SOUTHLAKE, Texas–(BUSINESS WIRE)–April 4, 2006–GetThere(R), the
world’s leading online corporate travel reservation technology, now
allows business travelers to easily reserve dining and activity
options in locations around the world. The new capabilities, available
this quarter to GetThere users on the four major global distribution
systems, are the latest in a series of enhancements that bring more
leisure travel capabilities into the GetThere application. GetThere’s
corporate clients booked more than $6.3 billion in corporate travel in
2005.
Through a new agreement with OpenTable, Inc., GetThere users will
be able to make dining reservations at more than 4,500 restaurants
from a corporation’s GetThere home page. A link connects travelers to
OpenTable.com, a Web site that has live Internet connections to
reservation systems at participating restaurants. OpenTable seats more
than one million diners each month through its Web site service, which
is free for business travelers and travel arrangers. Diners can review
menu and pricing guides prior to making a reservation, and they
receive confirmation e-mails that include directions, parking
information and other restaurant details. Diners can include special
requests for the maitre d’ and send e-mail invitations to other
diners.
“OpenTable.com is an ideal service for business travelers and
assistants who organize agendas for executives,” said Jaleh Bisharat,
vice president of marketing for OpenTable. “In many cases, they’re
booking their reservations before or after restaurant operating hours,
when no one is there to take their call. With OpenTable.com, diners
can peruse dozens of restaurant options via the click of a mouse,
without waiting on hold, at any time. We’re confident that GetThere
users will love the convenience of the OpenTable.com service.”
The addition of the Activities section on the GetThere home page
marks the latest example in the broad-reaching technology sharing
initiative between GetThere and Travelocity(R). This feature enables
travelers to consider multiple venues for business and leisure
activities in most major global cities, including:
-- Golf
-- Attractions (historical landmarks, theme parks, museums, etc.)
-- Shows & Events (theater tickets, sporting events, Las Vegas
shows, etc.)
-- Tours & Activities (Hawaiian helicopter tours, guided
museum/landmark tours, etc.)
-- Outdoors (skydiving, hiking, etc.)
These enhancements also benefit the growing number of companies
using GetThere technology for meetings management. For example,
OpenTable.com can facilitate reservations for as many as 20 guests,
while a meeting planner using the Activities link can easily set up a
team building venue with one of the Activities options. Online meeting
registrations via GetThere technology grew by 63 percent in 2005.
“GetThere is committed to getting multiple options at the
traveler’s fingertips, and it’s a natural outgrowth of our Travelocity
relationship to give business travelers after-hours or team-building
business options for their trip that go beyond air, car and hotel,”
said Suzanne Neufang, vice president of product marketing for
GetThere. “OpenTable’s innovation in bringing dining reservations
online dovetails with our goal of deploying automation that enriches
the travel experience via fast, informative services. We’re confident
that business travelers using these new capabilities will save time
both before and during their trip, even as they get more value from
their journey.”
About OpenTable, Inc.
OpenTable is the leading supplier of restaurant reservation, table
management and marketing software as well as the top provider of free,
real-time online reservations to consumers, concierges and
administrative assistants. More than 4,500 partner restaurants have
adopted the OpenTable System, and more than 19 million diners have
been seated through OpenTable.com.
About GetThere
GetThere is the leading global 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: Vollmer
Mary Kate Smither, 972-488-4790
marykate@vollmerpr.com
or
GetThere
Michael Brophy, 682-605-2565
michael.brophy@getthere.com
SOURCE: GetThere