Sabre Travel Network opened what it calls "the world’s first B2B online application store for the travel industry," the Sabre Red App Centre.
Originally slated to launch by the end of 2011, the e-marketplace connects third-party technology developers with travel agencies via the company's Sabre Red agent desktop.
Sabre said the App Centre has more than 60 Red Apps currently in the marketplace, with that number expected to grow significantly in the coming months.
After identifying the desired Red App, customers can buy, download and assign the app to an individual user. The Red Apps will be available in the agent’s Sabre Red Workspace.
"By creating this new marketplace, our customers can now easily shop for, purchase and install specialized applications that further enhance and customize the Red Workspace to meet their individual business needs,” Chris Kroeger, senior vice president of marketing for Sabre, said in a statement.
Examples of available Red Apps are "Quick Trip Quote," which lets agents quote the price for air, car and hotel in one step, and "Event Finder," which allows agents to plan a trip around events and activities that interest customers.
Kroeger said that Sabre has already received "tremendous interest" in the Red App Centre from the developer and agency communities, and that several developers are working with Sabre to bring their applications to the Red App Centre.
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