- Agencies Optimize Management of Net Rate Inventory Exclusive to Galileo
With New Business Tool -
PARSIPPANY, N.J., Nov. 11 /PRNewswire/ -- Galileo International, a leading
global distribution services (GDS) company and subsidiary of Cendant
Corporation (NYSE: CD), today announced the launch in the United States of
Galileo NeatAgent, a new dynamic packaging tool that provides traditional
agencies with the ability to transform themselves into travel merchants and
profit centers, better positioned to compete with both online and offline
channels. With Galileo NeatAgent, Galileo-connected agencies can offer
discounted "net rate" inventory up to 50 percent off comparable 'a la carte'
booking prices. Galileo NeatAgent enables Galileo agents to customize travel
packages combining at least two components of discounted airline, car and
hotel rates, generating one low price for their customers.
(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20020729/GALILEOLOGO2 )
By empowering Galileo subscribers with the ability to determine their own
package selling price, Galileo NeatAgent can help agents offer competitive
prices of 7 percent or more lower than similar packages currently available on
Travelocity or Expedia, even with a 10 to15 percent agency mark-up. According
to Galileo estimates, if an average mid-sized agency converts just 5 percent
of its a la carte sales to Galileo NeatAgent dynamic packages, it has the
potential to generate an incremental $200,000 revenue annually. Initial
adoption rates for Galileo NeatAgent are high, with nearly 250 agencies
registering for the product in the first 10 days of its availability.
"Galileo NeatAgent is an easy-to-use tool that provides our travel
consultants with the ability to quickly create customized packages 'on the
fly.' For agency owners, it is a way to maximize revenue on every sale,
improve cash flow, and have confidence that you are not being 'out-priced' by
the mega travel Web sites," said Steven W. Hewins, president, Hewins/Carlson
Wagonlit Travel of Portland, Maine, and initial Galileo NeatAgent subscriber.
Browser-based technology for Galileo NeatAgent enables agents to operate
from anywhere, anytime, making it ideal for home-based agents. Its
easy-to-use, point and click graphical-user interface helps agents to easily
understand and learn how to navigate the tool. This is a key benefit for
agencies, as productivity-enhancing capabilities allow them to serve more
customers and allocate resources more efficiently, leading to additional cost
savings. Galileo NeatAgent is available free of charge to all U.S.
point-of-sale ARC-accredited Galileo subscribers.
"In an era of disappearing airline commissions, vacation packages have
become an increasingly attractive and profitable product for travel agents.
Galileo NeatAgent is a powerful source of new revenue for our agents. It
provides the right tools, technology and discounted net rate content our
agents need to capture a larger share of the vacation package market and
better service their customers," said Mitch Gross, executive vice president
and general manager of Galileo's Americas region.
"Following the launch of Preferred Fares Select and Galileo Web! Hotels,
Galileo NeatAgent is another example in the continuum that Galileo has started
to provide travel agents with solutions that present greater value and revenue
opportunities, while providing suppliers ways to reduce total distribution
costs. No other GDS offers a product similar to Galileo NeatAgent in its
ability to address market realities and develop solutions that add value while
reducing costs," added Gross.
NeatAgent is provided to Galileo through its affiliation with Neat Group,
which joined the Cendant family in May 2003.
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,
NJ, and has offices worldwide.
About Neat Group
Neat Group (Neat), part of Cendant's Hospitality and Leisure business
unit, develops, markets and operates innovative dynamic packaging technology
for the travel industry. Neat was a pioneer in enabling consumers, travel
suppliers and travel agents to better manage their travel by leveraging Neat's
patent pending packaging and merchant model technology in a low cost
electronic environment. Founded in 1999, Neat counts among its customers 40 of
the world's leading airline, hotel, and car rental brands and travel service
companies. For more information, visit http://www.neatgroup.com .
About Cendant Travel Distribution Services Division
Cendant's Travel Distribution Services Division is one of the world's
largest and most geographically diverse collections of travel distribution
businesses. The division, employing some 5,000 people in more than 115
countries, includes: Galileo, a leading global distribution system (GDS)
serving more than 47,000 travel agencies and over 54,000 hotels; hotel
distribution and services businesses (Trust, THOR, WizCom and Neat); leading
travel agencies, including Cheap Tickets and Lodging.com; an airline market
intelligence company; and Travelport, a provider of global corporate travel
management solutions.
SOURCE Galileo International
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Related links:
http://www.galileo.com
http://www.neatgroup.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.CorpCom@cendant.com
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