Pro-X-Travel

TRAVELOCITY’S DEALS TOOLKIT MAKES IT EASY FOR CUSTOMERS TO FIND THE DEAL THAT’S RIGHT FOR THEM

Innovative new suite of tools answers travelers’ call for an 

easier way to pinpoint and rank best deals

Travelocity today announced a Deals Toolkit ( www.travelocity.com/toolkit ) that makes it easier for consumers to find the best travel deals based on their preferences and flexibility. The toolkit offers three new ways to look for deals, including:

• An on-site tool that walks through a customer's preferences and returns the best deals, customized for them
• A tool that shows the best deals on a map, and
• A tool that can be downloaded onto a customer's desktop and feeds deal updates

Built on a proprietary algorithm developed by Travelocity, the tools quickly pinpoint the best flight and vacation packages listed on the site. As consumers continue to expect both overall value and deep discounts from their travel provider, in a format that still provides some flexibility, Travelocity has taken deals searching to a new level with a customized system for shoppers to quickly and easily locate the most relevant deals.

“Travelers are telling us they want to be able to more quickly identify and select deals based on what matters most to them,” said Victoria Treyger, chief marketing officer, Travelocity. “Our deals toolkit answers their calling with a totally new framework for shopping that helps them filter through thousands of options to hone in on only the best, most customized results without spending a ton of time.”

Customize Your Deals

With an emphasis on value and customers' preferences, the customized deals engine, which can be accessed directly on the Travel Deals and “My Deals” tabs on Travelocity's homepage, is a one-stop-shop for the site's best flight and package deals. A completely interactive tool, it features several filters allowing customers to personalize and sort deals by price, date range, theme, destination and travel product. Shoppers can view and compare up to five deals at a time and also explore more specific trip details, including available travel dates, customer reviews and more, narrowing down deals by what's most important to them.

Map-Based Shopping

The new map-based feature gives travelers the best way to visually search top flight and vacation package deals from their departure city with at-a-glance shopping. The map-based option is available at www.travelocity.com/dealsonamap and directly from the Flights tab on the homepage. Once there, consumers can click on the “Find Deals on a Map” link to access the new tool.

Deals are displayed on a map by region and then city, with up to 15 displays shown at a time. Customers can zoom in on deals most intriguing to them, view hotel information and stats on how much the trip is discounted, and access links to check availability and book flights or packages.

Travelocity Desktop Application

The desktop application, which can be downloaded directly from http://www.travelocity.com/desktop , gives consumers direct access to the best vacation package deals without using a browser while tracking the customer's preferred information for a completely personalized shopping experience. Available for both Mac and Windows users, the application can be set to monitor trips from their departure city to a favorite destination, notifying them when new deals to their destination are found, and serves up to 100 deals at a time all with a minimum savings of 20 percent. Users also have the ability to share relevant deals with their social networks via Facebook and Twitter.

“Despite the recent growth and rebound of some sectors in the economy, we believe consumers' expectations of value and desire to shop for the best deals have changed for good,” said Treyger. “We're answering their call to first and foremost provide the best tools for locating top deals in a faster format with more relevant options.”

SOURCE Travelocity

TSA's Secure Flight Program Enters Next Public Phase

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) announced today that beginning August 15 U.S. airlines participating in the Secure Flight passenger vetting program may begin asking passengers to enter their date of birth and gender when making airline reservations. TSA has already begun to phase the airlines into the Secure Flight program and will complete domestic implementation by early 2010. If a passenger is not prompted to provide this additional information by a particular airline, they should not be concerned as it will not impact their travel. Since Secure Flight is a behind-the-scenes watch list matching process that happens before passengers arrive at the airport, current security checkpoint procedures remain the same.

This is the second publicly-noticeable step in implementing the Secure Flight program which shifts pre-departure watch list matching responsibilities from individual airlines to TSA. The first public phase began on May 15 when airlines began asking passengers to provide their name - as it appears on the government issued identification they will be traveling with - when making airline reservations.

"Secure Flight is a key tool in confirming that someone identified as a 'No Fly' does not receive a boarding pass," said TSA Acting Administrator Gale Rossides. "Secure Flight will make travel safer and easier for passengers."

Once Secure Flight's advanced technology is fully implemented for domestic flights in early 2010, enhanced watch list matching will be done by TSA. Airlines or travel agencies acting on their behalf will gather a passenger's name, date of birth and gender when making an airline reservation to determine if the passenger is a match to the No Fly or Selectee lists. By providing the additional data elements of gender and date of birth, Secure Flight will more effectively help prevent misidentification of passengers who have similar names to individuals on a watch list and better identify individuals that may pose a threat to aviation.

Individuals requesting access to secure areas in U.S. airports to assist a passenger to the gate will also be asked to provide their full name, date of birth and gender when requesting a gate pass from the airline ticket agent.

