Galileo is the only GDS to Provide Agents Worldwide with the Convenience of One-Stop Shopping through Contractual Commitments with Almost 30,000 Hotel Properties
November 28, 2005 – Galileo International, Inc., a leading global distribution system (GDS) and subsidiary of Cendant Corp. (NYSE: CD), today announced an agreement with Accor Hotels to add over 2,000 properties to Galileo’s Best Available Rate (BAR) program, which increases the BAR inventory to almost 30,000 properties. Galileo is the first and only GDS to sign contractual agreements with major hotel chains to provide travel agents with access to the best available published, non-restricted rates offered either online or over the phone via the hotel chain’s reservation line.
“With Galileo Best Available Rate, we have addressed one of the major pain points for agents - the inconsistency of hotel rates across distribution channels,” said Eileen Kennedy, vice president, marketing, the Americas, Galileo. “With an agent having the assurance that through this one-stop-shop they are booking the best available rate for a client, we’ve put an end to extra searches and tedious steps in the booking process. And with the increased efficiency, agents are able to shift their focus to merchandizing other components of a trip to drive agency revenue and provide an enhanced level of customer service during the booking process.”
Galileo BAR is an exclusive program for all Galileo-connected agents that offers the convenience of one-stop shopping by giving agents the confidence that they no longer need to shop outside the GDS for the best rates at almost 30,000 participating hotel properties. As a cornerstone of Galileo’s suite of hotel products, Galileo BAR exemplifies the power and possibility for agents by providing the extensive revenue generating content right in the GDS.
Properties participating in BAR are now identified with an exclamation mark in the display screen. This new BAR indicator makes it easy for agents to identify a BAR hotel, ensuring that they are booking at the best available non-restricted rate. In addition to Accor Hotels, a European leader and one of the world's largest groups in travel, tourism and corporate services, Galileo has signed contractual agreements with major hotel chains including Marriott International, Hyatt Hotels & Resorts, Hilton International, Cendant Hotels, Outrigger Hotels & Resorts, Kimpton Hotels, Carlson Hospitality, Omni Hotels, Minto Place Hotels, Destinations, WestCoast & Red Lion Hotels, Best Western, and Kempinski Hotels & Resorts to provide access to their best available non-restricted published rates through the GDS.
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 and part of Cendant's Travel Distribution Services Division, Galileo is headquartered in Parsippany, NJ, and has offices worldwide.
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 9,000 people in approximately 140 countries, includes: a leading (GDS) global distribution system (Galileo), serving more than 50,000 travel agencies and over 60,000 hotels; hotel distribution and services businesses (Neat Group®, THOR®, TRUST and WizCom®); leading online travel agencies (Asia-hotel.com, CheapTickets®, ebookers.com®, HotelClub.com, Lodging.com, Orbitz®, RatesToGo.com, and The Away Network); an airline market intelligence company (Shepherd Systems); an international travel technology and software company (Travelwire); a leading international provider of long-haul air travel and travel product consolidator (Travel 2®/Travel 4®); online global corporate travel management solutions (Orbitz for Business® and Travelport®); and a leading wholesaler and global online provider of hotels, destination services, travel packages and group tours (Gullivers Travel Associates, OctopusTravel.com® and Travel Bound, Inc.).