Under the new agreement, Worldspan will also provide priceline.com with substantial product development resources, enabling priceline.com to utilize such cutting-edge Worldspan travel technology as Worldspan ePricing(SM) and enhancements to Worldspan Hotel Select.
Worldspan has provided transaction processing and other e-commerce services for priceline.com since 1998. The agreement announced today builds upon priceline.com's position as the leading low-cost, high-efficiency distributor of travel products and further strengthens Worldspan's position as the preferred global provider of online travel distribution services.
"Our new agreement with priceline.com comes at a fitting time, reaffirming our shared confidence in the recovery of the travel industry in 2002 and beyond," commented Paul J. Blackney, president and chief executive officer for Worldspan. "This agreement also reaffirms Worldspan and priceline.com as global leaders in online travel distribution. Our partnership with priceline.com has been and will continue to be a cornerstone of Worldspan's success in e-commerce."
"Today's agreement ensures that priceline.com's travel supplier/partners will continue to have a familiar, reliable processing interface that provides them with superior economics for many years to come," said Jeffery H. Boyd, priceline.com President and Chief Operating Officer. "We have been consistently pleased with the performance of the Worldspan system and Worldspan's uncompromising commitment to provide priceline.com, our partners and our customers with world-class service."
"Our steady expansion in the electronic travel arena has enabled Worldspan to focus greater attention on the needs of e-commerce customers than any other global distribution system," added Mike Parks, senior vice president and general manager – Worldwide Travel Distribution for Worldspan. "We are delighted priceline.com has once again selected Worldspan as its preferred technology partner."
Theodore is the Co-Founder and Managing Editor of TravelDailyNews Media Network; his responsibilities include business development and planning for TravelDailyNews long-term opportunities.
