Press Release: Sabre Holdings Corporation
November 8, 2001
FORT WORTH, TX -- Sabre Holdings Corporation (NYSE: TSG) yesterday announced the implementation of a direct link
to their global distribution system (GDS) for Choice Hotels International (NYSE: CHH) that improves system performance
and reduces costs for the global hotel chain.
Choice Hotels International -- which includes such known brands as Comfort Inn, Comfort Suites, Clarion, Quality,
Sleep Inn, Econo Lodge, Rodeway Inn and MainStay Suites -- now links directly to Sabre through a TCP/IP (Transmission
Control Protocol/Internet Protocol) connection that offers better connectivity and reduced communications costs.
``We want to provide the fastest service and put the most accurate information about our hotels into the hands
of travel agents,'' said Sandra Heilman, senior director at Choice. ``By creating a direct link to the Sabre system
we better meet our customer's needs and drive overall cost efficiencies at the same time.''
``This is a very positive move for Choice, for travel agents and for travelers,'' said Toby March, vice president,
Hotel Marketing and Distribution, for Sabre. ``Internet Protocol (IP) response times are great, plus Choice is
saving money and gaining a competitive edge at the point of sale.''
Approximately 50 percent of Sabre's hotel reservation traffic is processed directly to the GDS over IP from its
hotel customers.
About Choice Hotels International
Choice Hotels International is the second largest lodging franchisor in the world with 4,495 hotels open worldwide,
representing 358,631 rooms, and another 450 hotels under development in the United States, representing 34,455
rooms. An additional 193 hotels, representing 19,504 rooms, are under development in 42 countries as of September
30, 2001. Its Comfort Inn, Comfort Suites, Quality, Clarion, Sleep Inn, Econo Lodge, Rodeway Inn and MainStay Suites
brand hotels serve guests worldwide. For more information, visit the company's web site at www.choicehotels.com
.
About Sabre
Sabre is the leading provider of technology, distribution and marketing services for the travel industry. Headquartered
in Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas, the company has approximately 6,000 employees in 45 countries. Sabre maintains an
ownership interest of approximately 70 percent in Travelocity.com (Nasdaq: TVLY), the world's leading online B2C
travel site; and it owns GetThere, the world's leading provider of Web-based B2B travel reservation systems. Sabre
is traded on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: TSG). More information on Sabre is available on the World Wide
Web at http://www.sabre.com .
SOURCE: Sabre Holdings Corporation