Gray Dawes Business Travel Management has just made
a major investment in developing on-line booking systems for the future
following the signing of a new contract with award winning solutions supplier KDS.

This new contract will see Gray Dawes providing its clients with state of
the art bookings direct from any PC or laptop later this year, as well as
becoming the first independent business travel specialist in the UK to link
up with KDS
, the European leader for business travel e-procurement
solutions.

The new online booking portal, now being designed by KDS will save time and
money for all Gray Dawes` clients who will be able to make travel
reservations from their office PCs, as well as checking and changing
itineraries out in the field from a laptop.

This `travel agency in a briefcase` will have one key advantage over
anything else currently available on the market - instant help from an
experienced travel advisor at the touch of an on-screen button.

KDS Live Agent is an exclusive product of KDS which brings human
intervention into the automated on-line booking process.

If the travel booker feels he or she needs help to complete the process, or
simply wants alternative travel suggestions, a screen click will ensure that
a travel counsellor at Gray Dawes will instantly be looking at the same
screen as the traveller. The two can then `chat` via keyboard input, or can
talk on the phone.

Said Gray Dawes managing director Ray Hopkins: “We are making a major
investment with KDS because their system is the best that is available. The
Live Agent function is just one example of how they are taking the whole
process of on-screen bookings by travellers a step further than anyone else
in the market”.

Added KDS chief executive officer Yves Weisselberger
: “Gray Dawes clearly
sees that its future as a business travel management company is inextricably
linked to its ability to offer the very best interactive systems for
customers. We are delighted to have been chosen to provide Gray Dawes a
system that will support their effort.”

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(28/02/2002) seeUthere Forms Booking Partnership with KDS

(29/05/2001) KDS to Develop Direct Access to Hertz` Booking System

(10/05/2001) Wave Suite`s KDS to Provide Direct Access to Pegasus Solutions Hotel Reservation Systems

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