sThe finalist apps include an app to help their clients escape the dreaded middle seat, another that helps agents compare flights and mobile trip sharing blogs. The winner will receive a $10,000 cash prize. The finalists were selected based on creativity, innovation and value delivered to travel buyers through improved efficiency, new revenue opportunities and enhanced customer services.

            ExpertFlyer.com’s Seat Alerts Red App will allow agents to help travelers who are stuck in an undesirable seat, such as a middle seat, to change to a better seat as one becomes available. Agents will be able to create a Seat Alert with flight specific options and will be notified when the best seat becomes available.

            HipGeo helps agencies tap into their customer pool to promote their travel services by distributing the HipGeo smartphone travel app within their agency communications. HipGeo is used by travelers to share their adventures, excursions and trips via the HipGeo travel blogs. Each post made by the customer will contain agency branding and links to the agency’s website.

            Global Net Fares is a visual air shopping tool that allows agents to compare flight information side by side including carriers, schedules and fares. Limos.com introduced an app for searching for and booking private car services. Bookings integrate into customers’ itineraries, streamlining the reservation process and increasing agent productivity. The QBotic Pro Red App will automatically revalidate or reissue tickets due to involuntary changes. Instead of agents spending an average of four to five minutes per booking, QBotic Pro will do the job in about 45 seconds. It can also be configured to handle bookings in full robotic mode with no agent intervention at all, delivering truly touch-less handling of involuntary reissues.

            In addition to competing for the cash prize, each finalist will show their app at the Sabre Technology and Marketing University (TMU) event where more than 350 travel buyers will convene this week to explore best practices, discover new marketing techniques, conquer the latest technology trends, and tap into the collective insight of industry leaders.