VP, Data Warehouse & BI Development
Southlake - TX United States
The big idea: In 25 words or less, please tell us how this Fast 50 Nominee is helping to address the planet's problems.
Sabre created the Traveler Security and Data Suite, enabling travel agents and managers to quickly locate travelers anywhere in the world in case of emergency.
Please describe how this nominee is using business as a force of positive change. What technology, idea, or strategy is the nominee using -- and what problem, such as global warming, poverty, or pollution, does it address? (suggested length: 100 words)
Sabre’s Traveler Security and Data Suite (TSDS) product had a beginning as unique as the application itself. During a 2006 conference, travel industry executives approached Sabre Holdings president Tom Klein with a request: provide an application that agencies and corporate travel managers can use to easily track the travel plans of their employees and take appropriate actions when required. Because Sabre reaches 38 percent of the global travel industry, it is uniquely positioned to provide a tracking capability with consolidated, near real time reservation data. By leveraging its existing Enterprise Travel Data Warehouse and Cognos Business Intelligence tools, Sabre’s DW/BI teams developed and launched the Traveler Security and Data Suite in July 2007 -- within 10 months of the initial concept discussions. The Traveler Security and Data Suite is the only web-based graphical application of its kind available to travel agents, with near real-time insight into the location and travel plans of their employees and clients. In the case of an emergency – a natural disaster, terror event or health threat, for example – this solution provides business critical information for corporations to locate and assist travelers.
The Traveler Security and Data Suite utilizes consolidated information in Sabre’s Enterprise Travel Data Warehouse and allows users to query traveler location via a graphical web-based interface using such criteria as city or country location, date ranges or specific travel suppliers. The TSDS provides information on where travelers are right now, as well as where they were recently and will be in the future, updated in near real time. This capability allows travel agencies or corporate travel managers to quickly identify and assist travelers that may be affected by unanticipated global events – such as natural disaster, weather, travel supplier disruption or a terrorist act. The TSDS is currently used by 47 travel agencies with over 75 users, including Sabre’s own corporate travel department.
What are the results, both financial and social? How has the nominee's business performed, and what impact has it had on the problem it addresses? (suggested length: 100 words)
The TSDS enables travel agencies and corporate travel managers to quickly locate and provide assistance to travelers affected by global events. This solution has provided value-added offerings beyond Sabre’s traditional products, enabling Sabre to retain and grow its customer base as well as enabling Sabre’s customers to improve the services they offer to their customers. These testimonials best speak to the results of the technology:
Director of Operations for a leading online global travel agency:
“It really proved its worth during the recent UK events as we were able to locate all our travelers in Britain in a matter of seconds. We are excited about being able to bring this dynamic new tool to our clients. Thank you, Sabre!”
Director, IT and Training for a large corporate travel consulting firm:
“In the recent incident with British Airways Boeing 777 challenging, but safe landing in London’s Heathrow airport, on January 18th, we utilized the application and knew immediately if any of our customers were affected.”
