PARSIPPANY, NJ -- January 30, 2003 -- The wide world of consolidator fares
is now open to Galileo-connected travel agents in the U.S. and Canada with the
introduction of Trans Am Travel's consolidator inventory, a database of more
than 8 million net fares on 36 airlines. Galileo agents can now offer clients
highly discounted airfares while taking advantage of full shopping, booking,
invoicing and servicing through Galileo's desktop platforms.
"Travel agents asked us for desktop access to consolidator inventory, and
we are responding with a very effective tool for travel agents who want to
save time and money," explains Marcie Verdin, vice president of marketing for
Galileo's Americas region. "Not only can Galileo-connected agents increase
revenues by setting up their own margin or service fees, but, for the first
time, they can purchase wholesale airline tickets without ever having to pick
up a phone or send an e-mail. There are no phone calls, faxes, cryptic entries
or special formats to remember."
Trans Am Travel is the first Galileo-connected agency to automate its
consolidator inventory via OpenFares, a fares management system. Based in
Montreal, OpenFares offers the latest generation of fares management software,
which provides consolidators with easy fares administration, full shopping and
booking capability and distribution via the Galileo network. All information
is available online for the agency to access, review and forward to the
traveler by e-mail. OpenFares also facilitates the completion of the booking
by automatically creating a copy of the passenger name record (PNR) and
placing the copy in the agency's queue, enabling the agency to seamlessly send
the record to its Galileo back -office accounting system, GlobalWaresm.
"Agents gain access to Trans Am Travel's inventory via 'Open Fares,'
giving them the flexibility to offer a wider range of fares to their
customers, with the ability to automatically quote and book very complex
itineraries -- something that consolidators without OpenFares cannot do," says
Verdin. "Agents get the same airline seat that other distributors offer, but
at a lower cost, sometimes with a saving of 50 percent or more. And, unlike
some other consolidators, the offered fares are 'live,' rather than stored
fares that may be obsolete. Since the actual, published fare and taxes are
pulled directly from Galileo's systems, the risk of time-consuming debit memos
is eliminated."
"We're extremely excited to be reaching tens of thousands of Apollo(R)
customers who currently aren't doing business with us," says TransAm Travel
project manager Chris DelPo.
About Galileo International
Galileo International (http://www.galileo.com) is a global technology leader.
Its core business is providing electronic global distribution services for the
travel industry through its computerized reservation systems, leading-edge
products and innovative Internet-based solutions. Galileo is a value-added
distributor of travel inventory dedicated to supporting its travel supplier,
agency and corporate customers and, through them, expanding traveler choice.
A subsidiary of Cendant Corporation (NYSE: CD) and part of Cendant's Travel
Distribution Services Division, Galileo is headquartered in Parsippany, N.J.,
and has offices worldwide.
SOURCE Galileo International
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Related links:
http://www.galileo.com
CONTACT:
Deborah Bernstein, Galileo International,
+1-973-496-4127, or deborah.bernstein@cendant.com
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