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Orbitz for Business, the corporate travel group of Orbitz Worldwide Inc. announced a new partnership with SilverRail Technologies, the leader in online search and booking solutions specializing in passenger rail transportation. The technology partnership enables Orbitz for Business customers to seamlessly plan and book rail travel through the Orbitz for Business tool and makes Orbitz for Business the first major online travel company to announce integrated, online rail capabilities for U.S. business travelers.
The new rail content is delivered through the familiar Orbitz for Business interface, with a user experience similar to how customers currently search and book flights, hotels and car rentals. Under the agreement with SilverRail, Orbitz for Business customers can now search and book all U.S.-based Amtrak destinations online, with future expansion planned for Canada and European markets.
“Many of our customers in regions like the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast U.S. have a preference for rail over short distance flights,” said Frank Petito, president, Orbitz for Business. “In order to better serve these customers, the SilverRail partnership allows Orbitz for Business to deliver a more comprehensive set of travel products with the scale and flexibility to expand our rail offerings in the future.”
“A traditional shortcoming of rail transit has been the lack of online connectivity between rail operators, passengers and travel distributors, which has lagged behind other travel services,” said Aaron Gowell, CEO and founder, SilverRail Technologies. “SilverRail’s technology platform is bringing rail distribution back on par with air travel and other modes of transportation. We are excited to work with Orbitz for Business to deliver integrated, online rail content to their corporate customers.”
Today’s announcement marks the launch of a broad, multi-phase rail implementation strategy for Orbitz for Business. Effectively immediately, customers can search and purchase U.S. rail travel on Amtrak through a single online booking path. Travelers can access itineraries for all Amtrak routes and destinations in the U.S. and cancel their reservation online when business or trip requirements change. Additionally, travel managers have access to company-specific reporting for all new Amtrak bookings. Further enhancements are planned for later this year.
Theodore is the Co-Founder and Managing Editor of TravelDailyNews Media Network; his responsibilities include business development and planning for TravelDailyNews long-term opportunities.
