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Abstract

A centralized travel packaging system retrieves available vendor offered travel products from airline, hotel, car rental companies, etc., as well as associated pricing, time restrictions, use restrictions, class, availability, rules, and description(s). Travelers, agents and distributors search the centralized travel packaging system for possible package matches based on the traveler's criteria. The system compiles packages either in advance or interactively with the requestor using an intelligent matching mechanism retained within the centralized travel packaging system. The matching method uses requestor criteria and additional criteria such as geographic distributions, type of product, time considerations, cost, defined restrictions, expert travel packaging knowledge base, and distribution channel limitations to match vendor offered travel products. Upon selection of a package, the system processes the request for purchase to include cost determination, commission schedules and payment. Packages are reformulated if offered products become unavailable or restrictions or traveler criteria change. Vendors of travel products are able to control available inventory by submitting travel product offerings with restrictions for consideration in the centralized travel packaging system.

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First Claim