Galileo Raises Ante For Online Hotel Room Bookings

Galileo International today announced it has begun incorporating merchant model Internet hotel rates. Access now is available for such discounted rates at 3,300 U.S. hotels, with rates at another 3,300 hotels scheduled to be added shortly. The announcement by Galileo, which is part of Cendant Corp., is the latest evidence that the Web distribution channel is reshaping the way hotel rooms are sold.

According to Mitch Gross, general manager of the Americas region, the program, called Galileo Web! Hotels, satisfies one of travel buyers' major concerns about Internet bookings. Reservations can be canceled, a capability unavailable from most existing merchant model sites. Travelers, however, will be responsible for a $20 cancellation fee in addition to any cancellation fee the hotel itself charges.

In addition, the Galileo initiative matches the best rate guarantee assurances that many hotel companies have included in their own branded Web sites. If a lower Web rate is found for the same hotel, night and type room, Galileo will beat that price by 10 percent.