Skytours has signed a new multi-year travel technology agreement with Worldspan, L.P. 

Over the next three years, Worldspan will continue to provide Skytours’ Web sites with state-of-the-art airline distribution, reservations, transaction processing and e-ticketing services.

Skytours also plans to adopt other market-leading Worldspan travel distribution technologies. Specializing in offering the best prices and deals, Skytours provides its clients with online points of sale in 12 countries.

  “We have tested many Internet-based travel technologies from GDS companies and found Worldspan’s solutions to be the fastest and most advanced tools in the market,” said Rudi Seiberlich, chief executive officer of Skytours GmbH. “Worldspan’s unparalleled expertise will continue to help us grow by allowing our customers to arrange holiday travel using the most popular and reliable online booking tools worldwide.”

  “The Internet is daily becoming more mainstream throughout Europe, helping consumers turn pre-travel shopping and purchase data into actionable information,” said Jay Rein, Worldspan vice president e-Commerce. “Worldspan’s e-commerce team is committed to helping Skytours provide a world-class experience for its customers by providing comprehensive travel content and innovative technologies. Our 11 years of providing Web-based e-commerce solutions to the marketplace can benefit Skytours in its quest to grow its customer base.”

  Skytours connects to the Worldspan global distribution system (GDS) using Worldspan Universal Messaging (UM), an advanced data exchange solution that creates a secure and seamless interface over the Internet between Skytours’ internal reservations system and the Worldspan GDS. The connection provides travel buyers at Skytours Web sites with real-time access to airline schedules, availability and fares, as well as advanced booking capabilities, instant confirmations and electronic ticketing through the Worldspan system.

  Skytours plans to enhance its Web sites in the near future with Worldspan e-Pricing(R), the travel industry’s most advanced low-fare shopping technology. Additionally, Worldspan and Skytours are exploring content expansion through Skytours Web sites with Worldspan’s advanced car rental, hotel and tour booking solutions. Skytours is already a user of Worldspan SecuRate(R) Air Plus, the leader in online negotiated fares management technology, as well as Worldspan’s popular My Trip and More Web site, which provides travelers with instant, personalized itineraries.

  Based in Freiburg, Germany with a branch office in Stockholm, Sweden, Skytours GmbH offers online points of sale in Denmark, Finland, France, Greece, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States.

  Worldspan is one of the largest transaction processors for online travel agencies worldwide. Millions of flights purchased daily through travel Web sites are shopped, booked and ticketed through the Worldspan GDS. Worldspan is also the global travel industry’s leading developer and provider of advanced travel technologies designed for online travel distribution and procurement.
——-