Travelocity and Sabre Travel Network extend deals to benefit travelers and agents
SOUTHLAKE, Texas – Oct. 9, 2007 – Sabre Holdings and Marriott strengthened their relationship through contract signings and product launches in 2007. Both Travelocity and Sabre Travel Network have renewed their distribution agreement with Marriott International, creating a pan-Sabre relationship. The contract enables Travelocity’s customers more flexibility when planning stays at Marriott Hotels & Resorts, JW Marriott Hotels & Resorts, Renaissance Hotels & Resorts, Courtyard, Residence Inn, Fairfield Inn, TownePlace Suites and SpringHill Suites. Through the Sabre Travel Network portion of the agreement travel agents will continue to have rate parity for published rates, as well as negotiated rates through Sabre. Terms were not disclosed.
Travelocity will offer its customers access to an expanded room selection, such as ocean view rooms and other special room categories, plus a number of new hotels, like Marriott Vacation Club properties. Travelocity also will continue to have access to bundled rates for vacation packages.
“With this agreement, we’ve further strengthened an already strong relationship with Marriott,” said Ross Mantione, vice president partner marketing for Travelocity. “This agreement will translate into more choice, more flexibility and more value for our mutual customers. This will also help us to continue to grow our presence in Europe and Asia-Pacific with our lastminute.com and ZUJI brands, respectively.”
“We are extremely pleased to continue our relationship with Travelocity and Sabre,” said Larraine Voll Morris, vice president eDistribution for Marriott International, Inc. “It’s all about giving customers convenience, choice and reliability when booking Marriott hotel rooms.”
In addition, Marriott is using Sabre’s maximum occupancy product, simplifying the shopping process when finding lodging for parties up to nine people in a single room. Marriott also enrolled more than 1,400 properties in Hotel UpSell, which gives properties an average 12 percent increase in booking revenue for each UpSell transaction made in Sabre’s global agency network.
“We are excited that Marriott is using these tools to assist in accelerated revenue growth through our merchandising and distribution tools. This further signals the strength of our partnership by delivering the best value during the shopping process,” said Stephen Fitzgerald, vice president of Hotel and Car Distribution for Sabre Travel Network.
As a leader in the travel industry, Sabre Holdings has the most extensive offerings in the hotel space compared to any travel-related company in the world, with a broad range of distribution channels and services focused on helping hoteliers sell more rooms, provide better customer service and increase revenues.
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 travelers, 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. More information is available at www.sabre-holdings.com.
About Marriott International, Inc
MARRIOTT INTERNATIONAL, INC. (NYSE:MAR) is a leading lodging company with over 2,900 lodging properties in the United States and 67 other countries and territories. Marriott International operates and franchises hotels under the Marriott, JW Marriott, The Ritz-Carlton, Renaissance, Residence Inn, Courtyard, TownePlace Suites, Fairfield Inn, SpringHill Suites and Bulgari brand names; develops and operates vacation ownership resorts under the Marriott Vacation Club, Horizons, The Ritz-Carlton Club and Grand Residences by Marriott brands; operates Marriott Executive Apartments; provides furnished corporate housing through its Marriott ExecuStay division; and operates conference centers. Marriott is also in the synthetic fuel business. The company is headquartered in Washington, D.C., and had approximately 151,000 employees at 2006 year-end. It is ranked as the lodging industry’s most admired company and one of the best places to work for by FORTUNE®. The company is also a 2006 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ENERGY STAR® Partner. In fiscal year 2006, Marriott International reported sales from continuing operations of $12.2 billion. For more information or reservations, please visit our Web site at www.marriott.com.
