Top Independently Owned Agency Shifts Additional Business to Galileo, Citing Galileo’s Advanced Product Suites and Unique Solutions as Driving Factors for Conversion
Galileo International, Inc., a leading global distribution system (GDS), today announced an agreement to become the primary GDS provider for Short’s Travel Management, one of the top independently owned and operated travel management companies in the United States with approximately $150,000,000 in annual sales. With this agreement, Short’s Travel will convert the majority of their business to Galileo.
“The big advantage we see from Galileo is their flexible technology platform. It will make it easier for us to develop our own applications. We decided to consolidate with a primary GDS so we could cross utilize our staff during peak months. The open architecture of Galileo is a huge plus,” said David LeCompte, president, Short’s Travel.
This five-year deal enables Short’s Travel to gain efficiencies by operating with one primary GDS with advanced technology-related solutions for their customers. Through the deployment of some of Galileo’s leading front office desktop solutions, Short’s Travel will increase their competitive advantage and will benefit from additional revenue generating opportunities for the travel management company.
Among the solutions to be implemented is Galileo’s Optimal ShoppingSM, which enables agents to quickly find a substantially greater depth and breadth of itineraries and low-fare pricing options for wholly North American itineraries. The travel management company will also use Web-based Galileo Cruise to provide a broader range of content to their leisure customers, and will continue to work with Galileo to further capitalize on Cendant affiliate Travelport’s corporate booking solution for their larger corporate clients.
“This is a significant shift, and is testimony to the way Galileo is leveraging Cendant’s overall value proposition to deliver significant long term benefits to its customers,” said Bridgette Christiansen, vice president of sales and account development for The Americas, Galileo. “Galileo is committed to partnering closely with our travel agency customers to help them grow their businesses for years to come.”
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 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 Short’s Travel
Short's Travel is a $150 million travel management company with offices in Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas and Missouri. The company is ranked 15th in the Business Travel News Annual Survey. The company is a charter member of Globalstar, a worldwide network of travel management experts proving local access to global consolidation and standardization resources in 32 countries.
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Media Contact:
Cendant Travel Distribution Services
Galileo Americas Inquiries
Sarah Berger or Jill Brenner
(973) 496-5870
TDS.CorpComm@cendant.com