Galileo International, a
leading provider of global distribution services for the travel industry,
has announced that a three-year renewal agreement with Virgin
Travelstore. 
The relationship with Virgin Travelstore extends back over ten
years. “The signing of a new agreement with one of the travel industry`s more
recognisable agency names is a great success for Galileo, and testament to the
support and service we provide our customers,” said Bryan Conway, vice
president Country Management, for Galileo`s UK, Ireland and Scandinavia
region.  “Virgin Travelstore is both embracing and leading the changes that
are essential for success in today`s travel industry.  We are delighted that
it has chosen Galileo`s products and technology as engines for that change.”
 
“We chose Galileo because of its advanced product range and its commitment
to customer service,” said Brett Warbrick, head of E-Business for Virgin
Travelstore.
 
As part of the agreement, Virgin Travelstore will install Galileo`s
Focalpoint(R) 3.5 product at all offices and Galileo`s XML Select(TM) solution
to power its online flight booking engine on the VirginTravelstore.com Web
site.

 
Focalpoint(R) 3.5

  Focalpoint 3.5 is Galileo`s primary technology solution that provides full
TCP/IP connectivity.  This ready-to-go reservation, business management and
support system combines the power of the Galileo(R) system with timesaving
productivity enhancements, allowing customers to maximise productivity and
efficiency.

 
XML Select(TM)

  XML Select is one of Galileo`s leading Applications Programming Interface
(API) solutions, supplied as a tool kit directly to travel agents or
third-party software companies to enable the building of a completely
customised Internet booking engine.  With XML Select, Galileo customers can
build an online presence and seamlessly integrate bookable travel content into
a new or existing Web site.  Based on XML (extensible mark-up language), XML
Select helps to reduce costs and contributes to a flexible distribution
strategy.  The effort and specialised knowledge required for development is
minimal, and at the same time, access to a range of new distribution channels,
including digital TV and wireless applications, is possible.

 
About Virgin Travelstore

  The Virgin Travelstore brand was launched at the end of 2000 as a
multi-channelled travel retailer for the Virgin Group, selling holidays,
flights, cars for hire, hotels and ancillary travel products from all the
leading travel suppliers.  Virgin Travelstore now offers a 200-person call
centre, an e-commerce enabled Web site, two High Street travel agencies and
has a major Teletext presence.

 
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 computerised reservation systems, leading-edge products and
innovative Internet-based solutions.  Galileo is a value-added distributor of
travel inventory dedicated to supporting its travel agency and corporate
customers and, through them, expanding traveller choice.  A subsidiary of
Cendant Corporation, Galileo is headquartered in Parsippany, New Jersey, USA,
and has offices worldwide. 

www.galileo.com.
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