SOUTHLAKE, Texas–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Feb. 10, 2006–Sabre Travel Network, the leading provider of innovative travel distribution solutions for travel agencies and suppliers, today announced it has signed a long-term Global Distribution System (“GDS”) subscriber agreement with priceline.com(R) (Nasdaq:PCLN).
“We are very pleased to be joining forces with Sabre Travel Network,” said Chris Soder, executive vice president for priceline.com. “Having access to the travel products our customers need is critical, and we feel Sabre is well positioned to provide that access. We appreciate their strong commitment to the agency channel and we are looking forward to a rewarding future together.”
“We are very excited about our agreement with priceline.com,” said Chris Kroeger, senior vice president for Sabre Travel Network, North America. “They are a leader in the travel industry and we think our partnership will be a tremendously successful one. Priceline joins other major travel industry participants who have partnered with the Sabre Travel Network, demonstrating their belief in the value delivered by our efficient marketplace.”
With Priceline, Sabre Travel Network now has relationships with three of the four top online agencies in the U.S. In addition, Travelocity’s recently acquired lastminute.com, one of the leading online sites in Europe, has announced plans to begin moving its bookings to the Sabre GDS.
Other recent commitments that have been announced include U.S. Airways and Northwest Airlines for long-term agreements for full content renewals that include all published fares and inventory, including Web fares. AirTran Airways also signed a long-term agreement in late 2005 committing to make all its fares and inventory available through the Sabre Travel Network global distribution system (GDS) and Travelocity.
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 that enables members to sell more products from preferred travel suppliers using sophisticated market intelligence.
Sabre Holdings (NYSE:TSG) connects people with the world’s greatest travel possibilities by retailing travel products and providing distribution and technology solutions for the travel industry. More information about Sabre Holdings is available at http://www.sabre-holdings.com.
About Priceline
Priceline.com is the leading travel service for value-conscious leisure travelers. No other travel service gives customers more ways to save on their airline tickets, hotel rooms, rental cars, vacation packages and cruises. In addition to getting all the best published prices, leisure travelers can narrow their searches using priceline.com’s TripFilter(TM) advanced search technology, create packages to save even more money, and take advantage of priceline.com’s famous Name Your Own Price(R) service, which delivers the lowest prices available.
Priceline.com operates one of Europe’s fastest growing hotel reservation services through Activehotels.com, Activereservations.com, Bookings.net and priceline.co.uk. The company also operates the following travel web sites: Travelweb.com, Lowestfare.com, RentalCars.com and BreezeNet.com. Priceline.com also has a personal finance service that offers home mortgages, refinancing and home equity loans through an independent licensee. Priceline.com licenses its business model to independent licensees, including priceline mortgage and certain international licensees.
CONTACT: Sabre Travel Network, Southlake
Kathryn Hayden, 682-605-2252
kathryn.hayden@sabre-holdings.com
or
Priceline.com
Brian Ek, 203-299-8167
brian.ek@priceline.com
SOURCE: Sabre Travel Network
