SOUTHLAKE, Texas–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Feb. 23, 2005–Corporate travel agencies today got expanded firepower for offering state-of-the-art online solutions to their clients. As Authorized Resellers in the new GetThere(R) Partner Program, agencies gain an even more powerful online tool that allows them to create agency-branded online booking sites for their corporate clients’ travelers. Agencies are also offered wholesale pricing and gain the enhancements without any additional cost.
Today, many of the world’s leading travel agencies resell GetThere’s online technology in order to offer their clients leading-edge online booking, in addition to offering their live agent services and wide range of travel management services. Agencies are able to resell the GetThere DirectCorporate product for large companies and the GetThere DirectMidMarket solution for small and medium-sized companies. With the launch of the GetThere Partner Program, agencies acquire an enhanced GetThere DirectMidMarket online solution for their clients. Some of the new capabilities benefiting GetThere DirectMidMarket users include:
-- Greater site customization
-- Unlimited travel policy
-- Automated flight upgrades
-- User-selectable languages
-- Super-Site capabilities
“There is certainly buzz about online agencies in the marketplace, but with GetThere we’re offering companies proven online technology, combined with our expertise and broad range of travel management services,” said Peter Klebanow of Ultramar Travel Management, a reseller of the DirectMidMarket tool.
“We are already helping businesses like Calvin Klein and Tommy Hilfiger save significantly on travel costs by using online booking, and this program further expands our ability to deliver the most powerful online options.”
The GetThere Partner Program includes support for agencies during the sales process, and marketing tools such as datasheets and presentations that partners can repackage. And, GetThere helps partner agencies manage their customers’ sites to help maximize savings for the customer and the agency.
“We have moved from the position of offering online as an option, to embracing technology as a differentiator,” said John Smith and President of Tower Travel Management, a reseller of GetThere online technology. “Working with GetThere, we are getting even more aggressive in using technology to minimize our own costs, and therefore customer costs. In addition, GetThere technology like Online Ticket Exchange provides a new opportunity to differentiate our offering, while delivering new value to corporations and their travelers.”
According to Bev Heinritz, general manager of GetThere, “Many travel management companies are proving to be resilient in the face of online agencies, and this new program is designed to make them even more potent in delivering online capabilities. Not only are we offering enhanced product capabilities, but we have packaged our experience from working with thousands of companies into programs that help our partners and their customers achieve the greatest success.”
In addition to the new capabilities announced today, GetThere recently completed deployment of a fully automated Online Ticket Exchange tool that allows travelers to change travel plans and exchange their ticket online with complete information on associated costs. It allows agencies to offer corporate travelers a convenient option that helps the agency lower its own costs and customer costs.
About GetThere
GetThere is the world’s leading online corporate travel reservation technology, and is one of the key solutions offered to the corporate marketplace by Sabre Holdings Corporation. GetThere enables global corporations and government agencies to provide a convenient way for employees to book travel and plan meetings 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 60 percent of the 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 Public Relations
Mary Kate Smither, 972-488-4790
marykate@vollmerpr.com
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Kristi Manning, 972-488-4790
kristi@vollmerpr.com
SOURCE: GetThere
