Breaking Travel News

Skytours, Worldspan ink deal

Skytours is signing a new multi-year travel technology agreement with Worldspan.
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.
 
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