Galileo Concierge Live!“Multi-Currency”

Keith HarrisonDirector of Operations – Strategic Content

June 6, 2007

Agenda

> Overview of Galileo’s multi-currency enhancement

> Possible applications

> High level requirements

> Frequently asked questions

> Additional questions

Overview

> Hotels previously constrained to a single currency

> Many hotels presented rates in more stable foreign currencies

> Local travel market was excluded from electronic distribution

Overview

> Galileo now supports Multi-Currency rates for hotels!

> Each rate in the response has a currency associated with it.

> There’s no technical limit to the number of currencies

Possible applications

> Hotels in China can offer additional rates in CNY

> Hotels in London can offer a “Guaranteed USD” rate

> Hotels can tailor the response based on who’s requesting rates (optional)

Requirements for participation

> Minimum Inside Availability participant

> HOA replies are not included in enhancement

> Nightly and approximate total rates must be in the same currency

> Each currency must be carried forward through the sell

> Version number field (VR) must be supported

> CP1 participants must return version number 02

FAQ’s

Q: Is Galileo looking for duplication of each of the default rates in an alternative currency?

A: No. Galileo is not looking for duplicate rates. Instead, we are looking for additional rates, in alternative currencies, that are not distributed through Galileo due to our previous single-currency limitation.

Q: How is this different from an agent’s ability, in Focalpoint, to convert currencies today?

A: Agents have long had the ability to specify a currency in a hotel request; however, the conversion was done for display purposes only. The booking is ultimately guaranteed in the default currency of the hotel. With multi-currency, alternative rates are confirmed in the local currency, eliminating currency fluxuation issues and conversion fees.

FAQ’s

Q: How many alternative currencies can be returned per request?

A: There is no limit to the number of currencies that can be returned; however, a beneficial application of multi-currency is to respond with a relevant alternative currency based on the location of the requesting travel agent.

Q: We’d like to support multi-currency rates; however, we cannot respond to requests based on the location of agents. Is this a requirement for participation?

A: No. If your CRS cannot read the country code and respond with applicable alternative currencies based on location, you can still participate. In this case, you’d return alternative currency rates to all subscribers. We would caution you to clearly outline and rules and/or requirements for all alternative currency rates that require credentials and are restricted to a limited audience. If the CNY rates, for instance, are only valid for residents of China, that information must be clearly communicated in the rate description and rate rules (HOV).

FAQ’s

Q: What are the hotels expectations in terms of settlement when alternative currency rates are booked? Are they required to charge the guest for the stay in the alternative rate?

A: Our expectation is that all guests will be billed in the currency in which the booking was confirmed, whether the booked currency is the default currency or some alternative currency. A major benefit of multi-currency is the elimination of foreign exchange fees, changes in currency conversion rates, etc., that travelers have been subject to.

Additional Questions?

“Think Globally, Act Locally” -David Brower, 1969

Thank you for joining today’s

Concierge Live session!