SOUTHLAKE, Texas–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Nov. 1, 2005–Continuing its
mission to deliver a truly complete and inspiring travel experience —
from booking, through the trip and the return home — Travelocity is
introducing a whole new level of traveler perks to reward customers.
Simultaneously, it is also launching a beta test of a new Travelocity
VIP initiative that offers enhanced services and additional discounts
to top booking customers.
Rewards During the Booking Process
For all customers, Travelocity is offering new perks that are
designed to delight consumers and increase the value of buying their
trip through Travelocity. For example, recent offers that were
presented to travelers included a $50 gift certificate to
MountainGear.com when booking a qualified ski vacation, a $25 gift
certificate to Wine.com for a qualified vacation to Napa Valley, or
$40 discount for football tickets on StubHub for booking a qualified
gridiron weekend on Travelocity. Travelers who booked a selected hotel
in New York City got a custom anthology of The New Yorker, and those
booking a qualified vacation to Las Vegas received a $25 gift
certificate for shopping at Desert Passage and another $25 to apply to
live entertainment through ShowTickets.com.(a) Moving forward, similar
perks are being offered on the site.
“Travelocity wants to help people plan great travel experiences,
not just make a basic booking. By including perks like a destination
guide compiled from the best advice of other travelers, or discounts
on shows, gear, photos, and shopping, we’re helping travelers get more
complete value. This is not the old days of online booking, where you
simply process a reservation. We’re even getting customers in the mood
for their destinations with editor’s song and movie picks, to feel
more educated and inspired when they arrive,” said Jeff Glueck, chief
marketing officer of Travelocity. “This all builds on our promise to
be the premier advocate for travelers. Our travelers know Travelocity
is looking out for them all trip long.”
Rewards After Clicking ‘Buy’
After travelers confirm their purchase, they can opt to get a Bon
Voyage e-mail, which is sent 10 days prior to departure. It contains a
“Virtual Care Package” with a wide variety of offers for travelers to
choose from at no additional cost. For example, a customer who books a
vacation on Travelocity to Las Vegas can get discounts and/or
recommendations on Las Vegas music downloads from iTunes, movies from
Blockbuster, and books from Barnes & Noble, to name a few. They also
receive an IgoUgo travel report – a $5.95 value – and a “Vegas
Survival Kit,” from Showtickets.com. The kit includes items such as a
handy pocket guide and map as well as discounts at area restaurants,
bars, spas and on local tours.
The experience isn’t complete though until vacationers arrive home
and download their pictures to the Travelocity Photo Center presented
by Snapfish, a service of HP. On this site, they can share their
photos with friends and get a set of free prints.
Extra Rewards for Travelocity VIPs
On top of these rewards offered to all customers, Travelocity has
launched a beta test of the Travelocity VIP initiative to provide
additional awards to top bookers. It provides VIPs a dedicated
toll-free number for priority customer service, and meaningful,
tangible, and easy-to-redeem benefits. In addition to the standard
rewards, VIPs receive unique surprise and delight offers. Travelocity
VIP is an invitation only, no charge service that is expected to
launch with Travelocity’s top customers in 2006.
About Travelocity
Travelocity is committed to being the traveler’s champion –
before, during and after the trip and works hand-in-hand with the
world’s most reputable travel providers so that everything about a
customer’s booking will be right. And if it’s not, Travelocity
guarantees that it will work with its partners to make it right, right
away. This customer-driven focus, backed by live 24/7 phone support,
great prices and powerful shopping technology has made Travelocity the
fifth largest travel agency in the U.S. – booking $4.9 billion in
travel in 2004. Based in Southlake, Texas, Travelocity also owns and
operates Travelocity Business(SM), and lastminute.com, a leader in
European online travel. Travelocity is owned by Sabre Holdings
Corporation (NYSE:TSG), a world leader in travel commerce.
(a) Offers are subject to terms and conditions. See site for details.
CONTACT: VOLLMER
Sie Soheili, 972-488-4790
sie@vollmerpr.com
or
Judy Haveson, 212-808-6541
judy@vollmerpr.com
SOURCE: Travelocity