Top travel agencies partner with Worldspan under new cooperative program, leveraging core agency strength and adding to Worldspan’s portfolio of Trip Manager support services.
SALT LAKE CITY, July 14, 2002—Worldspan has launched the Trip Manager Fulfillment Partner Program, a cooperative initiative that enables participating travel agencies to provide ticket fulfillment services to corporate clients utilizing Worldspan Trip Manager®, the company’s industry-leading online booking and travel management solution. By allowing partner agencies to leverage a core strength—fulfillment—the program offers significant new revenue opportunities for agencies. The Fulfillment Partner Program also adds an important dimension to Worldspan’s robust portfolio of support services for Trip Manager customers, which features 24/7 product support, focused implementation services, and innovative customized adoption programs.
Announcement of the new program comes at the opening of the National Business Travel Association (NBTA) 34th Annual Convention and Exposition, taking place July 14-17 in Salt Lake City, Utah.
“Through our new Trip Manager Fulfillment Partner Program, Worldspan is able to demonstrate the value of Trip Manager to a new and larger corporate market and deliver even greater value to our current customers,” commented Mike Parks, senior vice president and general manager – Worldwide Travel Distribution for Worldspan. “In addition, by assuming all Trip Manager sales and product support responsibilities, Worldspan can direct Trip Manager business more effectively, enabling our agency partners to concentrate on fulfillment while maximizing agency revenue through the wider use of Trip Manager.”
A number of leading travel agencies have signed on to participate in the Trip Manager Fulfillment Partner Program. One early participant in the new program is Navigant International, one of the world’s largest travel management service providers.
“We’re very excited to join the select group of Worldspan
Trip Manager® Fulfillment Partners. This is a superb opportunity to
generate new revenue by doing one of the things we do best—managing fulfillment
services for corporate clients,” said Thom Nulty, president and chief operating
officer for Navigant International.
Today, a team of dedicated Worldspan professionals offers Trip Manager customers end-to-end consultation and support services.
First, Worldspan Business Development Consultants analyze a corporation’s travel patterns and expenses to determine how Trip Manager can strengthen travel management processes. By allowing corporations to maximize compliance with travel policy and strengthen preferred supplier relationships, Trip Manager helps control travel costs. Using an innovative Trip Manager Cost Savings Model, Business Development Consultants can precisely outline a client’s specific savings opportunities.
Upon delivery of the product, Trip Manager Client Relations Consultants provide client training services, recommend adoption programs, and ensure the successful implementation of Trip Manager within the corporation. Drawing on current best practices and broad experience in travel technology, Client Relations Consultants are able to devise strategies tailored for the individual client, helping corporations get the most from their investment in Trip Manager.
In addition, Trip Manager Technical Sales Specialists provide technical support for quick resolution of product
issues, and the Trip Manager Customer Assistance Center is available
around the clock to help corporate travel managers and travelers resolve
specific travel problems.
“Our enhanced product support capability together with our new Fulfillment Partner Program enable Worldspan to provide the superior service our customers demand while strengthening relationships with our travel agency partners so essential to the success of Trip Manager in the marketplace,” Parks said.
Worldspan provides global electronic distribution of travel information, Internet products and connectivity, and electronic commerce capabilities for travel agencies, travel service providers and corporations worldwide. The company's three lines of business are travel supplier services, e-commerce, and global distribution systems for the worldwide travel industry. The Worldspan reservations system provides nearly 20,000 travel agencies and other users worldwide with travel data and booking capabilities for hundreds of the world's leading travel supplier services. Worldspan is the market leader in e-commerce for the travel industry, processing more than 50 percent of all online travel agency bookings. The company maintains world headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia. Worldspan is owned by affiliates of Delta Air Lines, Inc. (NYSE: DAL), Northwest Airlines (NASDAQ: NWAC) and American Airlines. Additional information is available at www.worldspan.com.
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CONTACT: Patricia Cooledge, Worldspan, 770-563-7885,
email: patricia.cooledge@worldspan.com