Amadeus Makes Inroads into TMC Sector with New Technology Partnerships
London – 06 May 2008: Amadeus, a global leader in technology and distribution solutions for the travel and tourism industry, is fast becoming an emerging force in the business travel sector due to new partnerships being developed with key UK Travel Management Companies (TMCs) and business travel agencies. Announcing 11 new technology partnerships over the last 12 months, Amadeus is increasing its presence in UK business travel, enjoying a 5% boost in market share.
Amadeus’ new partners will adopt state-of-the-art solutions tailor-made for business travel which bring about greater automation, streamlined processes and an enhanced online presence. Two of the key partnerships recently confirmed are with Uniglobe’s 22 UK locations and Horncastle Executive Travel, with offices in Newcastle Upon Tyne and Edinburgh. Horncastle is an Advantage Focus member, and this signing raises the number of Focus agents using Amadeus to 14.
Uniglobe, which has operated in the UK since 1991 and is currently 11th in the top 50 TMCs in terms of business travel turnover, has signed up to use the Amadeus Selling Platform and the Amadeus Business Travel Portal (UK), a new off-the-shelf white label self-booking tool now available to UK business travel agencies. Amadeus Business Travel Portal (UK) is specifically designed to help SME companies gain greater control over their travel spend in a cost-effective way, whilst empowering travellers to research and book policy-compliant trips 24/7.
Derek Hearl-Maunder, President and Chief Operating Office for Uniglobe Travel British Isles, said: “The decision to move across to Amadeus was due to the company’s strong focus on becoming much more than just a technology supplier for Uniglobe, which we found evident not only in the range and quality of their applications but also in the partnership that has formed between our two companies since preliminary discussions.”
Horncastle Executive Travel, which is also a member of the Guild of Travel Management Companies, will be using the Amadeus Selling Platform with Quality Control and Group Name Script to increase automation levels for a more streamlined operation. Horncastle’s corporate customers already benefit from self booking technology thanks to Amadeus e-Travel Management. The TMC goes live with the new systems in July this year.
Julian Mills, Director of Sales, Amadeus UK said: "Amadeus is already the number one provider of business travel solutions in Europe and these partnerhships, along with other recent signings including Capita Business Travel and Barrhead Travel, signal an increasing recognition of the superiority of Amadeus solutions for business travel professionals in the UK. With 12 additional staff since December, we continue to reinforce our UK team in order to support this growth and deliver on our commitment to offer superior service to the business travel sector.”
