PARSIPPANY, N.J., Nov. 6 /PRNewswire/ -- Galileo International, a leading
provider of electronic global distribution services (GDS) for the travel
industry, today announced that it is continuing to expand its Galileo Business
Builders(SM) program in the U.S. with the addition of six new partners, for a
total of 22 program participants. Three of the six new Business Builders
partners offer commissionable inventory typically not available through the
GDS that provides U.S. travel agencies the opportunity to offer value-added
services to their customers and increase their profit potential.
(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20020729/GALILEOLOGO2 )
Business Builders is a strategic initiative launched in August 2002
( http://www.cendant.com/media/press_release.cgi/Travel+Distribution+Services/10829 )
that offers Galileo-connected travel agencies exclusive ways to earn revenues
and lower operational costs while building loyal customers.
"Galileo Business Builders leverages the Galileo-Cendant relationship to
provide travel agencies with a unique competitive advantage," said Mitch
Gross, Galileo executive vice president and general manager - The Americas.
"Our focus with Business Builders is to help our agency partners become more
profitable, primarily through revenue-building opportunities illustrated by
three of the six new vendor partners we are announcing today. In addition, we
will continue to offer agencies opportunities through Business Builders that
will help them reduce their costs and build loyalty. It's all about adding
value to our travel agency partners beyond the transaction to help them
succeed."
The six new Galileo Business Builders vendor partners include:
-- Hirefone, a provider of short-term mobile telecommunications equipment
rentals for international travelers, is offering an exclusive 10
percent commission on all Hirefone bookings through the Business
Builders program. Only Galileo-connected travel agents will earn
commission on the rental fees, airtime and all other costs, while
providing their customers with the all-important ability to stay
connected no matter where they travel.
-- Lodging.com, a Cendant company and leading online hotel reservation
travel site offering unpublished rates for more than 3,000 properties
primarily in North America and the Caribbean, is offering exclusive net
rates and a 10 percent commission to Galileo-connected travel agencies
for bookings of its hotel properties. Access to Lodging.com inventory
under this special offer will be available at the end of November via
the Galileo e-Agent(TM) Internet portal.
-- Suvana, the first and only central reservation system for airport
shuttle vans, is launching its service with Galileo as its exclusive
GDS. Suvana is offering Galileo subscribers a special, limited-time
bonus commission of 10 percent, a 2 percent addition to its regular 8
percent commission on bookings of its airport shuttle service.
Increased revenue opportunities are available through a cash bonus
incentive program. This unique service provides travelers a 30 to 70
percent savings in comparison to taxi service and other regular airport
ground transport alternatives.
-- Cendant Mortgage offers qualified Galileo-connected travel agents
exclusive cash-back and savings offers on new mortgage loans including:
1. no cost loan approval process;
2. conventional loan programs with no appraisal costs;
3. conventional refinance loans with title insurance waived;
4. cash back of $350 at closing;
5. same day loan approval decisions or pay $250 to the customer; and
6. match/beat any lender's price or pay the customer $250.
-- THOR Inc., a Cendant company, is offering discounted pricing of 20
percent on its preferred 24-hour answering service, which links travel
agencies' corporate and leisure clients to THOR's contact center manned
by highly experienced, professional travel consultants 24 hours a day,
7 days a week. THOR also is waiving the first monthly service fee for
all new Galileo customers enrolled through the Business Builders
program.
-- USA Gifts Direct, a customer loyalty and marketing services company
specializing in corporate gifts and customer appreciation solutions, is
offering Galileo-connected travel agencies a 15 percent discount on a
variety of gift items. Its wide selection of items ranges from gourmet
food to gift baskets and more, making it easy and cost-effective to
show customers how much they are appreciated, especially around the
holidays.
Galileo-connected travel agencies can learn more about Galileo Business
Builders partners and offers at http://www.galileo.com/businessbuilders .
Galileo Business Builders is currently available only to U.S. travel
agencies. Galileo plans to roll out the program globally next year.
About Galileo International
Galileo International 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, New
Jersey, USA, and has offices worldwide. Visit http://www.galileo.com .
SOURCE Galileo International
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Related links:
http://www.galileo.com
http://www.galileo.com/businessbuilders
Company News On-Call:
http://www.prnewswire.com/comp/121034.html
Photo Notes:
NewsCom: 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:
Julie Shepherd of Accentuate PR,
+1-847-669-0633, julie@accentuatepr.com
NOTE TO EDITORS: An overview of all the Business Builders
partners and their exclusive offers to Galileo-connected travel
agencies is available by calling +1 847.518.4103 or sending an
email request to angie.guataquira@galileo.com
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