United Way Travel uses the combination of the following hotel programs to find our clients the lowest hotel rates:

Galileo Adds The Leading Hotels of the World to “Best Available Rate” Program Galileo GDS Leads the Industry with nearly 30,000 Hotel Properties Guaranteeing Lowest Rates

Parsippany, NJ - Galileo, a Travelport brand and a leading global distribution system (GDS), today announced the addition of Leading Hotels of the World, Ltd. to its Galileo Best Available Rate (BAR) program.The Galileo BAR program offers travel agents the convenience of “one-stop” shopping and the confidence that they no longer need to shop outside of the GDS for the best hotel rates. The best available, unrestricted rates of more than 360 Leading Hotels in 74 countries are now available to all Galileo-connected travel agents.

Galileo BAR is an exclusive program which ensures that all Galileo-connected travel agents can be absolutely confident the rate displayed on their desktop is the best rate available in any channel. The Galileo BAR program enables major hotel chains to provide travel agents with access to the best available published, non-restricted rates either online or over the phone via the hotel chain's reservation line. Participants in the Galileo BAR program represent nearly 50% of Galileo's hotel booking traffic worldwide.

“Galileo introduced the Best Available Rate concept back in August 2004, and we've seen our content grow to include nearly 30,000 hotel properties worldwide,” said Louise Meyer, senior director, Hospitality Supply and Distribution for Galileo. “As a result, we are in a clear position of leadership in the hotel content arena, and we are particularly pleased to welcome The Leading Hotels of the World, Ltd., the largest international luxury hotel brand, to this very successful program.”

Properties participating in BAR are now identified with an exclamation mark in the display screen. This new indicator makes it easy for agents to identify a BAR hotel, ensuring that they are booking at the best available, non-restricted rate.

“We are very happy to participate in Galileo's Best Available Rate program,” said Jon Londeen, vice president, Reservations Management for The Leading Hotels of the World, Ltd. “It clearly demonstrates our Company's strong commitment to the travel agency community and in turn, helps to reassure their customers that the rate they get from a travel agent is in fact, the very best available.” In addition to this most recent addition to the BAR program, Galileo also has contractual agreements with major hotel chains such as Meritus; Shangri-La and Oberoi Hotels; Accor; InterContinental Hotel Group; Raffles/Swisshotel Hotels; Stamford Hotels; Mandarin Oriental and Pacific International; World Hotels; Marriott International; Hyatt Hotels & Resorts; Hilton International; Outrigger Hotels & Resorts; Kimpton Hotels; Carlson Hospitality; Omni Hotels; Minto Place Hotels; Destinations, West Coast & Red Lion Hotels; Best Western; and Kempinski Hotels & Resorts, to provide access to their best available non-restricted published rates through the Galileo GDS.