SOUTHLAKE, Texas–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Aug. 16, 2005–GetThere(R) announced that its Partner Program, launched in January 2005, has already added 60 corporate travel agencies to the roster of Authorized Resellers of the world’s leading corporate travel reservation technology. The majority of the new resellers are regional agencies taking advantage of GetThere’s customizable Web pages, marketing tools, and experienced customer support staff to implement managed online booking programs for hundreds of corporate clients.
The GetThere Partner Program offers agencies a customized Web site which includes GetThere’s proven, multi-GDS booking tool, used by more than 3,000 companies worldwide. GetThere, in concert with the agency’s GDS, helps partner agencies develop online business strategies and programs designed to generate cost savings for corporate clients. Partner agencies can take advantage of GetThere’s adoption tools and best practice standards, passed on from ten years of implementing both big and small corporations. GetThere also helps manage client Web sites and provides support to maximize savings for both the customer and the agency.
“We’ve only had the GetThere tool in our arsenal for two months, and it is already a key component of our strategy to slash costs for our clients,” said Kathleen Roberts, director of corporate sales for Utah-based Morris Murdock Travel. “Initial response from our client base is overwhelmingly positive. Our clients can learn from the successes of large corporations, and they are ready to adopt best practices to drive online bookings in their unique businesses.”
GetThere refocused a number of its sales staff to promote the new Partner Program across North America. Two other regional agencies that signed on to the program are Garber Travel in New England and San Diego-based Balboa Travel.
Highlights of GetThere’s Partner Program for corporate travel agencies include:
-- Greater site customization, with agency branding opportunities
-- Familiar, streamlined booking displays and processes for
travelers
-- Unlimited travel policy
-- Automated flight upgrades
-- User-selectable languages
-- Access to non-GDS content sources, such as Amtrak
-- Access to GetThere's unique Online Ticket Exchange technology
GetThere resellers also receive frequent enhancements to the product that result from significant investments made across all of Sabre Holdings’ online technologies. For example, GetThere recently added Travelocity’s award-winning TotalPrice(SM) for Cars functionality, which gives business travelers the complete price of their rental car, including taxes and fees, prior to choosing and booking a car online.
“We’re pleased to see this reaction to the Partner Program,” said Bev Heinritz, general manager of GetThere. “Corporate travel managers and the agencies that work with them are making strides in recognizing and adopting technologies that make travel easy while keeping costs in line. We look forward to increasing the reach of the Partner Program to agencies in Latin America and Europe in the months ahead.”
About GetThere
GetThere is the world’s leading online corporate travel reservation technology. 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 the 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.
(C) 2005, GetThere. All rights reserved.
CONTACT: Vollmer Public Relations
Mary Kate Smither, 972-488-4790
marykate@vollmerpr.com
or
GetThere
Michael Brophy, 682-605-2565
michael.brophy@getthere.com
SOURCE: GetThere
