Travelport users get closer to Hilton through advanced GDS interface

October 21, 2011 | Online Travel

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Hilton joins Marriott International and InterContinental Hotels Group in making its lowest available rates and complete hotel pricing available through Worldspan, Galileo, and Apollo.

Travelport, the business services provider to the global travel industry, today announces a new, jointly beneficial, long-term full content and technology services agreement with Hilton Worldwide, the leading global hospitality company. The agreement includes the distribution of full availability, rates, rules and property information from Hilton Worldwide and its global brands, representing 3,750 properties and 615,000 rooms in 85 countries. Hilton Worldwide and its renowned brands will also continue to deploy advanced interfaces to Travelport's Worldspan, Galileo and Apollo global distribution systems (GDS), and expand property, pricing and policy information for Travelport subscribers globally.

"Travelport is a vital distribution and technology partner, particularly at a time when Hilton Worldwide and its brands are expanding their global reach, including many new markets," said Eduardo Schutte, vice president, Distribution and Channel Management, Hilton Worldwide. "Travelport-connected travel agents are also invaluable partners and we are committed to enhancing our relationship with them through innovative technologies. This agreement ensures Hilton Worldwide and Travelport will achieve mutual objectives that deliver value to both companies."

"Hilton Worldwide continues to take advantage of evolving distribution and merchandising capabilities within the GDS channel, which is very robust, continues to grow and often brings better rates," said Niklas Andreen, group vice president, Hospitality & Partner Marketing, Travelport. "We are working aggressively to raise industry standards in advanced connectivity, systems transparency, functionality and traveler services so that our supplier and subscriber customers can maximize their return and efficiency of working with Travelport, and deliver the best experiences to their travelers."

Buyers Get Closer to Hilton Worldwide through Advanced GDS Interface: Travelport subscribers globally will experience new efficiencies and system response times when Hilton Worldwide migrates its global connectivity to Travelport's Hotel Supplier Link – an advanced GDS interface for hotel suppliers. The planned interface will allow travel buyers to conduct business transactions with Hilton Worldwide using the most fluid, high-speed connectivity for real-time rates, availability, rules and property information. Hotel Supplier Link, which employs the latest OpenTravel Alliance (OTA) universal transmission specifications for the global travel industry, is a cost-effective tool for travel companies to exchange structured data, lower operating costs and eliminate the need for and costs associated with third-party solutions.

Lowest Available Rates Via the GDS: Hilton Worldwide brands and properties will soon partake in Travelport Lowest unrestricted Public Rates (LPR), a successful hotel distribution program that boosts hotel sales and gives travel buyers access to expanded content. Hotel companies are able to distribute through the GDS instant, guaranteed access to their full range of public rates, including restricted rates, such as prepaid and nonrefundable rates. The best available published, non-restricted rates, including prepaid rates and rates with cancelation policies, are also made available through the program.

Complete Pricing for Hotel Stays: Hilton Worldwide is committed to implementing Travelport Complete Pricing Plus technology to enhance the travel agent shopping experience and help agencies increase traveler satisfaction by eliminating unexpected pricing discrepancies at hotel check-in. Part of the Galileo and Apollo systems, Complete Pricing Plus allows hotel companies to return detailed data to travel buyers in response to requests for availability, rates and rules – prior to completing a booking. Total costs for entire stays are provided, including nightly rates, meals, cancel/refund policies, rate categories, commissions and credential requirements.