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
