OREM, Utah and ATLANTA, Georgia – Zonder, a leading vacation rental
service, and global travel technology provider Worldspan, L.P. jointly announced
today that travel agencies, corporations and travel Web sites worldwide have gained
access through Worldspan to thousands of vacation rental properties from Zonder
as an alternative to traditional hotels or resorts. Zonder is the first U.S. based
travel company to connect to a GDS via XML for both content and transactions. This
has allowed Worldspan to provide its customers with the first and only real-time
booking capability for vacation rental properties.
Vacation rentals are typically private homes, cabins, condos or villas and are becoming
increasingly popular among leisure travelers. Luxury vacation rentals are also rented
by corporate groups for retreats because of the greater space and more relaxed layout
compared to traditional hotel rooms.
Zonder’s XML interface provides Worldspan customers with access to extensive vacation
rental content, including property photos and detailed amenities, up-to-the-minute
availability and rates, integrated bookings and immediate confirmations when any
Zonder vacation rental is booked in Worldspan.
"Worldspan is pleased to partner with a leader in online vacation rental properties.
Our relationship with Zonder will enhance Worldspan's leisure content and provide
our customers with efficient access to availability and real-time bookings in the
growing vacation rental segment," said Kathy Fitzpatrick, Worldspan vice president
– North America Sales and Worldwide Travel Supplier Solutions.
Bob Barnes, CEO of Zonder explained, "We are excited about our partnership with
Worldspan. This means that our vacation rental properties are now available to Worldspan's
70,000 traditional agency, e-commerce and corporate customers worldwide. This is
a great leap forward for the vacation rental industry and we are pleased to be taking
it with a technology and content distribution leader."
The technology partnership employs an advanced interface between Zonder’s internal
reservations system and the Worldspan GDS, utilizing Worldspan’s industry-leading
XML Pro data exchange technology and Zonder’s leading XML technology. Worldspan
XML Pro bridges real-time GDS data exchange for travel companies using any technology
platform, solution or channel.
Zonder’s Web 2.0 technology connects directly to the Worldspan system to increase
the amount and accuracy of content that can be delivered for real-time shopping
and booking. Zonder’s content is accessible through the Worldspan Hotel Select®
booking system, the Worldspan Go!® Hotel Booking Tool, and the Worldspan Trip Manager®
XE and Trip Manager XE for Small Business corporate online booking tools.
About Zonder
Zonder is a Web 2.0 vacation rental service that provides the ability to find and
book thousands of vacation rental properties worldwide. Zonder was founded by successful
search industry veterans who were frustrated with the complicated process involved
with booking a vacation rental.
About Worldspan, L.P.
Worldspan is a leader in travel technology services for airlines, travel suppliers,
travel agencies, e-commerce sites and corporations worldwide. Utilizing some of
the fastest, most flexible and efficient networks and computing technologies, Worldspan
provides comprehensive electronic data services linking thousands of travel suppliers
around the world to a global customer base. Worldspan offers industry-leading Fares
and Pricing technology such as Worldspan e-Pricing®, Worldspan Rapid Reprice®, hosting
solutions and customized travel products. Worldspan enables travel suppliers, distributors
and corporations to reduce costs and increase productivity with technology like
Worldspan Go!® and Worldspan Trip Manager® XE. Worldspan is headquartered in Atlanta,
Georgia. Additional information is available at worldspan.com.
Statements in this release and any exhibits hereto which are not purely historical
facts, including statements about forecasted financial projections or other statements
about anticipations, beliefs, expectations, hopes, intentions or strategies for
the future, may be forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A
of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934, as amended. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking
statements. All forward-looking statements are based upon information available
to Worldspan, L.P. ("the Company") on the date this release was submitted. The Company
undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements,
whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Any forward-looking
statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual events or results
to differ materially from the events or results described in the forward-looking
statements, including, but not limited to, risks and uncertainties related to: the
Company’s revenue being highly dependent on the travel and transportation industries;
airlines limiting their participation in travel marketing and distribution services;
airlines altering their content or changing the pricing of such content; or other
changes within, or that may affect the travel industry or the Company.
Worldspan and all other Worldspan marks identified with a ® or SM contained herein
are either registered marks or service marks or trademarks of Worldspan, L.P. throughout
the world.
CONTACTS:
Janine Lowe
PJ Inc.
Janine@pjinc.net
(212) 629-8445
Darren Johnson
Zonder - Director of Product Marketing
djohnson@zonder.com
(801) 814-4717