GetThere Supports Discovery Communications' Rollout of Green Travel Program
Source:
Published: Friday, April 25, 2008
Published: Friday, April 25, 2008
GetThere(R), the world's leading online corporate travel procurement solution, announced that Silver Spring, MD-based Discovery Communications is among the first corporations to deploy GetThere Green. The unique set of components in GetThere Green allows companies to integrate green travel policies into their business travel programs.
More than 3,000 companies worldwide, including more than half of
the Fortune 200 that use an online travel program, used GetThere in
2007 to cumulatively book more than $9 billion in travel. Discovery, a
GetThere client since 1999, books more than 80 percent of its travel
in the U.S. and U.K. via GetThere.
Introduced to GetThere corporate clients and agency resellers in
late 2007, GetThere Green enables companies to integrate their carbon
emission data and supplier green status, as well as deliver relevant
messaging at the point of sale to educate travelers about the carbon
footprint of their journey and impact choices they make in the booking
process.
According to Yukari Sison, Discovery's director of travel
services, the company is taking a phased approach to the
implementation of its green travel program. "We're using the messaging
capabilities to provide travelers with localized information on their
destination, such as local rail transportation options, restaurants
with organic menus, etc. Messaging also asks our travelers to pause to
consider sharing a rental car with a colleague making the same trip,
and perhaps getting a hybrid vehicle." Discovery is rolling out these
messages for its top dozen corporate destinations in North America and
Europe.
Discovery is also identifying "green" hotel suppliers on its
GetThere travel site. With the help of Discovery's travel management
company, Travelocity Business(R), hotel properties that meet
Discovery's criteria for green partner are highlighted in the booking
engine. TBiz also supports Discovery's green initiative by monitoring
and reporting CO2 emissions by market and segment, analyzing data for
carbon reduction and/or offset options.
Future phases of Discovery's rollout will include identifying
green air and car suppliers in the online booking process, using
dynamic messaging in conjunction with clearly visible icons.
The rollout of GetThere Green dovetails with Discovery's
cross-company initiative, Planet Green, which represents the company's
commitment to document, preserve and celebrate the planet. The
initiative includes the first-ever 24-hour eco-lifestyle television
network, scheduled to appear in more than 50 million homes in June
2008. "GetThere's innovative, flexible approach helps us truly walk
the talk with our travel program," says Claire Alexander, vice
president of operations & interactive media for Planet Green.
"Greening the travel site helps everyone at Discovery become more
aware of how their travel choices effect the environment, and provide
travelers with a new way of experiencing their destination."
"It's an honor to play a role in the launch of Discovery's green
travel program," said GetThere vice president of product marketing and
customer experience Suzanne Neufang. "We're confident that other
companies will follow the path companies like Discovery are
trailblazing."
More than 3,000 companies worldwide, including more than half of
the Fortune 200 that use an online travel program, used GetThere in
2007 to cumulatively book more than $9 billion in travel. Discovery, a
GetThere client since 1999, books more than 80 percent of its travel
in the U.S. and U.K. via GetThere.
Introduced to GetThere corporate clients and agency resellers in
late 2007, GetThere Green enables companies to integrate their carbon
emission data and supplier green status, as well as deliver relevant
messaging at the point of sale to educate travelers about the carbon
footprint of their journey and impact choices they make in the booking
process.
According to Yukari Sison, Discovery's director of travel
services, the company is taking a phased approach to the
implementation of its green travel program. "We're using the messaging
capabilities to provide travelers with localized information on their
destination, such as local rail transportation options, restaurants
with organic menus, etc. Messaging also asks our travelers to pause to
consider sharing a rental car with a colleague making the same trip,
and perhaps getting a hybrid vehicle." Discovery is rolling out these
messages for its top dozen corporate destinations in North America and
Europe.
Discovery is also identifying "green" hotel suppliers on its
GetThere travel site. With the help of Discovery's travel management
company, Travelocity Business(R), hotel properties that meet
Discovery's criteria for green partner are highlighted in the booking
engine. TBiz also supports Discovery's green initiative by monitoring
and reporting CO2 emissions by market and segment, analyzing data for
carbon reduction and/or offset options.
Future phases of Discovery's rollout will include identifying
green air and car suppliers in the online booking process, using
dynamic messaging in conjunction with clearly visible icons.
The rollout of GetThere Green dovetails with Discovery's
cross-company initiative, Planet Green, which represents the company's
commitment to document, preserve and celebrate the planet. The
initiative includes the first-ever 24-hour eco-lifestyle television
network, scheduled to appear in more than 50 million homes in June
2008. "GetThere's innovative, flexible approach helps us truly walk
the talk with our travel program," says Claire Alexander, vice
president of operations & interactive media for Planet Green.
"Greening the travel site helps everyone at Discovery become more
aware of how their travel choices effect the environment, and provide
travelers with a new way of experiencing their destination."
"It's an honor to play a role in the launch of Discovery's green
travel program," said GetThere vice president of product marketing and
customer experience Suzanne Neufang. "We're confident that other
companies will follow the path companies like Discovery are
trailblazing."