Travelocity Business, announced the introduction of an automated service that increases the use of unused non-refundable corporate air tickets. By delivering timely messaging and data that alerts travelers to the availability of unused air tickets at the point of sale, TBiz(R) helps corporations reduce travel costs said Travelocity. TBiz now manages more than $800 million in annual travel spend.

Travelocity Business' unused ticket tracking solution includes tracking, reporting and automation to ensure utilization of the appropriate unused ticket. When airlines release the value of unused non-refundable tickets for application on other bookings, an automated email is generated to the traveler and/or travel arranger.

When travelers or travel arrangers book online, a dynamic message alerting them about relevant unused tickets greets them at the home page of Travelocity Business and throughout the shopping experience, arming them with information to make a better, more informed buying decision.

In 2007, large-market clients of Travelocity Business re-used, on average, 60 percent of their unused non-refundable tickets. This figure represents a considerable amount of recouped value for corporations that have historically been challenged to re-use even one-third of their unused non-refundable tickets. The rollout of this automation offers the potential to push that figure higher this year.

Travelocity Business is the first travel management company to leverage the dynamic messaging capabilities of the GetThere online booking solution to drive increased use of non-refundable tickets. TBiz is turning this functionality on for its entire client base in the first quarter of 2008, including multi-national companies.

Cutting through the fare rule clutter with mid-office automation

With more travel programs reporting into the procurement division of corporations worldwide, travel managers and procurement officials are under increased scrutiny to minimize leakage across the travel program. Unused non-refundable air tickets represent a sizable loss for companies, as last-minute traveler changes and other re-scheduling scenarios often result in abandoned tickets that are purchased but never used. What's more, complex fare rules typically stymie travelers and travel arrangers that try to use these tickets for new bookings.

With this automation, online users no longer need to wade through fare rules to apply the value of their unused air tickets. Instead, TBiz's proprietary mid-office technology automatically applies ticket values in accordance with airline rules. And, because 80 percent of TBiz bookings are made via the GetThere booking engine, this automation seamlessly fits into the most cost-efficient booking channel for corporations said Travelocity.

The automation presents the same information to TBiz agents when they handle traditional telephone bookings for clients. The traveler also receives notation regarding unused non-refundable tickets on their monthly traveler statement.

"Recent history proves that providing travelers and travel arrangers with more information at the point of sale is a winning travel management tactic," said Lesley Harris, president of Travelocity Business. "By empowering travelers with actionable information on unused non-refundable tickets at the purchase point, we're facilitating another best practice for our clients."