New global study shows Sabre saves customers an average of nearly 20 percent per ticket

Sabre Travel Network today announced the results of a new global study that shows Sabre is the world’s best global distribution system (GDS) at finding the lowest fares.

The study, an independent analysis conducted by Topaz International, the travel industry’s leading provider of airfare analysis and benchmarking data, is an assessment of the low fare search capabilities across the four major GDS companies.

It consisted of fare searches in 207 of the top markets in key global regions, including Asia-Pacific, Canada, Europe/Middle East, and Latin America. The study used both regional and international (starting in one region and ending in another) city-pairs.

Sabre found the lowest fares significantly more frequently than any other GDS, and the savings that travellers can achieve across the globe are compelling:
• EMEA average savings: 14% per ticket
• Asia-Pacific average savings: 29% per ticket
• Latin America average savings: 19% per ticket

In these results, Sabre not only found the lowest fares more often than any other GDS, it also saved travellers more money than any of the other GDSs.

“These results are further validation that the investments we have made in our air shopping and pricing system are paying dividends for our customers,” said Geoffrey Breeze, Sabre Travel Network’s vice-president of brand marketing and strategy for Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

“Combined with results from a similar study in 2006 focusing on North America, it’s clear that Sabre is the world’s best at finding the lowest fares across the globe.”

In the North America study Sabre also found the lowest fare significantly more often than all other GDSs with potential average savings of 7 percent per ticket.

The findings are important for both corporations and the agencies that service them. They validate that the Sabre system that powers corporate booking tools and travel management companies finds the lowest fares available for each trip.

Similarly, leisure travellers are more aware and have more options for arranging travel than ever. A key part of any travel agency’s expertise is being able to find the best value travel options for any traveller’s journey. This study proves that agents using Sabre can be confident they are offering the best fares available – regardless of where they are travelling.

“Our goal is to provide the most complete and relevant capabilities for our corporate and leisure agencies and their customers,” said Breeze. “This study demonstrates that we are making the right investments in the right places to provide the best service and the best price.

“This foundation is really a two-fold effort: First we fought hard to ensure that the full range of all airline fares and products are bookable in the GDS for our travel agency customers. At the same time, we have been investing in the best technology for shopping and pricing these products.”

These statistics represent an improvement in Sabre’s savings propensity and low-fare search strength from just two years ago. Since the last low fare search assessment in 2005, Sabre has invested significantly in open systems technology and migrated customers to this new technology to enhance their low fare search. The result is an average 15 point improvement against all competitors:
• In 2005, Sabre found the same or lower fare against its closest competitor 72 percent of the time. In the 2007 study, this percentage leaped to nearly 90 percent, with very similar gains relative to all three GDS competitors.
• In 2005, Sabre outperformed competitors in low fare search, with competitors finding a lower fare 26 percent of the time. In the new study, Sabre widened the gap relative to competing GDS offerings, with competitors finding a lower fare only 11 percent of the time.
• Additionally, Sabre’s average win percentage increased from 37 percent to 44 percent of the time.

Topaz conducts independent audits of airfares, hotels, and car rentals, in addition to internet studies, travel programme audits and training for travel agents worldwide.

About Sabre Travel Network

Sabre Travel Network, a Sabre Holdings company, provides the most comprehensive end-to-end solutions for corporate and leisure travel. The Sabre GDS is the foundation for these solutions, providing a ready-built efficient marketplace that connects travel suppliers, including hundreds of airlines and thousands of hotels, with more than 50,000 travel agency locations.

Key brands of Sabre Travel Network include the GetThere online corporate travel booking tool and the TRAMS mid- and back-office solution and marketing service for travel agencies.

Sabre Travel Network works closely with sister company Sabre Airline Solutions, the world’s largest provider of products to help airlines market themselves, sell their products, serve their customers and operate more effectively, from planning to execution. The combined portfolio of marketing, sales, distribution, operational and decision-support technology is unique, and of huge value to airlines all over the world.

Sabre Holdings connects people with the world’s greatest travel possibilities.

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