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Portaga Takes Off; The Unmanaged Travelers' Travel Manager

Posted on: Monday, 22 August 2005, 12:00 CDT

First and Only Smart Connect(TM) Travel Management Application to Bring the Power of Web Services to Life

Portaga, Inc.(TM), formerly Realtime Enterprises, today outlined its vision for transforming the travel distribution industry. The company is delivering a patent-pending Smart Connect(TM) technology that provides access to competitively-priced travel services with a single click from a desktop application. Based on sophisticated Web services, Smart Connect is the foundation for the Portaga travel manager application which will be introduced through select travel suppliers and distributors this fall. The software aggregates information from disparate online sources and integrates reservation information directly into calendaring and expense reporting applications.

Portaga solves a problem familiar to the U.S. business traveler - managing travel in an efficient, cost-effective way. In a recent Harris Interactive survey(1), more than 50 percent of respondents cited "logistical challenges" as the most difficult part of managing business travel, and a majority of the road warriors polled ranked effective time and cost management as top priorities. The study found that American business travelers value online travel services and are looking for sophisticated tools that go well beyond simple self-booking. By transforming an everyday computing environment into a powerful control center, Portaga addresses this call to action and allows travelers to schedule reservations directly from their PC desktops.

"Those of us who book and manage our own travel online can immediately see the value of the convenience delivered by the Portaga travel manager," said Howard Morgan, director of First Round Capital and a founder of Idealab. "Furthermore, travel suppliers and distributors also stand to gain from Portaga by connecting more directly with customers, building brand loyalty and increasing repeat transactions. This idea, supported by the technology that brings it to life, is one of the most innovative developments I've seen in some time."

"Streamlining the process of searching for and scheduling travel is good for the traveler, the supplier and the distributor," said Robert Kost, CEO of Portaga. "If all goes as planned, it won't be long before you can create an itinerary that includes your flight, hotel room, dinner reservations, limousine, theatre tickets and other services, book them from your PDA and update your calendar at the same time. We're in active discussions with many of the world's premier travel suppliers and continue to seek partners that will help strengthen the Portaga's comprehensive value to travelers."

Portaga to Unveil Travel Manager at New York Launch Party

Portaga is a result of five years' development work leveraging Web services technologies and finally brings the power of Web services to life in the travel distribution industry. The company plans to unveil an early version of the Portaga travel manager at a launch event on September 14, 2005 at the Explorer's Club in New York City. Several of the most influential companies in the travel and technology industries will join Portaga including Avis/Cendant, Genesys Partners, National Travel Management Alliance, PhoCusWright and Sabre.

About Portaga Inc.

Portaga Inc., formerly Realtime Enterprises, is the premier provider of patent-pending Smart Connect travel management applications. Using Web services technology, the Portaga travel manager links travelers directly with travel suppliers' inventories. The application is embedded into users' desktop and integrates seamlessly with calendaring, e-mail and expense reporting applications. The company was recognized as a technology up-and-comer at the 2005 DEMO! Conference. Portaga is a Microsoft Gold Certified partner and a member of the Open Travel Alliance (OTA). Key customers and partners include Cendant and Sabre, two of the most-trusted names in travel. The company is privately held, with investors including First Round Capital, Geocapital Partners, Cove Harbor Partners, and Genesys Partners. For more information visit www.portaga.com.

(1) "Travelers Seek Advanced Booking Tech," Harris Interactive poll conducted on behalf of Cendant, April 2005

Source: Business Wire

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