Sabre Returns - Putting Agencies Back into Travel

Sabre Returns - Putting 250 New Zealand Agencies Back into Travel

NEW ZEALAND, Auckland 16 January 2006.: Sabre Pacific today announced more than 250 travel agencies in New Zealand have now joined “Sabre Returns” – a new partnership program designed to reward travel agencies by returning benefits for hotel, car and air bookings made through Sabre.

Matt McLellan, Sabre Pacific New Zealand Country Manager said only one week after the official launch date, Sabre Returns is generating enormous interest from Sabre Pacific agencies throughout New Zealand.

“We introduced Sabre Returns as part of our ongoing commitment to put the agent back in travel and it is overwhelming to see the response from the market. We are extremely pleased to be the first travel technology company to introduce such a partnership program as there is clearly a need for an initiative that offers unique benefits to help our Sabre agents grow their businesses,“ said McLellan.

He added, “The large volume of travel agencies that are embracing Sabre Returns signifies a strong alliance between Sabre Pacific and the travel industry. Our customers understand we are not only committed to helping them drive out costs and raise productivity through smart technology solutions, but we are also dedicated to rewarding agencies for their hard work.”

The ‘returns’ are highly achievable - Sabre Returns offers New Zealand travel agents the chance to earn points for incremental bookings made using the Sabre system to book hotel accommodation, car hire and airfares. The points can be put towards a wide range of “returns” including training, business tools and indulgence rewards to help grow their businesses and recognise the efforts of their staff. It is up to the agencies to decide how to allocate the rewards.

In addition to accruing points for incremental bookings, agencies will also have the opportunity to take part in ongoing special promotions throughout the year, with the first promotion running from January 1 – February 5. During this period every time an agency books a Hilton Hotel anywhere in the world through the Sabre GDS they will have the chance to win weekly Hilton Hotel accommodation vouchers.

There is no cost to join and Sabre Pacific is managing the entire program. Further details can be obtained from the Sabre Returns website, where agencies can also view their points, redeem rewards, view the latest hot deals and stay informed at www.sabrepacific.co.nz/returns. Agencies can continue to register for Sabre Returns at www.sabrepacific.co.nz/regsitrations

ENDS

About Sabre Pacific:
Sabre Pacific Pty. Ltd. is a subsidiary of Sabre Travel Network, a Sabre Holdings company (NYSE ticker symbol "TSG") with a minority equity held by Abacus International. Sabre Pacific is focused on providing innovative product and service solutions for travel agents in Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific Islands - solutions designed to enhance travel agents' businesses. Sabre Pacific offers added value to the traveller at each step in the travel process. Sabre Pacific calls this the travel value chain.
Sabre Travel Network is the leading provider of technology, distribution and marketing services for the travel industry and has been voted the world's number one global distribution system for the eleventh consecutive year at the 2004 World Travel Awards.

About Sabre Travel Network:
Sabre Travel Network, a Sabre Holdings company, provides access to the world's leading global distribution system (GDS) enabling agents at more than 53,000 agency locations worldwide to be travel experts. The Sabre GDS, the first system to connect the buyers and sellers of travel, today includes more than 400 airlines, approximately 60,000 hotels, 37 car rental companies, nine cruise lines, 35 railroads and 220 tour operators. Key brands of Sabre Travel Network include GetThere, the leading Web-based corporate travel reservation technology, and Jurni Network, the unique leisure travel agency consortium that enables members to sell more products from preferred travel suppliers using sophisticated market intelligence.
Sabre Holdings Corporation (NYSE: TSG) is a world leader in travel commerce, retailing travel products and providing distribution and technology solutions for the travel industry. More information about Sabre Holdings is available at http://www.sabre-holdings.com

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