First Online Agency to Offer 'Corporate Rates' From Best Western
SOUTHLAKE, Texas, April 6 /PRNewswire/ — Travelocity Business(SM), a full
service corporate travel agency, today announced it is continuing to expand
its special hotel rates tailored to business travelers. The discounted hotel
rates offer more flexibility than those created for leisure travelers, giving
businesses the ability to save money without the restrictions and cancellation
penalties of leisure discounts. Travelocity Business is the first online
agency to offer discounted corporate rates from Best Western. The agreement
is part of Travelocity Business’ rapidly expanding program to offer business-
centric travel deals.
“Travelocity Business is already helping companies save significantly on
travel costs by dramatically lowering airfares and agency transaction fees,”
said Ellen Keszler, president of Travelocity Business. “Now, by leveraging
Travelocity’s relationships with leading hotels, we’re also securing special
rates and more flexible terms designed for business travelers, rather than
giving companies deals originally intended for leisure travelers.”
Travelocity Business’ special discounts include the lowest available
published rates, and are often similar to the discounts hoteliers provide
their largest corporate clients. Some hotels are offering package deals that
include such amenities as high-speed Internet, breakfast and other business-
oriented services. They provide flexibility in changing reservations without
special penalties or fees and allow travelers to continue obtaining points for
their stays, a benefit often lost when special leisure rates are used. The
hotel discounts complement the many other deals that Travelocity Business
continues to add with airlines, hotels and car rental companies.
“Today, more than ever, business travelers need much more flexibility in
their hotel and travel arrangements, which includes booking special corporate
rates through channels like Travelocity Business,” said Bob Gilbert, vice
president Worldwide Sales & Alliances at Best Western. “Savvy business
customers look for strong value propositions and leading edge technology to be
productive, such as the Internet. Best Western has taken the lead in offering
high-speed Internet access, and all of its 2300 hotels will offer this service
free of charge by September 1. The ability to book negotiated corporate
travel rates online is the new frontier in corporate travel and Best Western
is at the forefront with its partnership with Travelocity Business.”
About Travelocity Business
For small businesses to large multinational corporations, 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 $142 per trip, including
airfare savings averaging 26 percent per ticket and service fee savings of up
to 84 percent.
Travelocity Business merges the expertise, service and travel choices of
Travelocity(R) 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(R), with 41 million registered users, booked nearly $4 billion
of travel in 2003. Every day Travelocity negotiates thousands of great travel
deals with the world’s most reputable airlines, hotels, car rental companies,
cruise lines, ground transportation providers, and popular destination
attractions such as theme parks, ski resorts and theaters. Additionally,
Travelocity offers access to special 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.
Travelocity’s industry-leading technology and wealth of straight-talking,
honest information allow travelers to make informed decisions and have more
rewarding travel experiences. Through Travelocity Business(SM), companies can
better manage business travel, lowering costs and expanding options for
travelers, while the Travelocity Partner Network(SM) further distributes
Travelocity’s products through an array of channels.
Based in Southlake, Texas, Travelocity also powers international travel
Web sites in seven languages and has been recognized worldwide 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 .
About Best Western
Best Western is THE WORLD’S LARGEST HOTEL CHAIN(R) with more than
4,100 hotels in 83 countries and territories. It is a membership association
of independently owned and operated hotels that provides marketing,
reservations and operational support to its members. For more information,
visit Best Western’s website at www.bestwestern.com .
Contact:
Mary Kate Smither (marykate@vollmerpr.com )
972/488-4790
VOLLMER
Chintan Talati (chintan@vollmerpr.com )
972/488-4790
VOLLMER
SOURCE Travelocity Business
-0- 04/06/2004
/CONTACT: Mary Kate Smither, marykate@vollmerpr.com , or Chintan Talati,
chintan@vollmerpr.com , both of VOLLMER, +1-972-488-4790, for Travelocity/
/Web site: http://www.travelocitybusiness.com
http://www.travelocity.com
http://www.sabre-holdings.com
http://www.bestwestern.com /
(TSG)
CO: Travelocity Business; Travelocity; Sabre Holdings Corporation; Best
Western
ST: Texas
IN: LEI TRA CPR MLM
SU:
CJ-CD
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