Sabre and Cisco to Develop Industry-First Platform to Distribute Collaboration Services

Platform Provides a Broader Set of Collaboration Capabilities and Options for Corporations and Agencies


 


SOUTHLAKE, Texas, Aug. 12, 2010 – Sabre Travel Network, the leading provider of high performance solutions for the travel industry, today announced plans to collaborate with Cisco on the development of the industry’s first telepresence distribution and reservation platform, enabling agencies and corporations to book services from any telepresence provider and any point of sale.  Telepresence uses high-definition video and audio to create a unique experience where meeting participants feel as though they’re sitting in the same room.


 


Using the telepresence distribution platform, users will be able to view room availability in real time, book meetings, and review applicable rates and restrictions, extending access to a broader set of collaboration capabilities available to corporations.  Public telepresence providers and private corporations will have the ability to provide open or restricted access to their rooms through the platform.  For example, public telepresence suite providers could provide open access to view and reserve their rooms, while corporations with private rooms could restrict viewership to their employees and select business partners.


 


The new platform will leverage Sabre’s deep history and expertise in building highly scalable reservation and distribution systems with Cisco’s established presence in the collaboration space, and its innovation with telepresence technology.  By bringing an industry solution to market, Sabre will be able to offer corporations and agencies a true “travel and collaboration management” solution that maximizes their returns on collaboration investments.   Additionally, by utilizing the existing workflows in place for booking and managing travel through tools like GetThere, companies can further build awareness of this technology and increase utilization of existing telepresence rooms.


 


“For years, corporations and agencies have been using Sabre and GetThere technology to effectively manage their business travel and today it remains one of the primary tools used to collaborate,” said Greg Webb, president of Sabre Travel Network.   “Over the past few years, we’ve also seen the demand for telepresence grow and become an important collaboration technology that, like travel, drives business and economic growth for our customers.  We believe our long history of technology and distribution leadership uniquely positions us to deliver the industry’s first platform for virtual meetings.” 


 


Mark Weidick, vice president and general manager, Cisco TelePresence Exchange business unit said:  “Corporations are using telepresence technology to collaborate more effectively and to solve real business problems, which is driving the significant growth of this technology. Cisco believes that by distributing telepresence unit availability using a common platform with appropriate viewing restrictions and access controls, corporations will be able to improve productivity and drive new levels of collaboration across their organizations and with their partners, customers and suppliers.”


 


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. Currently, Sabre collectively handles over 70 percent of the BTN 100 bookings.


Sabre Holdings connects people with the world’s greatest travel possibilities by retailing travel products and providing distribution and technology solutions for the travel industry. For more information about Sabre Holdings, visit www.sabre-holdings.com.


                                        


Media Contact:


 


Heidi Castle


Sabre Holdings


682-605-4290


heidi.castle@sabre.com