Next Generation Technology Automates Complete Travel Reservation Process to Deliver Sustainable Cost Savings to Companies and Superior Service to Travelers
SOUTHLAKE, Texas–(BUSINESS WIRE)–July 14, 2004–Travelocity Business(SM), a full-service corporate travel agency,
today announces it has launched enhanced technologies in its service
center that integrate and automate the corporate travel reservation
process from beginning to end. With this powerful, wholly-owned model,
Travelocity Business manages the integrated process and service
center, which enables it to support its low-cost offering over the
long term. Other major corporate travel agencies rely on outside
software providers and or service companies, resulting in higher
costs, and making it impossible to predict future costs. Travelocity
Business’ next generation travel center technology helps companies
reduce costs, while freeing agents to focus on traveler needs.
“The corporate travel industry has been in a stir since the
introduction of $5 booking fees. Traditional corporate agencies first
reacted by questioning whether these prices are sustainable, but they
began dropping their prices to remain competitive. The key to offering
lower costs long-term is re-engineering, and integrating all elements
of the corporate travel reservation process. This automated,
beginning-to-end solution positions Travelocity Business to help
companies drive unnecessary costs out of travel today and into the
future, while also providing support when travelers need it the most,”
said Tom Wilkinson, senior director, Global Agency Solutions,
Travelocity Business.
While minimizing service fees is a key focus of Travelocity
Business, it is also helping companies drive down the actual cost of
travel. Through its powerful online booking experience and exclusive
deals, Travelocity Business is able to present a broad range of travel
choices and then help travelers make travel selections that are
convenient for them and cost effective for their company. This
includes helping companies create the most leverage with their travel
spend to negotiate and leverage discounts and use discounts secured by
Travelocity(R) and Travelocity Business.
Added Wilkinson, “Few people are aware of the complexity behind
servicing corporate travel, but it is the primary reason companies
have been paying high fees to traditional corporate agencies.” In its
wholly-owned and operated service centers, Travelocity Business has
built and implemented new automated technology and processes from the
ground up designed to give companies a wide range of choices and high
levels of service all at a low cost for the long term. The
beginning-to-end automation technologies include:
-- Booking - powerful online technology, and technology-centric
service centers staffed with experienced agents 24/7;
-- Access to travel options/inventory - Sabre Global Distribution
System, and access to exclusive Travelocity and Travelocity
Business content;
-- Agent Desktop - Faster, better service for travelers enabled
by sophisticated programming to increase agent speed and
accuracy. Fully integrated agent technology includes
corporation and caller identification, automated retrieval of
existing reservations, booking tools focused on productivity
and accuracy, automated policy compliance checks, and constant
access to traveler and corporate preferences through the
reservation process;
-- Mid Office - Automated Quality Control (QC) processing using
wholly-owned technology that enables a touchless rate of more
than 90 percent for both on-line and off-line reservations.
The QC system confirms all reservations are formatted to meet
customers' specific requirements and all data reporting
information is captured accurately. The system also automates
all ticketing including electronic tickets, split tickets,
paper ticketing, automated FedEx tracking number assignment,
and electronic document distribution;
-- Back Office - accounting, data management and online reporting
refreshed every 24 hours.
In addition to guaranteed service levels for phone assistance,
Travelocity Business offers a full range of enhanced travel management
services, such as:
-- Strategic Account Management
-- Advanced Web-based Reporting
-- Executive/VIP Services
-- International Rate Desk
-- Dedicated Toll-Free Phone Number
-- Ticket Tracking
-- Consulting Services
About Travelocity Business
Travelocity Business is a full-service corporate travel agency
that helps companies easily manage travel and reduce costs, while
providing more choices to travelers. Travelocity Business combines the
savings and convenience of online with the full service of dedicated
agents available 24/7 who typically answer the phone in 20 seconds,
and within 60 seconds guaranteed. Companies can cut travel costs
through flight deals, Web fares, hotel discounts and service fee
savings — representing an average savings of more than $100 per trip,
including airfare savings averaging 26 percent per ticket and service
fee savings of up to 82 percent.
Travelocity Business merges the expertise, service and travel
choices of Travelocity with the most proven online corporate travel
technology, already used by more than half of the Fortune 200. For
more information, companies can visit www.travelocitybusiness.com.
About Travelocity
Travelocity’s industry-leading technology and straight-talking,
honest information help travelers take more rewarding and affordable
trips. With 44 million registered users and booking nearly $4 billion
of travel in 2003, Travelocity negotiates thousands of low-priced
deals with the world’s most reputable travel providers – top airlines,
hotels, car rental companies, cruise lines, and other destination
attractions and services. Additionally, Travelocity offers
deeply-discounted rates for weekend getaways and dynamic packages
through its Last Minute Deals and TotalTrip(SM) shopping engines, and
provides customer service support over the phone 24 hours a day. Based
in Southlake, Texas, Travelocity also operates Travelocity Business
for corporate customers, powers international travel Web sites in
eight languages, and has been recognized for its consumer advocacy and
global leadership in online travel. More information about Travelocity
is available at www.travelocity.com. Travelocity is owned by Sabre
Holdings Corporation (NYSE:TSG), a world leader in travel commerce.
More information about Sabre Holdings is available at
www.sabre-holdings.com.
CONTACT: VOLLMER
Mary Kate Smither, 972-488-4790
marykate@vollmerpr.com
or
Chintan Talati, 972=488-4790
chintan@vollmerpr.com
SOURCE: Travelocity