Sabre launches New Internet tool for travel agents
Sabre Holdings Corporation (NYSE: TSG), the leading provider of technology, distribution and marketing services for the travel industry, today announced its enhanced suite of online booking products to help travel agents build a Web presence faster—at a price that meets current market conditions.
Designed to help agencies establish a compelling, competitive identity in the online travel distribution space, the Sabre .Res Internet booking engine enables agencies to power a sophisticated online booking system in less than a week.
“We believe it`s imperative that agents establish and maintain a strong bookable presence on the Internet to provide a competitive offering in the lucrative online channel,” said Jeff Harmon, Sabre`s senior vice president of online travel solutions. “This is even more important when times are tough. Agents need to get every booking they can, from wherever they can get it. If agents shut themselves out of the online market, they—and their businesses—will surely feel the effects. Our enhanced suite is designed to make sure agents are where their customers need them—online and offline.”
In fact, according to PhoCusWright, a leading Internet travel intelligence company, overall U.S. online travel sales are expected to reach $34 billion by 2003, up from $14.5 billion in 2000
Sabre also today announced it has completed the final phase of its integration with Gradient, the Dublin-based travel e-commerce company it acquired in August 2000, which originally formed the multi-lingual, multi- currency technology for the Sabre .Res suite of products.
Based on customer feedback, Sabre has enhanced its existing range of online booking tools, and in turn, developed a new Sabre .Res product line. The Sabre .Res products enable travel agencies to create and/or enhance their own travel booking Web site that can connect travelers to more than 450 airlines, 50 car rental companies, 50,000 hotels, 33 railroads, 228 tour operators and eight cruise lines worldwide.
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“The market has spoken, and we have listened and delivered,” said Harmon. “Sabre .Res gives travel agents what they want and need to compete today: an affordable presence in the online travel arena. We`re already hearing from travel agencies who want to get online with Sabre .Res.”
Sabre has one of the largest range of Internet solutions for travel agents who want to establish a bookable presence online. Its online booking suite of products powers more than 1,500 travel Web sites, including STA Travel, Cheap Seats, Austrian Airlines, Volando.com, Robustelli.com, Karavel.com, Travelbag.co.uk, Cheapfares.com, Northwest Airlines and KLM. As part of the organization`s final integration with Gradient, it will replace the Gradient name with the Sabre brand on a global basis.
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