GetThere To Enhance Business Traveler Services With Talaris
Sabre's GetThere subsidiary on Monday will announce a "strategic relationship" with San Francisco-based Talaris Corporation, formerly known as Gazoo Corp. (BTN, Sept. 26), according to spokespeople for both companies.
When fully integrated, possibly by year-end, the combined service will provide travelers who use the GetThere corporate self-booking tool with an array of additional services, including restaurant reservations, shipping and courier services and dry cleaning. Available via computers, mobile phones or personal digital assistants, Talaris' service "automatically identifies service providers, procures the requested service and synchronizes with the mobile professional's calendar and content manager," according to a press release to be issued Monday. The technology also will automate the re-booking of cars and hotels--incorporating corporate rules and spending limits--to protect the traveler in the event of a flight cancellation, automatically notifying key parties of the changes. Talaris said its network of business service providers exceeds 120,000.
As part of the deal, GetThere will deploy Talaris services for internal use. According to a GetThere spokesman, pricing likely will take the form of a separate subscription fee that, in some cases, a certain department within a corporation, such as sales, would pay. He said that while GetThere will sell the combined services, Talaris also will sell its services independently. The deal excludes Talaris from signing with another corporate self-booking vendor. GetThere said some of its existing clients already are close to signing on.