-- Enables Galileo-Connected Agents to Determine Best Value --
-- Eliminates “Surprise” Charges at Check-Out --
Galileo International, Inc., a leading global distribution system (GDS) and subsidiary of Cendant Corp. (NYSE: CD), today announced an upgraded hotel pricing display called Complete Pricing. The display now provides Galileo-connected travel agents with the complete price, which adds all taxes and surcharges to the basic nightly rate, and totals it for the entire stay. Galileo agents around the world can now be confident that they are conveying the complete price information to their customer, thus improving customer service.
“Complete Pricing provides Galileo-connected agents with a powerful tool that helps them determine the best value during the booking process,” said Eileen Kennedy, vice president, Marketing, Galileo Travel Agency Services, Americas. “Complete Pricing eliminates ‘surprise charges’ and provides guests with a clear expectation on the total price at check-out.”
To launch this new enhancement, Galileo partnered with several leading hotel brands including Supranational Hotels which supported the design and testing phases of Complete Pricing. This tool will prove useful to agents and Web-users alike while providing a competitive advantage at the critical point of sale. In addition, WizCom and Pegasus Solutions both support the new Complete Pricing functionality. In the spirit of true partnership and synergies, Supranational Hotels recently signed a Jumpstart agreement with the Cendant Corporation.
“Supranational Hotels is delighted to be the launch partner of the appropriately named Complete Pricing enhancement,” said Niels Pedersen, managing director, Supranational Hotels Ltd. “The ability to provide the full cost of accommodations will give agents an additional service tool early in the shopping process, ensuring a clear expectation of the hotel bill from the onset.”
Alongside Galileo’s Inside Shopper which allows travel agents to “shop” directly through a hotel group’s central reservation system and Best Available Rate program where travel agents can access the best available published rates offered either online or via the hotel reservation number, Complete Pricing is an effort to provide travel agents with another valuable tool to better service their client. Galileo anticipates a steady increase of hotel participation in Complete Pricing from the 240+ bookable hotel chains in the GDS, accounting for almost 62,000 properties worldwide.
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About Cendant Travel Distribution Services
Cendant Corporation’s (NYSE: CD) Travel Distribution Services Division, is one of the world’s largest and most geographically diverse collections of travel brands and distribution businesses. The division, employing nearly 5,000 people in more than 115 countries, includes: Galileo, a leading global distribution services (GDS) company, serving more than 44,000 travel agencies and over 60,000 hotels; hotel distribution and services businesses (TRUST, THOR, WizCom and Neat Group); leading online travel agencies (Orbitz, CheapTickets®, Lodging.com, HotelClub.com and RatesToGo.com); Shepherd Systems, an airline market intelligence company; Travelwire, an international travel technology and software company; Travel 2/Travel 4, a leading international provider of long-haul air travel and travel product consolidator; online global corporate travel management solutions, through Travelport and Orbitz for Business.
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 computerized reservation systems, leading-edge products and innovative, Internet-based solutions. Galileo is a value-added distributor of travel inventory dedicated to supporting its travel supplier, agency and corporate customers and, through them, expanding traveler choice. A subsidiary of Cendant Corporation (NYSE: CD) and part of Cendant's Travel Distribution Services Division, Galileo is headquartered in Parsippany, NJ, and has offices worldwide. Visit www.galileo.com.
About Supranational Hotels Ltd
Supranational Hotels 'representation-to-reservations' brand, headquartered in London, is one of the world's largest hotel companies, supplying reservations, sales, marketing and technology solutions to the hotel industry. Supranational Hotels' 1000+ property portfolio, caters for both business and leisure guests, serving over 500 destinations worldwide. More information about Supranational Hotels is available at: www.snrhotels.com or by emailing: supranational@supranational.co.uk.
Media Contact:
Cendant Travel Distribution Services
Mary Henn or Jill Brenner
973-496-5870
TDS.CorpCom@cendant.com