Sabre Corporation is taking its GetThere travel management solution to the next level with the launch of a fast, design-led mobile experience to provide business travellers a simple way to book and manage in-policy travel on the go.

The GetThere user experience team conducted hundreds of qualitative usability research sessions to evaluate what travellers and travel managers truly want and need out of an online booking tool. The newly redesigned GetThere applied the results to create a new modernised travel experience that empowers travellers to make smarter in-policy booking decisions. The new consumer-grade and streamlined user experience gives them more self-service options and delivers an optimal search, shop and book experience whether on mobile or desktop.

Other new GetThere features include:
• a simplified and responsive design, fully optimized for a mobile road-warrior
• an intuitive booking workflow powered by Sabre’s technology that is accessible and consistent on any device – desktop, tablet, and smartphone
• Sabre’s air merchandising capabilities to support airlines’ branded fares with existing travel policy

“Today’s business traveller wants the convenience of self-service solutions. Our new traveler-centric design in GetThere puts the user first with new mobile capabilities and relevant content that’s essential for a smarter travel program,” said Wade Jones, interim president of Sabre Travel Network.
“Travel managers and travellers will also have access to more content and the ability to differentiate various fare offerings from airlines including branded fares – helping business travellers get the exact services and features that they need to be productive.”

With more airlines tailoring products for business traveller needs, corporations require an enriched marketplace of negotiated fares, amenities for a mobile workplace, and customization within the managed travel program. With the new GetThere, travel managers have more options to use fare rules to identify Out-of-Policy fares and control whether certain flights are displayed within the search results. Business travellers have access to the full breadth of available fares offered by the carrier, beyond lowest air fare, at the touch of their fingers. This combination of enhanced features can increase adoption, in-compliance online bookings and reduce travel costs for corporations.

Visa, a recent adopter of GetThere as their preferred online booking tool, generated the company’s highest adoption rate and bookings in compliance. The company switched to Sabre’s corporate booking tool to empower employee business travelers with an efficient self-service solution and optimize cost control when it comes to procurement and negotiated fares and rates from suppliers.

“The collaboration and relationship you build really is key. That’s what set GetThere apart from their competitors. I felt they had the knowledge needed and spoke my language as far as travel industry best practices and employee behavior,” said Caroline Boggess, senior director of Global Travel for Visa.

Prior to implementing GetThere, Visa had a very low adoption rate, hovering around 17 per cent companywide. As an immediate result, online adoption increased to 70 per cent within the first week of the GetThere launch.

GetThere is the most reliable online travel management solution, handling the most complex travel programs while remaining simple and intuitive for both travelers and travel managers. The latest capabilities drive online adoption, enhance travel managers’ ability to satisfy duty of care obligations, improve supplier and contract management and streamline processes. - TradeArabia News Service