SOUTHLAKE, Texas–(BUSINESS WIRE)–June 21, 2005–GetThere(R)
yesterday recognized ten companies for their innovative and successful
corporate online travel programs. The corporations were acknowledged
during the opening session of the GetThere Customer Summit, an annual
gathering that brings together hundreds of corporate travel managers
within the GetThere customer community for educational and networking
opportunities. This year’s event also marked GetThere’s tenth
anniversary since launching its first online travel offering in 1995.
“When we started GetThere ten years ago, we never could have
imagined what our corporate customers would accomplish with online
booking and the millions of dollars they would save as a result,” said
Bev Heinritz, general manager at GetThere. “We were hard-pressed to
choose just ten award recipients this year from among the thousands of
corporations that successfully use GetThere technology.”
Companies recognized for their accomplishments in corporate online
travel included:
Brown-Forman – A producer and marketer of well-known beverage
brands such as Jack Daniel’s, Southern Comfort, Finlandia Vodka,
Korbel champagne, Fetzer wine and Bolla wine, Brown-Forman reached 83
percent online adoption, in part by leveraging GetThere functionality
to move more types of transactions online. The company uses GetThere
DirectMeetings(TM) for group travel and new GetThere Online Ticket
Exchange(TM) functionality to process voids, refunds and exchanges
online.
CSC – This leading global IT services company increased adoption
over the past year by actively marketing and communicating the
financial benefits of online booking to senior management and
travelers. The company also automated the transfer of profile data and
made it easier for its thousands of travelers to sign into the booking
tool.
Northrop Grumman – A global defense contractor with a
multi-million dollar travel budget and more than 125,000 employees,
Northrop Grumman reached 50 percent adoption of GetThere by securing
executive support for online booking. Due to its success with online
travel, the company now is implementing phased mandates for use of the
tool.
Perot Systems – Perot Systems, a company that delivers
technology-based business solutions to help organizations control
costs and cultivate growth worldwide, has been a long-standing
GetThere customer. The company has reached 81 percent online adoption
of the system through the use of best practices, such as securing
executive support and implementing a soft mandate.
The Stanley Works – In December, 2004, this worldwide manufacturer
of tools and hardware products implemented GetThere’s Pre-Trip
Approval functionality to streamline internal processes, and has seen
online adoption increase to 75 percent in 2005.
Xerox – Xerox, a $15.7 billion technology and services provider of
document solutions, has reached 90 percent adoption using GetThere and
an 87 percent touchless transaction rate. Xerox was one of GetThere’s
first customers back in the late 1990s, and recently automated the
booking process for employees traveling to attend training classes.
Approximately 500 additional transactions now go through the online
tool per month as a result of this Six Sigma initiative.
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 60 percent of the Fortune 200
companies that have online booking sites, use GetThere. More
information is available at http://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
Kristi Manning, 972-488-4790
kristi@vollmerpr.com
SOURCE: GetThere