PARSIPPANY, N.J., Cendant Travel Distribution Services (TDS), a division of Cendant Corporation (NYSE: CD - News), and Kuoni Travel Ltd., the leading long-haul tour operator, today announced a five-year global distribution services contract that will secure Galileo as the primary GDS for Kuoni businesses worldwide.
Galileo is currently Kuoni's GDS in a number of key global markets, including the UK and Switzerland. With the signing of this contract, Galileo will now be implemented across Kuoni's businesses in India, Italy, Netherlands and Scandinavia.
"Reaching this significant agreement with Kuoni is a testament to our already well-established partnership," said Gordon Wilson, CEO and president, Cendant TDS International Markets. "This deal is a natural extension of a relationship based on performance, co-operation and service. We are looking forward to exploring further Cendant TDS opportunities with Kuoni to enable them to enhance the travel experience for their customers."
Armin Meier, CEO, Kuoni Group, said, "Galileo's rich content repository was a key driver in our decision to consolidate our GDS business, as well as the flexibility shown by the Cendant team in their approach to, and understanding of, our business and how it is changing."
About Cendant Travel Distribution Services | Cendant Corporation's (NYSE: CD - News) Travel Distribution Services Division, is one of the world's largest and most geographically diverse collections of travel brands and distribution businesses. The division, employing nearly 9,000 people in approximately 120 countries, includes: a leading global distribution services (GDS) company (Galileo), serving more than 44,000 travel agencies and over 60,000 hotels; hotel distribution and services businesses (Neat Group®, THOR®, TRUST and WizCom®); leading online travel agencies (CheapTickets®, ebookers.com®, HotelClub.com, Lodging.com, Orbitz®, and RatesToGo.com); an airline market intelligence company (Shepherd Systems); an international travel technology and software company (Travelwire); a leading international provider of long-haul air travel and travel product consolidator (Travel 2®/Travel 4®); online global corporate travel management solutions (Orbitz for Business® and Travelport®); and a leading wholesaler and global online provider of hotels, destination services, travel packages and group tours (Gullivers Travel Associates, OctopusTravel.com® and Travel Bound, Inc.).
About Kuoni | With turnover of CHF 3 581 million in 2004, Kuoni Travel Holding Ltd. is one of Europe's leading tourism companies. It employed some 6451 full-time equivalents around the world in 2004 and is active in the Leisure Travel and Incoming Services fields. The Group head office is in Zurich, Switzerland, the city in which Alfred Kuoni, a native of Chur in Eastern Switzerland, founded the company in 1906. Around 25% of turnover is generated in the home market, making Kuoni the Swiss market leader. Kuoni has systematically developed its position beyond its home market, too and now operates subsidiaries in various European countries as well as Asia, Africa and the USA. In 2004, Kuoni was named the World's Leading Tour Operator for the sixth time in the annual World Travel Awards. Our aim is to be the best-established and most successful international premium and specialist tour operator.