Sabre Chairman, CEO supporting programs to Improve Travel Experience
SOUTHLAKE, Texas, Sept. 24, 2012 – Nearly 200 Sabre Holdings employees based at the company’s Southlake, Texas headquarters will be security-checked today and Tuesday to complete enrollment in the Global Entry Program, a government initiative and airport program designed to help trusted travelers speed through airport security processes. Membership in Global Entry gives travelers expedited entry upon arrival in the United States by avoiding passport control lines. Members are also automatically enrolled into the U.S. Transportation Security Administration’s Pre-Check program, which shaves minutes off departure security queues for domestic flights by avoiding the need to remove jackets, shoes and laptops from bags.
Global Entry is one of the top U.S. government travel facilitation programs ever to be developed, and Sabre is committed to working in partnership with the government to help drive adoption of it.
Sabre employees applied to participate in the Global Entry program in the past few weeks and will undergo the final screening process Monday and Tuesday at the company’s headquarters where U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers will conduct one-on-one interviews and fingerprint employees enrolling in the program. Sabre paid the $100 application fee for eligible employees.
”Our employee’s time is valuable and this program gives them the opportunity to get home or back to the office as quickly as possible. I encourage other companies to do the same and get their employees signed up for the program. In fact many should consider applying for the program now as it could ease the hassle of holiday airline travel,” said Sam Gilliland, Sabre chairman and chief executive officer.
Gilliland serves as the Vice Chair of the U.S. Department of Commerce Travel and Tourism Advisory Board. He also served on the U.S. Travel Association’s Blue Ribbon Panel on Aviation Security. These advisory boards made recommendations to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) aimed at implementing risk-based security programs as opposed to the one-size-fits-all approaches that unnecessarily slow down law abiding travelers.
These recommendations supported efforts by CBP to greatly expand the reach of the Global Entry program and develop TSA’s Pre-Check program.
”Both programs provide an outstanding traveler experience and make travel easier,” Gilliland said. ”They also allow government agencies to focus their resources more efficiently on those who may pose risks.”
He recently testified before the U.S. House Homeland Security Committee, Transportation Security Subcommittee regarding aviation security issues.
Gilliland told committee members that the USTA’s Blue Ribbon Panel also recommends that the U.S. Transportation Security Administration develop a comprehensive, multi-year plan for acquiring and implementing checkpoint technology and that Congress provide multi-year funding authorization for the agency.
He also called for procedures to create efficient processes for multinational travelers.
”In terms of facilitating international travel, we recommend that DHS expand trusted traveler programs and establish a multinational network of streamlined entry procedures for low-risk travelers,” Gilliland told committee members.
Travelocity, a Sabre Holdings business, last week encouraged 12 million of its customers to enroll in the Global Entry program. Sabre’s other businesses, including Sabre Travel Network and GetThere, will promote Global Entry to its customers and Sabre’s consumer travel application, TripCase, have also promoted the program.
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About Sabre Holdings
Sabre Holdings® is a global technology company serving the world’s largest industry – travel and tourism. It provides software to travel agencies, corporations, travelers, airlines, hotels, car, rail, cruise and tour operator companies, through its four businesses
