New initiatives from Galaxy to be unveiled at ITB

Galaxy Distribution System Ltd, specialising in on-line global travel distribution systems for ground services, is to announce three initiatives during the mammoth ITB Berlin, held between the 12th - 16th March 2004 at the Messe Berlin, Berlin, Germany.

The three initiatives include a credit-card payment option for non-IATA Retail Travel Agents (RTAs) when using Galaxy TDS giving them access to a system so far exclusive to IATA Retail Agents only; the announcement of a link-up between Galaxy and Leonardo.com to provide web-based Digital Hotel Properties Descriptions for Galaxy; and the introduction of a new, innovative Transfer Module, providing users at the buyer end (i.e. IATA and non-IATA Retail Travel Agents) the opportunity to book a variety of point to point transfers.

The first initiative - the introduction of a programme allowing non-IATA Retail Travel Agents (RTAs) a credit-card-payment option when using Galaxy's Travel Distribution System (TDS) - has already attracted a lot of attention in several test markets in Europe and Asia.

According to Mr Paul Casey, Galaxy's president and CEO, this payment option along with other alternatives have been available to IATA Retail Travel Agents, but this is now a first for non-IATA RTA's as part of a comprehensive global billing and settlement programme operated by Galaxy.

"There are now a number of payment options open to both IATA and non-IATA RTAs," announced Casey. "Using credit cards, they will now be able to book, confirm and settle payment for Galaxy's various Ground Services products worldwide making use of Galaxy Distribution System Ltd.'s Billing and Settlement Programme (Galaxy-BSP) credit card payment gateway without having to incur charges on their own merchant accounts."

"We are not yet in the position to offer an instant credit line to non-IATA RTAs. Allowing non-IATA RTAs access to Galaxy Travel Distribution System (TDS) and making use of credit card payment facilities is just the first step towards that goal," stated Casey. "We envision being able to make available to them the same range of payment and credit options currently available to IATA RTAs in the early part of 2004, thus providing them with a highly competitive tool to deal with increasingly demanding and sophisticated customers."

Casey concluded by saying "Galaxy-BSP is accessible by retail travel agents registered as users on Galaxy's Travel Distribution System (TDS) and provides them and suppliers to the system with access to a global, easy, efficient and secure way to deal with billing, collection and settlement globally; something which, so far, has been only available to the airline industry thanks to the well-known IATA-BSP."

The second initiative that will be announced is Galaxy's link-up with Leonardo, a world leader in travel content management, e-marketing and content distribution solutions for the global travel industry. Leonardo has been selected to provide web-based Digital Hotel Properties Descriptions for Galaxy.

Under this agreement, Galaxy will link its innovative Travel Distribution System (TDS) with Leonardo's extensive databank of digital hotel properties descriptions. The link is being created to centralise, standardise and manage property descriptions in Galaxy's system while providing final users with the highest quality in service and experience.

According to Marco Gorin, Galaxy's corporate director of sales, Leonardo's ease of integration of high quality, interactive e-description services into the Galaxy system provides travel agency users the ability to easily forward property descriptions to their customers.

"Since our Travel Distribution System (TDS) is designed to be as user friendly and as informative for the travel consultant as possible, Leonardo's ever-growing databank of high-quality services descriptions is very much in line with our philosophy of providing added value to the users," stated Gorin. "It is therefore a prefect match for Galaxy and our TDS," he added.

The third initiative that will be announced during ITB Berlin is Galaxy's new, innovative Transfer Module for users at the buyer end (i.e. IATA and non-IATA Retail Travel Agents) providing them the opportunity to book a variety of point to point transfers ranging from the traditional airport/hotel car transfers to limousine, bus, mini van, SIC, boat and train transfers encompassing the whole range from budget to deluxe.

The release of the Transfer Module will mean yet another opportunity for distribution for the growing number of Galaxy Travel Distribution System (Galaxy TDS) suppliers world-wide whose transfer rates will now be displayed at the buyer's end giving retail travel agents the ability to provide their clients with more added value to their services.

"The new module is in addition to the existing accommodation module and clearly sets Galaxy TDS apart and in a league of its own," stated Marco Gorin.

"Since its official global roll-out in March 2003, Galaxy TDS has been mistaken by many as yet another hotel reservation platform. In reality, Galaxy TDS is the first Global Distribution System specializing in ground services," Gorin added.

Additional modules will include Tours, Packages, Excursions, Car Rental, Cruises, Rail, Event Ticketing, Guide Services and many more which will be rolled out in rapid succession by Galaxy giving both suppliers and buyers more and more opportunities for successful trading on the platform.

"At Galaxy, we believe that all of these initiatives, coupled with the imminent roll out of our very own Galaxy Billing and Settlement Program (Galaxy - BSP), the opening up and extension of credit facilities to non-IATA retail travel agents and the release of additional modules, will set the record straight once and for all paving the way for Galaxy TDS to set the 'Gold Standard' for ground services GDSs," Gorin concluded.