Bangkok--Mar 14--Galaxy Travel Distribution System
Galaxy Travel Distribution System Ltd., specialising in on-line global travel distribution systems for hotels and other ground services, announced today the signing of a comprehensive agreement with UNIGLOBE Travel International Inc., to offer key on-line products to UNIGLOBE regions worldwide in 750 locations in 24 countries. The announcement was made during ITB Berlin 2005, held from the 11th — 15th March 2005, at the Messe, Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
Under the agreement, UNIGLOBE’S global network will reap several significant benefits including access to an unbiased global B2B net-rate platform (Galaxy TDS) giving them access to a global inventory of ground services from a multitude of suppliers and providers of unique properties and services; a comprehensive on-line booking management tool, Galaxy’s Billing and Settlement Program (Galaxy BSP); a support network now covering over 80 territories world-wide; and, ultimately, additional benefits that will soon begin to derive from Galaxy’s innovative approach to developing and integrating a uniform connectivity solution for real-time net rate travel commerce in conjunction with its partner Alliance Reservation Network (ARN), Phoenix, Arizona, USA.
Upon signature of the agreement, Marco Gorin, Galaxy’s Senior Vice President of Sales & Marketing stated “At Galaxy we are going beyond the provision of just offering another booking platform. We provide the global retail travel agent (RTA) community access to a comprehensive platform that provides not only access to marketable inventory, but is designed to assert the RTA’s relevance in full support of their business needs.” Gorin also added “UNIGLOBE’S management has fully comprehended our vision and we welcome their subscription and support. This is a relationship that will continue to evolve also thanks to some revolutionary solutions we are in the process of integrating into our platform.”
Myron J. Ticlo, Galaxy’s Regional Director of Sales — North America, who was instrumental in the negotiations leading to this agreement stated “This new relationship between two leaders in the travel industry will enhance both companies’ ability to provide agents and their customers with better and more choice, as well as enhance their ability to attract quality partners and members.”
According to Amanda Close-Lundquist, Vice President Operations and Regional Services, UNIGLOBE Travel International Inc., “As we are on track to being the leading provider of travel management services to the small and mid-sized corporate market, this agreement with Galaxy will further ensure that all of our UNIGLOBE agents worldwide provide unparalleled service and performance for their clients. Galaxy’s solutions will supply UNIGLOBE agents with multiple products which serve as solutions to specific market requirements and connect our agents to a global inventory of dynamic travel products.”
“Galaxy’s systems, with their innovative display of net rates, will give our agents with the ability to search a huge inventory of travel products for their clients and will also allow our agents to mark up these net rates adding to their agency’s profitability,” added Close — Lundquist.
During ITB Berlin 2005, Galaxy cordially invites members of the print and broadcast to visit its booth located in the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) pavilion, Hall 26 A, Stand 104.
Issued by Galaxy Distribution System Ltd.
For more information, please contact:
Mr G.E. “Coke” Mead
Director — Public Relations
Incentive Dynamics (S) Pte. Ltd.
PR Counsel to Galaxy Distribution System Ltd.
Tel/Fax: 66-2 — 691 — 7193
Mobile: 66-1 — 850 — 7979
Email: [email protected]
Note to Editors:
Galaxy Distribution System Ltd. (www.galaxy-system.com) is an unbiased on-line global distribution platform for hotels and other ground services. Galaxy provides travel professionals with multiple products which serve as solutions to specific market requirements—and which connect travel service buyers to a worldwide inventory of dynamic travel products in a way never before available to the travel industry.
Galaxy products, integrated and driven by a central platform, include:
- Galaxy TDS: The first true global distribution system dedicated to hotels and other ground services products and designed for Retail Travel Agents to search, compare, book and pay for competitive inventory provided by Receptive Inbound Operators, national tourism boards/organisations and other inventory aggregators. Galaxy TDS inventory is sourced from many channels and is distributed via Galaxy’s own software applications, as well as Galaxy’s interface capabilities through a dynamic switch called ABBIE.
- The Galaxy ABBIE Switch: Enabling real-time, on-line travel commerce between net-rate inventory suppliers and distributors, including travel portals, resulting in streamlined communications, increased profitability, and customer satisfaction for all participants. Designed to provide participants with a uniform connectivity solution that promotes efficient, easy, seamless trading. Galaxy ABBIE Switch is a joint development between Galaxy and Alliance Reservation Network (ARN)
- Galaxy TBRS?: A unique distribution platform designed to assist national and local tourism organisations and hotel associations to capitalise on their own reservation potential, thus generating revenue opportunities for tourism promotion for their respective regions.
- Galaxy GS GroundServices? : A private trading platform that automates the distribution and sales of Receptive Inbound Operators’ inventory to their private buyers and Galaxy TDS’s Retail Travel Agents.
- Galaxy BSP: The first global billing and settlement system, specifically designed for non-air products in support of the above systems. Galaxy BSP provides access to a banking network in over 80 countries and allows cash transactions in over 30 currencies and credit card transactions in multiple currencies.
Galaxy’s current customers include (1) Retail Travel Agents, who typically sell airline tickets and/or ground services to retail customers; (2) Tourism boards/organisations and hotel associations, who are increasingly looking to generate revenues by offering reservations and other services; (3) Receptive / Inbound Operators ,who receive foreign travellers and provide ground services, including hotel bookings, transfers, tour guides, excursions, etc.; and 4) Outbound Tour Operators, who buy wholesale services from inbound operators and resell packages or individual elements to travel agents or direct to travellers.
In addition to its current customer base, Galaxy is actively participating in the rapid changes in the electronic distribution of travel products by expanding both its supply and distribution channels with Travel Portals; Inventory Aggregators; Switches; Central Reservation Systems; Global Distribution Systems; and other electronic distributors.
Notes to Editors:
About UNIGLOBE Travel (International) Inc. - UNIGLOBE Travel International is the world's largest single brand travel franchise organization with 750 locations in more than 24 countries in North and South America, Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. Operating under a well-recognized brand name, UNIGLOBE travel agencies specialize in providing travel services to small-to-medium sized corporate accounts and to leisure travellers. UNIGLOBE Travel International has its world headquarters in Vancouver, B.C., Canada and the U. S. headquarters based in Irvine, CA. More information at www.uniglobetravel.com
Mr Brian Dahl
Director of Communications
UNIGLOBE Travel International Inc.
604-718-2688
[email protected] End.