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Worldspan to distribute GTA`s global hotel content
The newly acquired Worldspan GDS by Travelport will join the company`s existing Galileo GDS business in making Gullivers Travel Associates` hotel inventory bookable by Worldspan users as Travelport revealed. Worldspan and Gullivers Travel Associates (GTA), also part of Travelport, announced a new four-year distribution agreement that will bring GTA`s hotel inventory into the Worldspan global distribution system (GDS).

The partnership will add thousands of properties, along with GTA`s retail rates, to the Worldspan Hotel Select(R) global shopping and booking system in use by travel agencies and corporations.

Worldspan`s XML data exchange technology will be used to create a real-time interface between GTA`s internal reservations system and the Worldspan GDS. Later this year, Worldspan Hotel Source(R) will distribute GTA content through Worldspan to points of sale worldwide, providing travel buyers with real-time property availability, rates, rules and immediate confirmations directly from GTA`s internal system.

Worldspan is pleased to become the first GDS to integrate GTA content into the GDS primary agent display and to support their business with the most advanced XML solution for global travel distribution, said Kathy Fitzpatrick, Worldspan vice president - North America Sales and Worldwide Travel Supplier Solutions. As one of the world`s leading hospitality distribution companies, GTA will materially expand content offerings available to Worldspan subscribers with over 23,000 unique hotel properties globally.

Worldspan has taken the industry`s biggest steps with XML technology to offer travel suppliers direct connections and seamless distribution through a GDS. We are pleased to partner with a technology leader as we expand our reach to a substantial new base of travel retailers worldwide, said Kurt Ekert, executive vice president and general manager, GTA Americas & OctopusTravel.com Worldwide.

Worldspan XML technology is the end-to-end data exchange solution for direct connections between travel suppliers and a GDS. It supports the exchange of a broad range of transactional, informational and
descriptive content between host systems.

Galileo-connected travel agents already have access to GTA hotel content through Galileo Leisure, branded G Destinations in Canada - the leisure portal first launched in November, 2005. Vicky Karantzavelou - Wednesday, September 05, 2007