SOUTHLAKE, Texas, April 14 /PRNewswire/ — Sabre Travel Network, the Sabre Holdings business that connects travel suppliers and agents through the world’s leading global distribution system (GDS), announced today a new feature to its Sabre Magnify Revenue Advantage product that will provide travel agents with a new fully integrated, competitively priced product for the application and settlement of service fees.
In partnership with Merchant e-Solutions (MeS), Sabre Travel Network will enable its travel agency customers to process different card types through a single payment processor, settle their agency fees, and use Web-based reporting tools within the Revenue Advantage product. In addition, the Card Services feature integrates credit card processing into the agencies’ desktop.
“We are very excited about our partnership with Sabre Travel Network. It allows us to expand our reach into the travel market, which is new for us,” said Sharif Bayyari, president and CEO of MeS. “Our leading-edge technology is tailored to help Sabre Connected agencies obtain greater efficiencies and become more profitable.”
Agencies using the feature will experience:
* Privacy - No more disclosure of information to suppliers on agency's
service fees.
* Control - An option to associate the air ticket number with the service
fee charged on the cardholder's statement - a marketplace first.
* Efficiency - Detailed online reporting and credit card reconciliation.
* Speed - Users are able to access service fee funds up to seven days
sooner than competitors.
* Convenience - Multiple card type processing through a single payment
processor (MeS) eliminates the need to maintain several merchant
agreements to accept credit cards
Agencies that sign up for Card Services will no longer be charged the monthly service fee associated with use of the Web-based version of Revenue Advantage.
“As beta testers of the Card Services feature we realized significant cost benefits and additional control of the fees being charged for the services rendered. I think this feature should be a big part of Sabre Travel Network’s offering. Fees can be controlled at a DK by DK level and it is an automatic, which is considerably better than what we are experiencing through our current vendor,” said John Henry, CTO & CFO of Robustelli World Travel. “The transactions are linked directly to our back office systems and the online reporting tool is very easy to use. In addition, the ability to receive our funds in an expedited time period gives us added flexibility to operate the business.”
“With our Revenue Advantage product we were already offering Sabre Connected travel agencies a superior way to manage service fees,” said Hugh Jones, senior vice president of Sabre Travel Network, North America. “The partnership with MeS has allowed us to further enhance the product offering by simplifying the way credit card service fees are handled.”
About Merchant e-Solutions
Merchant e-Solutions was founded in 1999 to provide technology-based solutions to the merchant payment acquiring industry, including banks and middle market retailers. To assist financial institutions in the delivery and management of merchant-related services, the Company provides management consultancy and web-based portfolio management tools. Merchant e-Solutions also provides a comprehensive range of payment services, including point-of- sale products, payment processing systems, equipment deployment, and a comprehensive 24-hour help desk. Merchant e-Solutions is headquartered in Redwood City, CA with additional locations in Spokane, WA; Melbourne, FL; and Columbus, GA. For more information, go to www.merchante-solutions.com.
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, 41 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, Sabre Revenue Advantage with Card Services, GetThere, Jurni Network and Sabre Connected 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.
SOURCE Sabre Travel Network
-0- 04/14/2004
/CONTACT: Dawn M. Dorman of Sabre Travel Network, +1-682-605-2244, or
Dawn.Dorman@sabre-holdings.com/
/Web site: http://www.sabre-holdings.com
http://www.merchante-solutions.com /
(TSG)
CO: Sabre Travel Network; Sabre Holdings Corporation; Merchant e-Solutions
ST: Texas
IN: CPR STW TRA
SU: PDT
LH-BE
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5159 04/14/2004 08:02 EDT http://www.prnewswire.com
