SOUTHLAKE, Texas & NEW YORK–(BUSINESS WIRE)–July 18,
2007–GetThere(R), the world’s leading online corporate travel
reservation technology, today announced its ability to offer
corporations a comprehensive ground booking option to supplement
online travel programs. Through an exclusive online relationship with
GroundRez, corporate travelers using GetThere can now book black cars,
sedans, limousines and even taxis in cities across North America and
Europe. GetThere recorded more than 10 million online corporate
bookings in 2006.
GroundRez acts as a technology switch and management tool that
efficiently funnels ground options from more than 2,000 providers in a
concise layout that facilitates both product and price comparison.
Through the unique solution available to GetThere users and agency
resellers, travel managers and procurement personnel can determine
which ground vendors are available to their employees, ensuring vendor
familiarity and proper vendor utilization. Preferred ground
transportation providers are highlighted in the display, guiding both
travel arrangers and road warriors as they book online. A reserved
taxi service is also available, offering a cost effective, cashless
booking option documenting the trip and simplifying expense
reimbursement.
Once the reservation is booked, confirmations and itineraries are
sent via e-mail. Travelers have direct online access to view existing
reservations, and can cancel or make changes to a reservation as
needed.
Launched by seasoned industry professionals in 2006, GroundRez has
leveraged its independence with an online focus to gain traction at
the right time. Limousine & Chauffeured Transportation (LCT) magazine
reported in March that 41 percent of limo/sedan operators took a
reservation online in 2006, nearly doubling the figure from 2005. The
increased willingness by ground providers to book and service
reservations online is critical as travel managers are confronted with
the growing expense associated with black car use in major cities. LCT
claims there are more than 85,000 vehicles in this category today,
with sedan rates averaging $54 an hour.
GroundRez’s innovative technology brings the proven mantra of
“visual guilt” into play for black car and ground bookings. Business
travelers have demonstrated they will make the best choice for the
company when booking online. GroundRez focused its development on this
foundation, enabling travelers to scan all ground travel options (i.e.
limo, sedan, taxi) before booking. Travel managers benefit from policy
management and reporting on key items such as market share, advance
purchase trends, high-volume destinations, etc.
“GroundRez is a great fit for GetThere as it meets our key
priorities of delivering wide-ranging content and doing so through an
efficient and expedient process,” said Jeremy Stubbs, director of
ground transportation for GetThere. “More importantly, it’s a great
fit for our customers as they strive to contain their travel costs.”
“Limo, sedan, and taxi spend combined is larger than car rental,
yet it is unmanaged and riddled with inefficiencies,” said Tony
Bonanno, president of GroundRez. “GetThere’s clients already have an
aptitude for deploying travel automation that drives savings in the
traditional areas of air, car and hotel; it only makes sense for
GroundRez to launch by working with GetThere’s impressive client
roster. We’re confident that we can deliver savings and service
opportunities for both corporations and TMCs in short order.”
GetThere and GroundRez will exhibit at this year’s National
Business Travel Association Convention & Exposition, scheduled for
July 22-25 in Boston.
About GetThere
GetThere is the leading global online corporate travel reservation
technology, surpassing $8 billion in gross travel bookings in 2006.
Through its unique technology sharing arrangement with Travelocity(R),
GetThere is an established innovator in the travel arena. GetThere
helps global corporations and government agencies provide a convenient
way for employees to book travel and plan meetings online while
significantly reducing costs. GetThere estimates that corporations
using the GetThere system collectively saved more than $600 million in
airfare in 2006. GetThere’s advanced technology works with all major
global distribution systems (GDSs) 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 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.
About GroundRez
GroundRez is the industry’s first solution for booking and
managing a corporation’s global ground services which include limos,
executive sedans, taxis and parking. Employees for the first time have
an efficient way to view, compare and book these services which
represent the majority of a corporation’s ground service spend.
GroundRez’ next generation ground travel management solutions can be
accessed within your company’s existing online travel site and also
through your existing travel agency booking environment. All users of
GroundRez can freely choose whichever fulfillment providers they wish
to use or do not want to use. GroundRez is a completely neutral ground
global distribution system and connects to all fulfillment providers
in the limo, parking or taxi space. More information about GroundRez
is available at http://www.groundrez.com.
CONTACT: VOLLMER
Mary Kate Smither, 972-488-4790
marykate@vollmerpr.com
or
GetThere
Michael Brophy, 214-356-4326
michael.brophy@getthere.com
SOURCE: Sabre Holdings