If pages take too long to load, then customers go to a faster-moving competitor. To keep the sites up and running, companies like Sabre turn to massive protection of data centers. Others, like Internet ad service DoubleClick Inc., keep redundant data centers. In Tulsa, Sabre protects its data center zealously. Back-office and accounting systems are located above ground, but reservations and scheduling systems are subterranean.
Entry is limited to essential personnel, who are subjected to retina scans.
Personnel are weighed at entry and exit to make sure that visitors don't take anything with them or leave anything dangerous behind. Early this month, Travelocity signed a deal with competitor Preview Travel to merge its operations. Sabre agreed to spin Travelocity off into an independent business, which is to merge with Preview Travel. Sabre will own 70 percent of the new company, which will go by the name Travelocity, and Preview Travel shareholders will own the remaining shares. Jones will become president and CEO of Travelocity.