• E-mail
• Print
• Comment
• Font Size
• Digg
• del.icio.us
• Discuss article

Worldspan Trip Manager(R) XE Presents VFM Interactive's Rich Media Content for Hotel Properties Worldwide

Posted on: Tuesday, 16 August 2005, 09:00 CDT

SAN DIEGO, Aug. 16 /PRNewswire/ -- Worldspan Trip Manager(R) XE, a leading corporate online travel management solution, has been infused with VFM Interactive's rich media and visual marketing content for hundreds of hotel and resort properties around the world. Worldspan made the announcement at the National Business Travel Association's (NBTA) 37th Annual Convention and Trade Show here today.

Through Worldspan's new partnership with VFM Interactive, the leading distributor and producer of rich media content for the lodging and travel industry, corporate travelers who book trips online through Trip Manager XE are able to view, shop, compare and book hotel properties by tapping into videos, 360 degree virtual tours, slide shows, Flash productions and stills for specific properties and destinations. Worldspan is the first GDS partner to integrate VFM's product into the travel distribution chain.

"Rich media for shopping and comparing hotel properties is a meaningful enhancement to an already robust travel management solution for corporations," said Cheryl Weldon, Worldspan vice president - Major Accounts. "Worldspan continues to build its leadership position in travel e-commerce, which is central to our commitment to being the preferred travel technology partner for corporations and travel agencies." Weldon said hotel rich media will soon be available through the Worldspan Go!(R) desktop travel management solution for travel agencies.

"Trip Manager XE is the most complete travel application available to corporations today," said Terry W. Brennan, president, Williamsburg American Express. "In addition to interfacing every aspect of travel planning and procurement with their internal systems via the Web, our customers use the best fares and pricing solutions in the industry from Worldspan, and they continually receive more and better access to Web content. As our clients' travel agency of record, it is reassuring to know Trip Manager XE is backed and powered by the leader in travel e-commerce, and that Worldspan is not out in the market competing against us as a travel retailer."

The travel industry's first online corporate travel management engineered from the ground up to leverage the strengths of the .NET platform, Trip Manager XE enables corporations to integrate travel planning, procurement and reporting with existing enterprise-wide expense management systems via the Internet. Corporate travelers have up-to-the-minute availability and bookings for millions of airfares daily, and thousands of hotel properties and car rental locations. The solution integrates with industry-leading fares and pricing tools to help corporations control and reduce air travel spend, including Worldspan Rapid Reprice(SM), the first and most comprehensive automated ticket repricing solution; Worldspan SecuRate(R) Air, the leading solutions for managing private and negotiated fares; and Worldspan e-Pricing, a suite of tools that continue to set standards in low-fare shopping and booking technology.

VFM Interactive is the leading distributor and producer of rich media content for the lodging and travel industry. Operating the largest and fastest-growing distribution network, VFM enables hotels to maximize their presence online using the power of rich media on more than 5,000 travel and travel-related sites where consumers are researching and purchasing travel products. VFM also produces a variety of rich media marketing content including videos, 360 degree virtual tours and Flash productions. VFM's clients include over 3,000 hotels and resorts from brands and management companies such as Best Western, Choice, Crowne Plaza, Hilton, Holiday Inn, Interstate, Marriott, MGM, Outrigger, Radisson, Regent, Sheraton, W, Westin, and Wyndham properties.

About Worldspan, L.P.

Worldspan is a leader in travel technology services for travel suppliers, travel agencies, e-commerce sites and corporations worldwide. Utilizing some of the fastest, most flexible and efficient networks and computing technologies, Worldspan provides comprehensive electronic data services linking approximately 800 travel suppliers around the world to a global customer base. Worldspan offers industry-leading Fares and Pricing technology such as Worldspan e-Pricing(R), hosting solutions and customized travel products. Worldspan enables travel suppliers, distributors and corporations to reduce costs and increase productivity with technology like Worldspan Go!(R) and Worldspan Trip Manager(R) XE. Worldspan is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. Additional information is available at worldspan.com.

Statements in this release and any exhibits hereto which are not purely historical facts, including statements about forecasted financial projections or other statements about anticipations, beliefs, expectations, hopes, intentions or strategies for the future, may be forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements are based upon information available to Worldspan, L.P. ("the Company") on the date this release was submitted. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Any forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from the events or results described in the forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, risks and uncertainties related to: the Company's revenue being highly dependent on the travel and transportation industries; airlines limiting their participation in travel marketing and distribution services; and other changes or events which impact the travel industry or the Company. More information on potential risks and uncertainties is available in the Company's recent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the Company's annual Form 10-K report, Forms 10-Q, Forms 8-K and Form S-4.

Worldspan

CONTACT: Erin Hadaway of Worldspan, +1-770-563-6545, orerin.hadaway@worldspan.com

Web site: http://www.worldspan.com/

Source: PRNewswire

More News in this Category