ATLANTA, October 21, 2002—Worldspan today announced a
groundbreaking technology partnership with FareChase, Inc., the leading
provider of Web automation solutions for the travel industry, to provide
Worldspan travel agencies and Worldspan Trip Manager®
customers unparalleled access and full booking functionality for airline Web
fares. Utilizing FareChase Web AutomationÔ
technology under a new licensing agreement, Worldspan is making Web fares as
easy to view and book as published and negotiated fares, all in a single
platform.
New FareChase technology will offer Worldspan users
around the world access to travel inventory from more than 150 travel Web
sites, including fares previously unavailable through global distribution
systems. Users can compare and book Internet fares from major North American
and European carriers as well as leading international low-cost airlines.
Integration of FareChase technology into the Worldspan system and Worldspan
Trip Manager is underway, with full deployment expected later this year.
In the months following initial implementation,
responding to new airline trends, Worldspan will also deploy FareChase User
Recognition System (URS) technology. URS allows travel agents and corporate
travel managers to automate access to their accounts on airline Web sites.
With URS, Worldspan users will be able to access Web-only fares while still
taking advantage of ARC reporting and commission payment offered through
various airline sites.
In addition, Worldspan’s new Web fare solution allows
users to integrate itineraries booked through the system into their
back-office system.
“With the new integrated Web fare solution announced
today, Worldspan travel agents and Trip Manager users can book with complete
confidence, knowing they found the best fare available, without spending extra
time searching the Internet. Our corporate customers are able to select their
level of participation in this new functionality, from the total corporation
down to individual travelers, providing their employees with still greater
choice,” said Mike Parks, senior vice president and general manager –
Worldwide Travel Distribution for Worldspan. “Our new partnership with
FareChase keeps Worldspan out in front in delivering Web automation and other
state-of-the-art technology our travel agency partners and corporate customers
need.”
The ability to access and book airline Web fares directly through the Worldspan system means more options for users and broader marketing reach for air carriers. JetBlue was among the first carriers to applaud the move.
We welcome Worldspan’s use of FareChase technology to
access fares from JetBlue.com for
its users,” said Tim Claydon, Vice President – Sales and Distribution for
JetBlue. “This real-time search capability will enable travel agents and
corporate travel managers to book, track and report JetBlue’s low fares,
which were not previously available to Worldspan customers. This solution
also allows JetBlue to accommodate the needs of the agency and corporate
markets without compromising our low cost model.”
“Worldspan has listened carefully to its customers and responded impressively. Fast, easy access to all key data, including Web fares, will ensure that all Worldspan users can find the fares they need while reducing confusion from use of multiple databases and platforms,” said Krista Pappas, Senior Vice President for FareChase. “Implementing FareChase’s latest software allows for the fastest, most comprehensive instant delivery of global fares with a seamless user experience and full reporting capabilities.”
About FareChase, Inc.
Farechase, Inc. is the leading provider of real-time Web automation technology for the travel industry. Established in 1999, the management team consists of Lior Delgo, President; Ofer Shaked, CTO; Boaz Behar, VP, R&D, and Krista Pappas, Senior Vice President. Motti Kirschenbaum, Chairman of the Board, is developer of the High Tech Center, Ben Gurion Airport, Israel. Other Board members: Bill Burgess, Managing Director, DB Capital/Deutsche Bank (NYSE:DB) Hanan Gilutz, co-founder of Orbotech, Ltd. (NASDAQ: ORBK), Alex Wilmerding, Principal, Boston Capital Ventures, and Lior Delgo, President. For a travel enterprise demonstration, visit www.farechase.com.
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.
###
CONTACT: Patricia Cooledge, Worldspan, 770-563-7885,
email: patricia.cooledge@worldspan.com
Jeffrey Hodes, FareChase, Inc., (646) 452-0660
email: jeff@farechase.com
Corporate Travel Managers at NBTA 2002
SALT LAKE CITY, July 14,
2002—Business travel is taking off, and Worldspan is spreading that confident
message to corporate travel managers with the theme “Now You’re Going Places!”
at the National Business Travel Association (NBTA) 34th Annual
Convention and Exposition, taking place July 14-17 in Salt Lake City, Utah. The
company is showcasing some exciting new enhancements to Worldspan Trip Manager®
at the show, including the introduction of Internet fares via Web AirFare for
Trip Manager, enhanced email notification, increased reporting capabilities,
and airline negotiated rates filed via ATPCO. Innovations such as these are
keeping Worldspan’s Web-based corporate travel management solution out in front
in the corporate online market.
In addition, Worldspan is
highlighting its exceptional Trip Manager customer care and support services,
including access to Trip Manager Business Development Consultants, Client
Relations Consultants, Technical Sales Specialists, and the Worldspan
Enterprise Integration Solutions Group. The company will also unveil a smart
new Trip Manager logo at NBTA 2002.
“Business travel is
going places, and NBTA 2002 is the ideal venue to inform travel managers about
all the ways Worldspan can make corporate travel management easier and more
cost effective,” said John James, vice president – Corporate E-Commerce
Solutions for Worldspan. “It starts with Worldspan Trip Manager, the only
travel management tool that gives corporations the power of the Five Cs: cost
control, convenience, compliance, convergence and customer care.”
The Five Cs represent the
five key benefits Trip Manager offers corporations:
Promotions & Prizes
Worldspan has planned a
number of innovative presentations and promotions to enhance its “Now You’re
Going Places” message at NBTA 2002. NBTA registrants who view a Trip Manager
presentation by performer and speaker Dan Thurmon at the Worldspan booth (Booth
#2201) will receive a set of juggling balls and will be entered into a drawing
to win a Samsonite 21-inch upright suitcase with inline wheels. Drawings for
the luggage will be held at the Worldspan booth every half hour during trade
show hours. A total of 18 pieces of luggage will be awarded.
Attendees can also stop by
the Worldspan booth to view the Trip Manager Interactive Adoption Program for a
chance to win a $200 gift certificate. This entertaining interactive program
allows corporate travel managers to learn more about the financial benefits
offered by Trip Manager, along with customized adoption programs and innovative
ways to launch Trip Manager within a corporation. Participants will also be entered
into a Grand Prize Drawing for a deluxe vacation for two. (Participants must be
present at the drawing to win.)
Worldspan’s booth at NBTA
2002 will feature six computer stations for presentations and product
demonstrations. Short presentations on the new Trip Manager with Web AirFare
are planned, along with demos of Worldspan Go!®, Worldspan My Trip
and MoreSM, Worldspan Report Manager, and Worldspan Corporate
Fleet®. A Trip Manager demo CD and Trip
Manager leather luggage tag will be given to each attendee who views a Trip
Manager demo. In addition, Worldspan bottled water—always a favorite of NBTA
show goers—will be available for all attendees who stop by the booth.
Featured Guest Al Gore
Worldspan, a Prime Sponsor of
NBTA, is the exclusive sponsor of Tuesday’s General Session & Honors
Luncheon, featuring The Honorable Al Gore as keynote speaker and Paul J.
Blackney, Worldspan president and chief executive officer.
In addition, Worldspan is
exclusive sponsor of this year’s NBTA Travel Technology Tools Education Track,
a series of seven technology workshops.
“With the Five Cs of Worldspan Trip Manager and all the
fun, prizes and learning we have planned for NBTA 2002, corporate travel
managers really are going places with Worldspan,” James 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.
###
CONTACT: Patricia Cooledge,
Worldspan, 770-563-7885,
email: patricia.cooledge@worldspan.com