SOUTHLAKE, Texas–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Aug. 23, 2004–Sabre Travel Network, the Sabre Holdings business that connects travel suppliers and agents through the world’s leading global distribution system (GDS), today announced the launch of the Hotel Spotlight program, a new marketing and distribution initiative aimed at providing Sabre Connected travel agencies better hotel rates while helping hoteliers increase bookings through the GDS hotel availability display.
Hotels participating in the Hotel Spotlight program pay for prominent positions generally found at or near the top of the GDS hotel availability display. Sabre Connected agents benefit from the program’s requirement that participating hotels provide Sabre Travel Network with access to all rates, including Web rates.
“The GDS is a principal booking channel for our brand,” said Scott Farrell, corporate director of Distribution for Fairmont Hotels & Resorts. “The added benefits of the Hotel Spotlight program enable us to further enhance our visibility with agents, one of our key constituents, while also providing them with a consistent Fairmont booking experience regardless of how or where they reserve their travel.”
Although additional hotel rates are available to agents through this program there is no disruption or change to their standard practices for shopping and booking hotels. This content supplements existing rate programs used by agencies today. Full access to all rates is available now from over 1,000 properties that have already signed agreements to participate in the Hotel Spotlight program, including those from Fairmont Hotels & Resorts, Hyatt Hotels & Resorts, and Melrose Hotels, as well as several other branded and well known independent properties.
“The Hotel Spotlight program offers benefits to both hoteliers and travel agents,” said John Stow, president of Sabre Travel Network. “Market research associated with the development of this program indicates that premium placement on the hotel availability display will increase property bookings for hoteliers. And complete content gained from participating hotels will enable agents to easily offer Web rates for these properties to their customers.”
Implementation of the Hotel Spotlight program will take place in a phased approach. In a later phase, the Sabre system will enable travel agents to easily identify and search for participating properties.
About Sabre Travel Network
Sabre Travel Network, a Sabre Holdings company, provides access to the world’s leading global distribution system (GDS) enabling agents at more than 53,000 agency locations worldwide to be travel experts. The Sabre GDS, the first system to connect the buyers and sellers of travel, today includes more than 400 airlines, approximately 60,000 hotels, 37 car rental companies, nine cruise lines, 35 railroads and 220 tour operators. Key brands of Sabre Travel Network include GetThere, the leading Web-based corporate travel reservation technology, and Jurni Network, the unique leisure travel agency consortium that enables members to sell more products from preferred travel suppliers using sophisticated market intelligence.
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.
Sabre Travel Network, Jurni Network, GetThere, and Sabre Hotel Spotlight are trademarks and/or service marks of an affiliate of Sabre Holdings Corporation. All other trademarks, service marks, and trade names are the property of their respective owners.
Cautionary Statement
Statements in this release which are not purely historical facts, including statements about the implementation and expected benefits of the Hotel Spotlight program or other statements about anticipations, beliefs, expectations, hopes, intentions or strategies for the future, may be forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 21E of the United States Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements are based upon information available to Sabre Holdings Corporation on the date this release was issued. Sabre Holdings Corporation undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Any forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from the events or results described in the forward-looking statements, including risks or uncertainties related to travel suppliers seeking alternative distribution models, and competition from other travel distribution channels. Sabre Holdings Corporation may not succeed in addressing these and other risks. Further information regarding factors that could affect our financial and other results can be found in the risk factors section of our most recent filing on Form 10-Q with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.
CONTACT: Sabre Travel Network, Southlake
Nanci Williams, 682-605-2271
nanci.williams@sabre-holdings.com
SOURCE: Sabre Travel Network
