Industry Experts Discuss Managed Travel Trends for Professional Services
Companies at the 2004 Ultramar Travel Technology Conference
NEW YORK and SOUTHLAKE, Texas, Feb. 3 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — Today at
the 2004 Ultramar Travel Technology Conference hosted by Ultramar Travel
Management, a leading provider of customized travel management solutions for
professional services companies, representatives of GetThere, the leading Web-
based corporate travel reservation system from the people at Sabre Travel
Network, discussed the importance and challenges of striking the right balance
between online and offline travel management services. Industry experts from
JetBlue Airways, InterContinental Hotels Group, and travel managers from two
of the top ten law firms in the country also participated in the discussions.
Travel management continues to evolve, and companies are constantly faced
with difficult choices when managing travel suppliers and costs. One of the
big challenges facing companies is determining the right mix of online
technology and offline travel agency services. When making this decision,
it’s critical that companies consider their unique business needs and how they
plan to measure the success of their travel program.
Online booking technology can provide significant cost savings. In the
GetThere 2003 Corporate Online Travel Benchmark Survey, companies reported 15%
average airfare savings and 46% average agency fee savings for business trips
booked online.
Peter Harrison, Ultramar Conference presenter and vice president of
strategy for GetThere, discussed how online savings is only part of the
picture. He pointed out that companies need to consider the types and levels
of service their employees require to balance the value of their time and the
costs to the company. Harrison also mentioned, since many travel managers
wear multiple hats, companies should look at the right mix of technology and
personal service to help maximize the value of their travel department.
“The key for corporate travel programs is to balance proven online
advantages and cost savings with higher-touch offline agency services,” said
Harrison. “While 80% online booking adoption is a typical goal for most large
corporations, 50% online adoption may make sense for smaller professional
services firms who need a customized and flexible solution from a business
partner like Ultramar.”
Meeting the Needs of the Individual Business Traveler
Another trend discussed at the Ultramar Travel Management Conference, was
the shift many companies are taking to focus on the individual traveler. Many
companies are developing specialized online and offline services to ease the
booking process and provide tools that meet all the individual needs of the
business traveler, while continuing to address the needs of the travel manager
and company goals.
“There has been a shift in the corporate travel industry with product
development focused on meeting the needs of the individual traveler,” said
Peter Klebanow, president of Ultramar. “Ultramar has developed specific
functionality that supports travel manager needs while improving the overall
experience for individual business travelers.”
Ultramar Tr@velSync offers a comprehensive solution for professional
services companies that they have built on the leading GetThere online booking
technology. Through Ultramar Tr@velSync, customers can customize a number of
features to simplify the booking process for individual travelers and to
assist travel managers with program management. A few of these features
include true traveler profile synchronization, company-specific travel
templates, integrated supplier contract analytics, extensive pre-trip
reporting, integrated destination information and a variety of traveler
security tracking and alert services. In addition, Amtrak online booking
capability was recently added to Tr@velSync.
Other companies, including JetBlue Airways, also remain focused on the
traveler experience. JetBlue Airways spoke about “The JetBlue Experience,”
and how its model of providing a low cost alternative while still providing
the key services business travelers demand, can be an important part of a
corporate travel program. “Through Ultramar Tr@velSync, business travelers
can access JetBlue fares,” said Eric Brinker, manager product and brand
development, JetBlue Airways. “Travelers have access to our fares that are
not available through most of the online travel agencies, including Orbitz and
Expedia.”
For travelers arranging individual hotel rooms or planning corporate
meetings, Ultramar Tr@velSync provides a wide range of options. Since many
professional services companies are increasingly recognizing they can cut
additional corporate travel costs by using meeting planning technology that is
integrated with their online travel system, Ultramar offers the GetThere
DirectMeetings solution, which helps companies work smarter with Ultramar to
plan corporate meetings at lower costs.
InterContinental Hotels Group, who spoke at the Ultramar Conference,
offered this view on the hotel booking experience. “We want to provide
travelers with the best rates and best service, which is why we’ve partnered
with Ultramar Travel Management,” said John Morris, director for BTA revenue
programs at InterContinental Hotels Group. “Through Ultramar Tr@velSync,
travelers have access to our unbeatable amenities and prices, in an easy to
use environment — online or offline.”
About Ultramar
Ultramar is a privately held company with corporate headquarters located
in the heart of New York’s business world for over 50 years. As a partner and
Chairman of the Board of GlobalStar, it is strategically positioned for
service throughout the world. Ultramar serves a client base of diverse
cultures and requirements — clients include many of the countries largest and
most prestigious law firms, corporations, investment banks and some of the
leading names in high fashion. It attributes its business success to a
commitment to innovation — not only in implementing and adapting
technologies, but also in delivering completely customized travel programs to
the particular needs of the active business traveler and those that manage
them.
About GetThere
GetThere, a Sabre Travel Network brand, is the world’s leading Web-based
corporate travel reservation technology. GetThere enables global corporations
and government agencies to provide a convenient way for employees to book
travel and plan meetings while significantly reducing costs. GetThere’s
advanced technology works with all major global distribution systems (GDS) and
all travel management companies. More than 1,000 corporations, including half
the Fortune 200, use GetThere. More information is available at
www.getthere.com .
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 GetThere
-0- 02/03/2004
/CONTACT: Michelle Sibbitt of GetThere, +1-415-932-1177, or
michelle.sibbitt@sabre.com ; or Peter Klebanow, President of Ultramar Travel
Management, +1-212-856-5600, or Peter.Klebanow@ultramartravel.com /
/Web site: http://www.getthere.com
http://www.sabre-holdings.com /
(TSG)
CO: GetThere; Sabre Holdings Corporation; Ultramar Travel Management; Sabre
Travel Network; JetBlue Airways; InterContinental Hotels Group
ST: Texas
IN: CPR TRA LEI AIR MLM STW REA ECM
SU:
GN-AP
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2987 02/03/2004 11:00 EST http://www.prnewswire.com