Amtrak.com to Feature MapQuest's Location-Based Services to Improve User Experience
WASHINGTON, DC & DULLES, VA, May 15, 2003
MapQuest, the world's leading online mapping, routing and global location-based services company and a wholly-owned subsidiary of America Online, Inc., and Amtrak, the National Railroad Passenger Corporation, today announced an agreement to integrate MapQuest Business Solutions software on Amtrak's popular Web site, www.amtrak.com.
With just a few clicks at www.amtrak.com, Amtrak passengers and others can find the location of - or directions to - any of more than 500 railroad stations across the country, making travel planning with Amtrak easier and more convenient, thanks to MapQuest's industry-leading technology.
Under this new agreement, the MapQuest technology will enable Amtrak to expand the mapping and routing functionality on amtrak.com and to improve the overall satisfaction of Web site users. With MapQuest tools in place, visitors to Amtrak's Web site are now able to search for the locations of any of Amtrak's more than 500 stations from coast-to-coast. Using the Amtrak "Station Finder" - powered by MapQuest - passengers may locate Amtrak stations at both their point of departure, their final destination or any point in-between. In addition, MapQuest provides detailed driving directions to and from rail stations and offers maps to assist Amtrak passengers in planning their travel itineraries.
"We are extremely pleased to announce our relationship with Amtrak and to provide them with MapQuest tools and services that will make the experience of online travel planning even easier for their customers," said Tommy McGloin, Senior Vice President and General Manager of MapQuest. "This agreement demonstates the confidence that America's leading corporations have in MapQuest to get their customers where they need to go."
"Our partnership with MapQuest gives the thousands of passengers who book online through amtrak.com another convenient tool at their fingertips," said Barbara J. Richardson, Amtrak's Vice President of Marketing and Sales. "As Americans increasingly choose Amtrak as their travel alternative, the ability for travelers to book their entire trip online, including mapping their routes to and from our stations, means even more convenience and satisfaction for our passengers."
Amtrak's Web site has enjoyed record growth recently in both visits and online bookings. Currently, 24 percent of all Amtrak ticket sales are completed through the corporate Web site, representing an increase of more than 52 percent over last year. The percentage of total ticket revenue booked online - 26.8 percent in March - is significantly higher than many other travel Web sites, and it continues to grow. The company's Internet sales have averaged more than 100 percent growth per year over the past five years and are expected to exceed 2.4 million online bookings and $330 million in online sales this year.
MapQuest's Business Solutions group is the preferred provider of a full range of mapping and routing solutions to more than 1,400 leading businesses across key categories including retail, healthcare, financial, real estate, travel and automotive. MapQuest Business Solutions allows businesses to map-enable their Web sites, company Intranet and call-center applications for improved marketing and customer service functionality. The flexible and scalable suite of products includes interactive maps, powerful proximity search functionality, business locator applications, point-to-point driving directions and much more. More information about MapQuest Business Solutions can be found at www.mapquest.com/solutions/product.adp or by calling 1-888-627-7837. Annual license fees are based upon business and technical needs.