Washington, D.C. – 16 January 2017
Priceline founder Jay Walker launched today upside.com, a hopefully groundbreaking online travel company that is changing the game for buying business travel. Using Upside, travelers at small and medium-sized businesses can save 10-15% over the lowest published air and hotel prices available anywhere.
Upside.com is led by Priceline Founder Jay Walker and a team of former senior Priceline executives including former Priceline CTO Scott Case; former President Priceline Europe, Tim Brier; and former Priceline Chief Marketing Officer, Paul Breitenbach. Upside.com is headquartered in Washington, D.C., with facilities in Stamford, CT and New York, NY.
As a reward for making money-saving travel choices, travelers earn $100-$200 or more in a free gift card on top of the savings for their company. All this is possible because the traveler chooses their flights and hotel on Upside.com, and then buys them together as a bundle for one low price.
Upside provides full domestic and international coverage. Built on $50 million of research and development, Upside offers travelers and their companies a combination of benefits never available before in a single purchase.
- Proprietary Big Data Travel Engine instantly evaluates 20,000+ options to show travelers the “top 6” flight choices and “top 6” hotel choices that, when purchased together, save their company money and meet the needs of the business trip.
- With each trip purchased, Upside customers get a free high-value gift card at Amazon.com or their choice of 50+ other top retailers.
- After the traveler selects their flights and hotel, the Engine automatically shows a series of equally effective but lower-cost options that create even more savings and an even bigger gift card reward for being flexible.
- Gift cards are delivered digitally within 72 hours of trip purchase.
- Travelers still receive all their frequent flyer miles and their credit card points in addition to their free gift card.
- The entire process takes just minutes, often saving 90% off the time of typical travel websites.
- Unlimited 24/7, concierge-level customer service by phone, chat or text when travelers need it – before, during and after every trip.
- Despite the single, bundled price, travelers get the same cancellation and change privileges as if they had bought their flights and hotel separately.
- Best of all, employers save meaningful amounts of money, and employees love making those savings happen.
A recent survey, conducted by Upside of business travelers who buy their own travel, revealed just how hungry the market is for change:
- 79% of employers would let their employees use a travel service that gives a gift card to employees, provided the company saves money at the same time.
- 78% of business travelers would like a better way to be rewarded for buying their business travel.
- 76% would use a service that rewards them with gift cards.
- 82% of business travelers want to be rewarded when they’re flexible with their travel plans.
- Rewards that travelers most want include lower prices (49%); gift cards (45%); and upgrades (56%).