MarineTickets.com Launches Fareportal’s Private Label Booking Engine

Miami - March 15, 2004 – Marinetickets.com announced they are launching their new Online Booking Engine at the Seatrade Cruise and Shipping Convention, which starts in the city today. The private label engine, built in cooperation with Fareportal, is the first booking engine targeted at the marine industry which includes Seamen/Marine, Offshore, and Air/Sea fares on the same screen as Consolidator and Published fares. Qualified travelers can now access MarineTickets.com’s negotiated rates for the industry for trips originating from anywhere in the world, and compare them with every other airfare available before making a purchase.

Marinetickets.com is the fastest growing travel service provider for crewmembers of the Oil and Gas industry, Cruise Lines and Yacht companies. With this launch, they will have the ability to provide a true on-line booking platform with pre-negotiated discount airfares exclusively for these employees.

“MarineTickets.com needed to provide a state-of–the art Online Booking Engine for our existing clients, that would increase efficiency, enhance customer service, and most importantly, maximize savings for our customers,” said Antonella Ballatori, President of Marine Tickets. “Before we chose Fareportal, we had worked with another company in Europe that promised online capability of our extensive database. They were not able to deliver what they promised. We began looking at other solutions, and decided to select Fareportal because of their ability to handle the complexity of our worldwide negotiated airfares, which can include multiple airlines and connecting points on a single trip. Fareportal also provides our customers a secure booking platform for their peace of mind. Fareportal is the only solution we found which handles all of our requirements with ease.”

"This is an exciting new venture for us,” said Avik Chopra, CIO of Fareportal. “The private label solution enhances our existing product line and provides a one-stop travel source for MarineTickets’ customers via the website. We are delighted to launch a program that will allow customers visiting Marinetickets.com to book all of their travel needs from the most complete selection of fares available."

As a private label booking engine, Fareportal enhances MarineTickets.com’s offering by linking Fareportal’s vast inventory of Consolidator fares with the existing marine industry fares offered by MarineTickets.com. Customers will be able to view and select from among all these fares to build a trip to or from their port city, or any other customized trip, without leaving the website.

"We are pleased to extend our private label solution to Marinetickets.com and demonstrate Fareportal’s ability to complement our client’s leadership position in the marine travel services industry with our comprehensive product offering," said Avik Chopra, CIO of Fareportal. "Fareportal can support its world-class content by providing such niche travelers expanded services and a unique booking experience."

Currently, Marinetickets.com offers a myriad of travel options to the marine industry. Customers select their destination choice from an expansive menu that goes beyond marine airfares and includes hotel options, rental car add-ons, and optional trip insurance. Fareportal extends further value by adding Published and Consolidator fares, giving each customer a truly complete selection of airfares from which to choose from.