LONDON–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Nov. 14, 2005–The Sabre global distribution system has won the accolade of ‘World’s Leading GDS/CRS’ for a record twelfth consecutive year at the World Travel Awards, this year presented at World Travel Market (WTM) in London. Travelocity was named the ‘World’s Leading Travel Internet Site’ for the eighth consecutive year.
“Our parent company, Sabre Holdings, has led the way in expanding and deepening its presence in every channel of travel distribution, offering travel suppliers huge distribution value,” said John Stow, president of Sabre Travel Network. “The Sabre GDS remains the most efficient and profitable way for travel suppliers to distribute their products. Travel agents and travel providers around the world have recognized this, and today’s tremendous honor is the result.”
Michelle Peluso, Travelocity’s president and chief executive officer, was named ‘Internet Travel Personality of the Year’ at the ceremony. She said the dotcom’s award was the result of its continued focus on “getting things right for the customer,” and its “before, during and after” approach to the entire travel experience.
“Our acquisition this year of lastminute.com was a natural extension to our view that travel is more than about getting to your destination – it’s about everything that happens during and after the trip. We’re just so pleased and grateful that this approach has been recognised by the World Travel Awards, and we’re looking forward to growing our presence in Europe still further through lastminute.com.”
“Since founding the World Travel Awards in 1993 we have seen a growing sophistication in the travel and tourism trade, and increased competition,” said Graham Cooke, president of the World Travel Awards.
“Although 2005 has seen its fair share of global events, from hurricanes to soaring oil prices, our winners have continued to survive and thrive. They’ve seen challenges as opportunities and led the way for the industry. They are having a major impact and influence on the world’s travel and tourism industry, and are true innovators and benchmarkers, especially in the areas of customer service, technology, operational efficiency, product offering and style.”
The World Travel Awards were organized in 1993 to acknowledge and celebrate excellence in the world’s travel and tourism industry. They are voted for independently by travel professionals worldwide. More than 150,000 agents from 80,000 travel agencies across the globe participated in the World Travel Awards’ recent voting campaign.
About Sabre Travel Network
Sabre Travel Network, a Sabre Holdings company, provides access to the world’s leading global distribution system (GDS). The Sabre GDS is a ready-built efficient marketplace that connects suppliers, including hundreds of airlines and thousands of hotels, with more than 50,000 travel agency locations. Suppliers get access through one single connection; travel agents get real time access to thousands of travel products from multiple suppliers through one source integrated into their businesses; consumers get access to a global supermarket of the world’s greatest travel possibilities.
Key brands of Sabre Travel Network include GetThere, the leading Web-based corporate travel reservation technology, and Jurni Network, the unique leisure travel agency consortium in the United States that enables members to sell more products from preferred travel suppliers using sophisticated market intelligence.
About Travelocity
Travelocity is committed to being the traveler’s champion – before, during and after the trip and works hand-in-hand with the world’s most reputable travel providers so that everything about a customer’s booking will be right. And if it’s not, Travelocity guarantees that it will work with its partners to make it right, right away. This customer-driven focus, backed by live 24/7 phone support, great prices and powerful shopping technology has made Travelocity the fifth largest travel agency in the U.S. – booking $4.9 billion in travel in 2004. Based in Southlake, Texas, Travelocity also owns and operates Travelocity Business(SM), and lastminute.com, a leader in European online travel. Travelocity is owned by Sabre Holdings Corporation (NYSE:TSG), a world leader in travel commerce.
About Sabre Holdings
Sabre Holdings connects people with the world’s greatest travel possibilities by retailing travel products and providing distribution and technology solutions for the travel industry. Sabre Holdings supports travellers, travel agents, corporations, government agencies and travel suppliers through its companies: Travelocity, Sabre Travel Network and Sabre Airline Solutions. Headquartered in Southlake, Texas, the company has approximately 9,000 employees in 45 countries. Full year 2004 revenues totaled $2.1 billion. Sabre Holdings, an S&P 500 company, is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol TSG. More information is available at http://www.sabre-holdings.com.
CONTACT: Sabre Holdings, Southlake
Nanci Williams, 682-605-2271
nanci.williams@sabre-holdings.com
or
Travelocity, Southlake
Joel Frey, 682-605-2178
joel.frey@travelocity.com
SOURCE: Sabre Holdings
