American Express and GetThere.Com Form Strategic Alliance to Provide Online Corporate Travel Booking Solutions American Express to Offer Customized Version of GetThere.com

NEW YORK, Sept. 15 / American Express and GetThere.com, formerly Internet Travel Network, today announced a strategic alliance to deliver business-to-business e-commerce solutions to the travel management industry. As part of the agreement, American Express will make a minority investment in GetThere.com.

American Express and GetThere.com will immediately begin developing a customized version of GetThere.com's ITN Global Manager to be fully integrated into American Express' U.S. corporate travel operations and into its recently announced desktop portal for corporate expense management, American Express @ Work(SM). By early next year, American Express plans to begin offering this customized version of the product, including several new features developed by American Express, to corporations of all sizes in the U.S., with customization for international clients to follow later in the year.

Both companies were early supporters in the development of corporate online travel booking. The alliance is aimed at extending the companies' ability to meet the growing demand for online corporate travel services, which Forrester Research estimates will grow from $5 billion in 1999 to $38 billion in 2003.

"American Express is pleased to expand our corporate customers' options for integrated, interactive travel reservations with the addition of GetThere.com's innovative online booking technology," said Ed Gilligan, President, American Express Corporate Services. "With our investment in GetThere.com, which has a proven track record in delivering technology, we would have a stake in the future development of the kinds of products and features our customers want."

"Combining the American Express brand with GetThere.com technology is a significant step in reaching our goals of making our services available to businesses of all sizes and expanding internationally to capitalize on the business-to-business electronic commerce opportunity," said Gadi Maier, CEO and President of GetThere.com.

American Express is a global provider of corporate expense management services for travel and purchasing, operating one of the world's largest corporate travel agency networks and issuing more commercial cards than any other card issuer. Its corporate travel online booking solution, AXI(R) Travel, launched in 1997, is currently in use by more than 250 corporations, with more than 350,000 registered users.

GetThere.com, formerly Internet Travel Network, developed its first Web-based corporate travel booking system in 1996 as a firm specializing in high-tech travel solutions for corporations, airlines and other business partners.

American Express Expands Internet Offerings

Recently, American Express has expanded its Internet offerings for both its consumer and corporate customers and has made investments in several Internet companies whose products and services enhance American Express' product line.

American Express recently unveiled its prototype for a Web-based desktop portal -- American Express@Work -- to provide its business customers with the ability to manage all their travel- and purchasing-related activities within a single, simple-to-use interface that can be customized at the company level and personalized for each user. American Express also offers XMS/AX(TM), an automated expense reporting solution with an integrated travel data feed. It is also developing seamless interoperability for its Corporate Purchasing Card program with six of the leading business-to-business electronic purchasing systems.

About GetThere.com

GetThere.com is a leading provider of Internet-based travel procurement and supply solutions primarily for businesses and travel suppliers. GetThere.com's solutions include ITN Global Manager for business travel booking, ITN FlightRez for travel suppliers, and an ePartner solution for Internet-based content and electronic commerce providers and travel agencies. The company's customers include businesses with significant travel expenditures such as Chevron, Credit Suisse First Boston, Nike, PeopleSoft and Texas Instruments, travel suppliers such as United Airlines, Lauda Airlines and National Airlines, and ePartners such as Cendant, , Trip.com and CNN Interactive.

About American Express

American Express operates one of the largest global travel agency networks, recording $19.9 billion in worldwide travel sales in 1998. Through its Corporate Services group, the company counts over 70 percent of the Fortune 500 as customers of its Business Travel, Corporate Card and Corporate Purchasing Card programs. For more information on its full range of products and services, please visit the website: www.americanexpress.com/corporateservices.

The American Express Company is a diversified worldwide travel, financial and network services company founded in 1850. It is a leader in charge and credit cards, Travelers Cheques, travel, financial planning, investment products, insurance and international banking.

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