SOUTHLAKE, Texas, Mar 30, 2004 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ — 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 Sabre Group Management Tool. This new technology automates the sale and management of group or block airline reservations, increasing efficiencies for both agencies and airlines and enhancing carriers’ inventory control.
Continental Airlines, the first airline to use the product, recently signed an agreement to use Group Management Tool. As a result, Continental Airlines will reduce costs and improve earnings by increasing operating efficiencies and enhancing inventory management.
“In order to reduce costs, we needed to eliminate manual processes and increase the efficiency of our group desk and reservations department,” said John C. Slater, managing director of Distribution Planning for Continental Airlines. “In addition, we wanted to improve revenues by minimizing spoiled inventory, so we needed a system that automates the sale of group or block space while providing inventory control. We’ve found that Sabre Travel Network’s Group Management Tool does both. Not only does it automate the process, but it returns all unsold inventory to us at a predefined time based on our uniquely defined business requirements.”
The tool’s inventory control feature automatically returns to the airline a pre-defined percentage of unsold inventory by a specified reduction date and returns all unsold/unticketed inventory on a preset expiration date.
The Group Management Tool also speeds and simplifies the group booking process for travel agencies, who normally must manage the process through multiple phone calls and faxes. It allows agencies to request, sell and manage airline block or group space with minimal manual intervention.
“More than ever, airlines need technology solutions that help drive down costs and agencies need ways to add business efficiencies, while enhancing services to travelers,” said John Stow, president of Sabre Travel Network. “The group/block process can be both labor and cost intensive. The introduction of the Group Management Tool helps airlines and agencies better manage that process.”
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 .
SOURCE Sabre Travel Network
Dawn Dorman of Sabre Travel Network, +1-817-312-7680, or dawn.dorman@sabre-holdings.com
http://www.sabre-holdings.com
