Galileo Deploys Galileo Cruise(SM): First GDS to Market Industry's Leading Cruise Booking Tool
Enables Galileo Agencies to Increase Leisure Bookings and Drive Revenue
PARSIPPANY, N.J., Galileo International, a leading global distribution system (GDS) and subsidiary of Cendant Corporation (NYSE: CD - News), today announced the deployment in the U.S. and Canada of Galileo Cruise, a Web-based cruise booking tool that provides all functionality and technology necessary for agents to seamlessly manage the cruise shopping and booking process from their agency desktop.
Galileo Cruise is the industry's most comprehensive cruise booking solution, enabling Galileo-connected agents to search, book, modify, cancel, manage and apply payments through the use of a single robust browser-based tool.
"Galileo Cruise is the industry's leading cruise booking tool and we're pleased to be the first GDS to deliver a powerful, market-ready technology solution to our customers," said Eileen Kennedy, vice president, marketing for Galileo, The Americas. "Cruising is one of the fastest growing segments of the travel industry and one of the most profitable products that a leisure agency can sell today. We are confident that Galileo agents, whether at their agency or at a home office, will see an increase in bookings and revenue with the use of the simple point and click Galileo Cruise site."
Galileo Cruise offers all the critical tools required to complete a cruise booking in one place including: rich content that contains destination and ship reviews, itinerary details, deck maps, cabin descriptions, photos and 3600 views; cabin availability for nine cruise lines; group booking, inventory management and booking, commission and administrative reporting capabilities; and the ability to quickly and easily make modifications or cancel bookings without the need to contact the cruise line.
Kevin Loveless, president of Global Travel in Boise, ID, said, "The Galileo Cruise tool increases our productivity, speed and accuracy in booking cruises by reducing our need to search or call multiple sources separately. It's really easy-to-use and we receive booking credits as well, which is not earned when calling the cruise line over the phone."
Galileo Cruise is powered by OurVacationStore (OVS), a leading technology provider in the cruise market.
Galileo Cruise(SM) is the latest in a series of innovative technologies and programs that Galileo has introduced to help its travel agency customers compete more effectively. Others include Galileo's 360 Fares(SM) offering which provides the industry's leading fare-shopping solution via the Optimal Shopping booking tool, Galileo Web Services(SM), Galileo Net Fares(SM) and Galileo Best Available Rate(SM), which provides access to the best available published rates offered either online or via the hotel reservation number at top hotel chains.