GetThere Benchmark Survey Reveals Corporations Are Booking Nearly Two-Thirds of Reservations Online; Companies Focusing on Inter
August 15 2005 - 7:00AM
Business Wire
GetThere(R), provider of the world's leading corporate travel
reservation technology, announced the results of its fifth annual
Corporate Travel Benchmark Survey. GetThere distributed data from
the survey at the annual National Business Travel Association
Convention & Trade Show today in San Diego, CA. The survey,
which tracks business travel patterns at America's leading
corporations, revealed that 65 percent of travel reservations at
responding corporations are made online. This figure, up from 60
percent in 2004, is more impressive when contrasted against the 26
percent online adoption rate reported in GetThere's first Benchmark
Survey in 2001. More than 3,000 corporations, including a majority
of Fortune 200 companies that have online booking sites, use
GetThere. The GetThere customer base represents more than $15
billion in annual travel spend. Savings on Agency Fees &
Airfare Driving Adoption Senior executives at top companies are
endorsing online booking as the preferred booking method and, in
many cases, are mandating employees to book online simply because
of the measurable savings these programs can generate. This year's
survey shows that trips booked online averaged 49 percent lower
agency fees and 14 percent lower airfares - representing
approximately $100 in savings per booking. With the continued focus
on cost-cutting, companies overwhelmingly cited executive support
and mandates as the most effective means for driving online
adoption. More than 70 percent believe that adoption will continue
to rise as travelers experience the new leisure look-and-feel of
GetThere's Enhanced Design. Corporations Promote Online Booking
Worldwide Nearly 60 percent of responding companies have expanded
online travel programs internationally, up from 41 percent last
year. This dramatic growth took place despite many companies from
various regions and industries facing similar obstacles, such as
cultural differences, on-screen language/ translation issues, and
accessing specific supplier inventory. Large multi-national
companies continue to report higher overall global adoption.
GetThere is playing its role in driving international adoption by
adding enhancements across multiple global distribution systems,
providing the GetThere booking tool in seven languages, building
direct connects with air and rail suppliers, and adding dedicated
sales and customer support staff in ASPAC, Europe and Latin
America. Touchless Fulfillment & Online Ticket Exchange Enhance
Overall Savings The use of specialized e-fulfillment centers for
online bookings continues to increase among corporations, with 73
percent using the service to secure lower transaction fees from
their travel agencies. This figure is up 26 percent from 2003,
demonstrating the notable growth of touchless fulfillment in the
corporate travel arena. "It is encouraging to see corporations
driving further use of automation across all facets of their travel
programs," said Bev Heinritz, general manager of GetThere. "In
particular, a majority of responding companies have already begun
or plan to process exchanges, voids and refunds with our new Online
Ticket Exchange functionality, demonstrating that travel managers
are quick to embrace the latest service innovations." Survey
Methodology The Corporate Travel Benchmark Report is based on a
survey of 150 GetThere customers that spend from $5 million to more
than $100 million annually on air travel. These benchmarks provide
a snapshot of the online travel trends, savings and adoption
techniques that are currently in use at leading companies. The
report also includes benchmark breakouts for specific industries
and regions as well as results for mid-market and large-market
companies. All results are based on travel data as self-reported by
each company's travel department. About GetThere GetThere is the
world's leading online corporate travel reservation technology.
GetThere enables global corporations and government agencies to
provide a convenient way for employees to book travel and plan
meetings while significantly reducing costs. GetThere's advanced
technology works with all major global distribution systems (GDS)
and all travel management companies. More than 3,000 corporations,
including a majority of Fortune 200 companies that have online
booking sites, use GetThere. More information is available at
www.getthere.com. Sabre Holdings Corporation (NYSE:TSG) is a world
leader in travel commerce, retailing travel products and providing
distribution and technology solutions for the travel industry. More
information about Sabre Holdings is available at
http://www.sabre-holdings.com. Editor's Note: Full copies of the
2005 GetThere Corporate Travel Benchmark Report are available
through Vollmer Public Relations. Contact Mary Kate Smither at
972-488-4790 or marykate@vollmerpr.com. (C) 2005, GetThere. All
rights reserved.
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