The Secure Flight program satisfies a key recommendation of the 9/11 Commission, congressional requirements from the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004, and the 9/11 Commission Act signed into law in 2007.

TSA's goal is to vet 100 percent of passengers on all domestic commercial flights by early 2010 and 100 percent of passengers on all international commercial flights into, out of, or over the U.S. by the end of 2010.

WHY Secure Flight: TSA must ensure known or suspected terrorists are unable to obtain a boarding pass. To mitigate this risk, TSA is implementing its Secure Flight program - a behind-the-scenes watch list matching process that vets passengers against government watch lists before a boarding pass is ever issued. For more information about Secure Flight please visit www.tsa.gov.

UPDATE: American Express Unveils Flagship Travel Service Office in Cambridge, Mass.

Recent images of the American Express flagship Service Office in Harvard Square / Cambridge, Mass.

American Express Unveils Flagship Travel Service Office in Cambridge, Mass.

Featuring New Services including Cardmember Lounge and Concierge Services, Innovative Technology, Special Offers and Events

American Express opened its flagship Travel Service Office in Cambridge, Massachusetts offering visitors new travel services including a Cardmember lounge, concierge services, unique virtual technology, and special travel offers and events, in addition to service from American Express' travel agents. Located in the heart of historic Harvard Square, the Cambridge Travel office features a lounge-inspired environment that takes leisure travel to a new level.

"The new Cambridge office is the travel agency of the future, a destination that's welcoming, interactive and encourages visitors to linger and discover all the features and services that American Express Travel offers," said Ellen Bettridge, vice president of the American Express Retail Travel Network. "Our goal is to make the vacation planning and exploration process easy, convenient and meaningful; and to invite consumers who haven't used a travel agent before to discover the benefits."

New Services and Technology

The Cambridge Travel Service Office features a new onsite concierge services desk that provides end-to-end travel planning for elements of a trip including dining and entertainment, daily activities and excursions, tours and transportation.

The Travel Service Office also provides an American Express Cardmember Lounge, which offers Cardmembers a place to unwind and enjoy complimentary Wi-Fi and refreshments. 

"Our Travel Service Offices around the world have always been a place our Cardmembers go when they need assistance," added Bettridge. "In launching this new flagship location, we wanted to provide an oasis for our Cardmembers and for customers and to continue to demonstrate that American Express is there for them." 

Additionally, a business lounge area is available with administrative services for conferences, guest lectures and other functions for an additional fee.

The Travel Service Office also features innovative technologies through a Microsoft Surface station designed to take visitors on new and exciting journeys. Customers have access to a touch-screen map that provides information and details on hotels, travel offers and promotions through videos and images, virtually transporting them to destinations around the world.

Special Travel Offer

From now until July 31, 2009, travelers who book a qualifying vacation package at the new Cambridge office that is valued at $3,000 or more will receive a $300 American Express Gift Card, certain restrictions apply*. 

Special Events and Benefits

The Cambridge office will host events with key American Express Travel partners that will be open to the public, including:

• "Set Sail in Harvard Square" with Royal Caribbean that will bring the cruising experience to life. Guests can sample hors d'oeuvres inspired by their onboard fare and receive exciting booking offers on June 25, 2009
• "Ireland Loves Boston" with Brendan Vacations will entice travelers to get to know and plan their next vacation to Ireland with live Irish music, Irish fare and compelling travel incentives on August 6, 2009.
• "Destination Caribbean" with American Express Vacations in partnership with a Caribbean tourism board will invite Bostonians to plan their next warm weather vacation with island music, tropical fare, special travel offers, giveaways and more. To be held in September.

In addition to the events, the Cambridge travel office offers benefits to its customers through partnerships with Lands' End and Travel + Leisure.

• As the official retail partner for the Cambridge office, Lands' End supplied the travel service office team apparel and will provide visitors a ten percent discount on apparel through a special website.
• Visitors will be able to pick up complimentary issues of Travel + Leisure magazine.

Location and Hours
The Cambridge travel office is located at 39 JFK Street in Cambridge, Massachusetts and is open Monday-Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. and Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

About American Express Travel
American Express entered the travel agency business in 1915, and today operates one of the world's largest travel agency networks in more than 140 countries worldwide.

American Express Company (www.americanexpress.com) is a leading global payments, network and travel company founded in 1850.

*To redeem, contact American Express Travel, Cambridge and mention promotion code: AERMT001. Offer valid through July 31, 2009. To receive this benefit, purchase a cruise or vacation package operator through the American Express Travel Services location in Cambridge, MA, of $3,000 or more per booking to receive a $300 American Express Gift Card. Does not include independent air, hotel or car rental reservations. Limit one per customer. Offer not combinable with other American Express offers. Gift Card will be provided to customer at time of final payment.