Regent Offers Special Agent Incentives for Sabre Bookings Through March 2007
SOUTHLAKE, Texas–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Jan. 8, 2007–Sabre Travel Network, the world’s largest and most rewarding marketplace for buying and selling travel, and Regent Seven Seas Cruises, the world’s largest luxury cruise line, today announced a new three-year agreement for participation in the Sabre global distribution system (GDS). The addition of Regent Seven Seas Cruises increases the number of cruise lines in the Sabre GDS to 13 and dramatically enhances Regent’s online booking resources for travel agents.
To celebrate this new agreement, Regent Seven Seas has unveiled a special $25 per booking gift card incentive for all new bookings – seven nights or longer – made through the Sabre GDS now through March 31, 2007.(a)
Through the agreement, Regent Seven Seas Cruise products are now available for subscribers of the Sabre (GDS), including more than 900 travel agencies already activated through Regent’s reservations system. (Agencies not already on the list may be added upon request through Regent’s reservations center at 1-800-285-1835.) The recently launched robust Sabre Cruises, Sabre Cruise Director and the Sabre Cruises WebServices API offer instant access to Regent Seven Seas’ booking system, including the most up-to-date availability, rate comparison and brochure information.
“This new agreement enhances the terrific breadth of quality cruise products that can be accessed and sold through Sabre, giving travel agents more opportunities to serve their customers and maximize profits,” said Dan Westbrook, vice president of travel merchandising, Sabre Travel Network. “At the same time, Regent will now benefit from opportunities for additional high-quality revenue that result from increased awareness and visibility among the community of professional Sabre subscribers.”
“We are pleased to work with Sabre Travel Network to provide these enhanced tools to travel agents,” said Randall B. Soy, CTC, Regent Seven Seas Vice President – Channel Sales. “The agreement with Sabre provides convenient access and the best possible choices of our products to travel agents for their Regent booking needs.”
This agreement comes one month after Sabre announced the launch of Sabre Cruises, a new cruise shopping and booking tool with increased and improved functionality, as the latest enhancement to its end-to-end leisure collection. With the new Sabre Cruises, travel agents have access to a browser-based tool accompanied by expanded functionality that allows travel agents to shop, create and completely service a booking.
Travel agents are a significant resource to travelers when booking cruises. In 2005, more than 90 percent of people who cruised said they used a travel agent to make their choice, and 80-90 percent of cruise lines sales in 2005 came through the travel agency channel.
Travel agents worldwide voted Regent Seven Seas the “World’s Leading Luxury Cruise Line” as part of the 2006 World Travel Awards and readers of Travel Weekly have named the company “Best Luxury Cruise Line” for three consecutive years. Its industry-leading online booking engine, Partner Access, has garnered praise in the industry for its ease of use and functionality.
(a) Reservations must be for new bookings only, booked and deposited via Sabre Cruises or Sabre Cruise Director to be eligible. The offer is available to agents in the U.S. and Canada only.
About Sabre Travel Network
Sabre Travel Network, a Sabre Holdings company, provides the most comprehensive end-to-end solutions for corporate and leisure travel. The Sabre GDS is the foundation for these solutions, providing a ready-built efficient marketplace that connects travel suppliers, including hundreds of airlines and thousands of hotels, with more than 50,000 travel agency locations.
Key brands of Sabre Travel Network include GetThere, for corporate travel reservation technology; Jurni Network, a consortium of leisure travel agencies providing marketing and promotion services; Nexion, a host agency; SynXis, for hotel reservation management, distribution and technology services; and TRAMS, mid- and back-office solutions and marketing services for travel agencies. Sabre Travel Network also markets TripTailor, a travel wholesaler providing dynamic packaging for the travel agency marketplace.
Sabre Holdings (NYSE:TSG) connects people with the world’s greatest travel possibilities by 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 Regent Seven Seas Cruises
Regent Seven Seas Cruises(R) (RSSC) is part of Carlson Companies, a global leader in the hotel, restaurant, business and leisure travel, and marketing industries. The Regent brand encompasses luxury hotels, resorts, residences and cruises throughout the world, offering discerning travelers The Regent Experience(SM) with unique and personalized luxury. Regent Seven Seas (formerly Radisson Seven Seas) operates a fleet of medium-sized luxury cruise ships that visit over 300 ports on all seven continents, including Antarctica. RSSC is consistently rated among the world’s top three cruise lines by readers of luxury travel magazines. Travel professionals worldwide voted RSSC the “World’s Best Luxury Cruise Line” for the third consecutive year as part of the 2006 Travel Weekly Awards and readers of Conde Nast Traveler magazine voted RSSC “World’s Best Large-Ship Cruise Line” in 2006.
For further information, contact Regent Seven Seas Cruises, 1000 Corporate Drive, Suite 500, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, 33334. For brochures, call toll-free 866-284-4079; for reservation information call toll-free 800-285-1835; or visit: www.TheRegentExperience.com.
CONTACT: Sabre Travel Network
Rebecca Hauger, 682-605-4098
rebecca.hauger@sabre-holdings.com
or
MMG Mardiks
Emma Pankenier, 212-219-7560, ext. 6764
epankenier@mmgmardiks.com
SOURCE: Sabre Travel Network
