Hey, business travelers! Now you can book travel direct from Microsoft Outlook 2007!

June 26, 2:20 PMPhoenix Travel ExaminerJay Hammond

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Thanks to Tripware, a self-serve travel software package for business travelers, traveling on business just got a little easier – and less annoying.

Tripware's primary product, OutBook, allows business travelers to plan, book and manage all their business trip needs using Microsoft Outlook 2007. Travelers can also use OutBook to book flights on well over 20 airlines including American, Delta, United and US Airways. Tripware will continue adding low-cost and regional carriers in coming months.

“The addition of Southwest Airlines to our booking inventory dramatically in creases flight options for our travelers,” Said Clark Rines, CEO and President for Tripware. “ The addition also gives Tripware a marked advantage over online travel agencies and allows us to compete head-to-head with select travel management companies. With Southwest as a booking option, Tripware continues to move towards our goal of making business trips simply effective.”

The Southwest booking option, which is also available through Tripware's non-Outlook version, Tripware Travel Center, includes rewards program management software and the ability to package flights with hotels and or car rental. Travelers can also schedule meetings or appointments and track expenses. Once booked, the trip automatically displays on your Outlook Calendar, as do any subsequent changes that you make.

Based on an unscientific comparison with other online travel services, Tripware holds up well. Prices are comparable to those on Travelocity and Expedia, at least for the trips this writer checked. Choices were also similar although Tripware was the only one that displayed options according to my stated preferences. Search speed was indistinguishable. In fact, Tripware seems to offer access to more flights and carriers than other travel services including regional carriers which serve smaller markets.

If there is a drawback, it's that Tripware uses exact dates only so if you have a flexible schedule and want to compare prices for different days or durations you have to perform multiple searches. You can, however, search for flights into or out of multiple airports in the same general geographic area (for instance Sky Harbor and Phoenix-Mesa). There are also some gaps in the lists of hotels available to select as preferences. For instance one of my favorite places to stay in Club Quarters, which is a membership chain catrering to business travelers during the business week although non-members can stay there over the weekend. Unfortunately, Tripware doesn't offer Club Quarters as a hotel preference option. At the same time my favorite boutique chain, Kimpton Hotels, is listed. Also, the service is only available for trips within the U.S. and Canada at this time. International destinations should be introduced by the end of the year, according to Dean Wright, vice president of Marketing for Tripware.

These inconveniences are outweighed by the ease of scheduling everything from one place, however, and not having to repeatedly enter data into multiple locations. It is also easy to skip one or more components (flight, hotel, car rental) of any given trip.

What really makes Tripware unique is Behavioral Travel Management, which is the big name given to Tripware's ability to learn from your trips and the preferences you submit. Tripware then uses that knowledge of how you have chosen to travel in the past to suggest options for your upcoming trips. For instance, if you favor airlines that cater to business travelers over discount airlines or hotels that offer free breakfasts, those will be the types of options that will be displayed at the top of the list of options for the next trip you plan. Think of it as a blend of the best travel agent and online travel service that helps you leave the office faster, travel better or at least more on your terms, and come home sooner.

Tripware, by the way, was founded in 2007 and headquartered in Mesa. Tripware is owned by Remotian Systems, Inc.