PARSIPPANY, N.J., and CALGARY, Alberta, April 15 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ --
Galileo International announced today that WestJet's (Cdn: WJA) inventory of
low-fare flights serving 26 cities in Canada is now live on the Galileo global
distribution system (GDS). More than 47,000 Galileo-connected travel agencies
in over 115 countries can now receive commissions and additional incentive
payments by booking WestJet inventory through their Galileo desktop.
(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20020729/GALILEOLOGO2 )
Galileo has developed technology and commercial options to address the
distribution strategies of the low-cost carriers and we're excited to
implement this technology to enable WestJet to continue its tremendous
growth," said Robert Lange, Galileo Canada general manager and vice president.
"With the addition of this new content, we are bringing new commission
opportunities to our travel agency customers, while offering time-saving
convenience."
Travel agents booking WestJet inventory on the Galileo GDS will gain the
following efficiency and business advantages:
* earn additional incentive payments for increased productivity;
* view inventory available in one neutral display;
* avoid extra administration costs associated with Internet bookings
* ease and convenience of working within their familiar high-speed
Galileo desktop environment without the time and effort required to
switch between the desktop and Internet systems to manage the booking
process. In fact, Galileo's internal productivity tests with seasoned
travel agents indicated that they saved an average of 3-10 minutes per
booking for low-cost carrier reservations made through the Galileo GDS
as compared to switching systems and booking on the Internet.
"Booking WestJet through the Galileo system makes a world of difference
for travel management companies who are focused on growth and profitability,"
said Vaughn Payne, president of ATCO Travel. "It's efficient, it reduces our
per booking administration cost and it seamlessly allows us to provide the
information and reporting capabilities that our customers have come to
expect."
"The distribution of our inventory through the Galileo GDS now makes
WestJet even more accessible to travelers," said Bill Lamberton. WestJet's
vice president of Marketing and Sales. "We anticipate that our expanded
market presence enabled by the distribution of our low fares through thousands
of Galileo-connected travel agencies worldwide, will spur further growth and
profitability."
WestJet is the latest example of Galileo's strategic initiative to expand
its range of inventory on the Galileo GDS in an effort to provide the broadest
range of content to Galileo travel agency subscribers. WestJet joins several
other low-cost carriers taking advantage of Galileo's technology and
commercial options to increase ticket distribution, including Virgin Blue,
currently being integrated in Australia, Virgin Express, bmibaby and flybe.
WestJet serves the 26 Canadian cities of Victoria, Comox, Vancouver,
Abbotsford/Fraser Valley, Prince George, Kelowna, Calgary, Edmonton, Grande
Prairie, Fort McMurray, Saskatoon, Regina, Winnipeg, Sudbury, Sault Ste.
Marie, Thunder Bay, London, Ottawa, Hamilton, Toronto, Moncton, Halifax,
Windsor, Montreal (beginning April 24), St. John's (beginning June 16) and
Gander (beginning June 17). WestJet is publicly traded on the Toronto Stock
Exchange under the symbol WJA.
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; WestJet
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Related links:
http://www.galileo.com
Photo Notes:http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20020729/GALILEOLOGO2
AP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org
PRN Photo Desk, +1-888-776-6555 or +1-212-782-2840
CONTACT:
US - Julie Shepherd, PR Consultant for
Galileo - Cendant TDS, +1-847-669-0633, Julie@accentuatePR.com;
or Canada - Ray Buchnea, PR Consultant for Galileo Canada,
+1-416-868-1330, rbuchnea@lastflightout.net
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