New Shopping Technology Enables Galileo Powered-Agencies to Find the Broadest
Range of Low-Cost North American Fares and Compete More Effectively with
Online Agencies
PARSIPPANY, N.J., April 15 /PRNewswire/ -- Galileo International, Inc., a
leading global distribution service (GDS) and subsidiary of Cendant Corp.
(NYSE: CD), today announced the introduction of Galileo Optimal Shopping(SM),
a robust, new, fare-shopping tool available to Galileo-connected travel
agencies in the US and Canada. This tool enables agents to quickly find a
substantially greater depth and breadth of itineraries and low-fare pricing
options for customers traveling on wholly North American itineraries. With
the introduction of this technology and other new automation features,
Galileo's comprehensive 360 Fares offering now provides the industry's leading
fare-shopping solution. This new search tool identifies as many as 150
alternative itineraries at a time; includes fares from low-cost carriers and
many airlines' Web fares; and uses an intelligent search logic to allow agents
to tailor fare searches and solutions to fit the preferences of individual
customers, such as focusing a search on the cheapest fare, fastest route or
most convenient travel time.
(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20020729/GALILEOLOGO2 )
Galileo is the only GDS in the world that makes this powerful shopping
capability available right on the agency's desktop. "This is a search
technology that travel agencies literally cannot find anywhere else in the
world, and we are delighted to make it available to Galileo subscribers
through our 360 Fares platform," said Marcie Verdin, vice president of
Marketing, Galileo Americas. "Galilieo Optimal Shopping is functionally
superior to the search technologies offered by other GDS's -- and equivalent
to, or better than, the search technologies used by the leading online travel
agencies. At Galileo, we are committed to helping our travel agency customers
compete more effectively with tools that maximize efficiency, content that
drives revenue, and marketing solutions that increase sales. Galileo Optimal
Shopping is an easy-to-use, powerful tool that improves agency productivity
and helps our subscribers more effectively compete with their online
competitors."
"Galileo's Optimal Shopping essentially brings the convenience of online
shopping to the agency desktop," said JoAnne Little, director of operations
for Gant Travel Management. "It has enabled us to find a comprehensive
selection of itineraries and low-cost fares which were never available before
via the desktop -- and come up with solutions for our customers that were
equal to or better than those found on the Internet."
Lisa Mauvais, travel trainer for Andavo Travel, said, "We found that the
Optimal Shopping tool increased our productivity in two ways -- by reducing
our need to search the Internet separately, and by reducing our need to
perform multiple searches using a variety of search criteria."
Verdin added, "By tailoring the search logic to fit the needs of an
individual traveler, travel agents can be assured they are always quoting a
customer the best fare that suits a customer's needs -- or what we like to
call the 'optimal' fare. That's what Optimal Shopping is all about -- helping
our customers consistently get the optimal price."
Currently, Optimal Shopping is only available to Galileo-connected travel
counselors in the US and Canada, and only applicable to travel itineraries
that are wholly within the US, Canada, Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands.
Within these boundaries, the tool works on all Galileo platforms, including
Focalpoint and Viewpoint and Galileo Web Services.
"The new technology is also a plus for our North American airline
partners," Verdin said. "It improves sell-through because agents are more
likely to find inventory appropriate for their customer and reduces costs due
to the benefits of caching."
Optimal Shopping is powered by ITA Software, the same software used by
many online travel sites, including Cheap Tickets, a Cendant subsidiary.
Optimal Shopping is the latest in a series of innovative technologies and
programs Galileo has introduced to help its travel agency customers compete
more effectively in the constantly evolving travel industry. Others include:
Preferred Fares Select, which provides agencies with access to all public
airline fares, including any sold through a carrier's own Web site or
reservation office; Galileo Web! Hotels, which provides agencies with broad
access to hotel inventory on the Web; Galileo NeatAgent, a dynamic, Web-based,
packaging tool that enables agencies to offer extremely competitive rates on
travel packages; and Business Builders, which enables travel agencies to
increase revenue, loyalty and efficiency through access to a wide variety of
discounted travel services and products.
About Galileo
Galileo International (http://www.galileo.com) is a recognized world leader in
global distribution services for the travel industry, serving more than 500
airlines, 43,000 travel agencies and 54,000 hotels worldwide. Its core
business involves facilitating the electronic distribution of fares and
inventory around the globe through its computerized reservation systems,
cutting-edge products and innovative Internet-based technologies. Galileo is
dedicated to helping its travel supplier, travel agency and corporate
customers perform more effectively and efficiently in the increasingly
competitive and continually evolving travel industry.
About Cendant Travel Distribution Services
Cendant's Travel Distribution Services Division is one of the world's
largest and most geographically diverse collections of travel brands and
distribution businesses. The division, employing nearly 5,000 people in more
than 116 countries, includes: Galileo, a leading global distribution services
(GDS) company, serving more than 43,000 travel agencies and over 60,000
hotels; hotel distribution and services businesses (Trust, THOR, WizCom, Neat
Group); leading travel agencies (Cheap Tickets, Lodging.com, Hotelclub.com and
Ratestogo.com); Shepherd Systems, an airline market intelligence company;
Travelwire, an international travel technology and software company; Travel
2/Travel 4, a leading international provider of long-haul air travel and
travel product consolidator; and Travelport, a provider of online global
corporate travel management solutions.
NOTE: The correct name of the faring system should be spelled with the
degree symbol after 360.
SOURCE Galileo International, Inc.
 back to top
Related links:
http://www.galileo.com
Photo Notes:http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20020729/GALILEOLOGO2
CONTACT:
Galileo Americas Inquiries - Jill Brenner of
Cendant Travel Distribution Services, +1-973-496-5870,
TDS.CorpComm@cendant.com
|
