus eliminating the need for Travelocity to query or “cache” this information from Carlson’s computer reservation system.
“We are proud to launch the next generation of seamless connectivity between online intermediaries and hotels with Carlson Hotels Worldwide — an original partner of the Travelocity merchant hotel program,” said Josh Feuerstein, vice president of hotels for Travelocity. “Travelocity was the first major online travel site to offer hotels the choice of using our fully automated two-way CRS cache platform or of managing rates in the Travelocity extranet. We have now taken our CRS connectivity to the next level with our ‘third generation’ solution, and we are looking forward to introducing the rest of our hotel partners to this newest development.”
The Carlson Hotels Worldwide brands included in the next generation connectivity implementation range from the luxury, upscale and mid-tier segments, including Regent(R) International Hotels, Radisson(R) Hotels & Resorts, Park Plaza(R) Hotels & Resorts, Country Inns & Suites By Carlson(R), and Park Inn(R).
“It’s important that our customers receive the most accurate, up-to-date booking information available whenever and wherever they shop our properties,” said Christine Brosnahan, vice president distribution and reservation services for Carlson Hotels Worldwide. “We know a favorable booking experience is the first step in a successful hotel stay, and Travelocity is a great partner to help us accomplish this task easily and efficiently.”
About Travelocity
Travelocity’s industry-leading technology and straight-talking, honest information help travelers take more rewarding and affordable trips. With 44 million registered users and booking $4 billion of travel in 2003, Travelocity negotiates thousands of low-priced deals with the world’s most reputable travel providers — top airlines, hotels, car rental companies, cruise lines, and other destination attractions and services. Additionally, Travelocity offers deeply-discounted rates for weekend getaways and dynamic packages through its Last Minute Deals and TotalTrip(SM) shopping engines, and provides customer service support over the phone 24 hours a day. Based in Southlake, Texas, Travelocity also operates Travelocity Business for corporate customers, powers international travel Web sites in eight languages, and has been recognized for its consumer advocacy and global leadership in online travel. More information about Travelocity is available at www.travelocity.com. Travelocity is owned by Sabre Holdings Corporation (NYSE:TSG), a world leader in travel commerce. More information about Sabre Holdings is available at www.sabre-holdings.com.
About Carlson Hotels Worldwide
Minneapolis-based Carlson Hotels Worldwide includes five hotel brands, totaling 885 hotels in 68 countries. Hotel brands include: Regent International Hotels, one of the most respected brands in the luxury segment of the lodging industry; Radisson Hotels & Resorts(R), one of the world’s leading upscale hotel companies with more than 430 locations worldwide; Park Plaza(R) Hotels & Resorts, positioned in the mid-scale segment of the full-service hotel category, has 37 hotels globally and is known for its great value and customer-focused service culture; Country Inns & Suites By Carlson(R), one of the fastest growing, mid-tier lodging chains with over 330 locations offering excellent value with upgraded services and amenities; and Park Inn(R), with 75 hotels worldwide, is a unique emerging hotel brand offering a relaxed environment in the economy category and is poised for aggressive global growth.
CONTACT: Vollmer Public Relations
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SOURCE: Travelocity
