If it proceeds as planned, HRG’s acquisition by American Express Global Business Travel would give the latter new proprietary operations in Austria, Italy and Russia. As if integration of acquired companies isn’t difficult enough, GBT also would need to sort out a complicated array of relationships the two travel management companies hold in markets where they don’t own… Read More »
Achieving economies of scale is a big part of the proposed American Express Global Business Travel acquisition of HRG. More influence on airline distribution evolution is a bonus. GBT also might gain pricing power on some client bids. Another big driver? Greater clout to generate more revenue from suppliers. While that’s always a motivator for TMCs to get bigger, is that all… Read More »
Now that’s a mega. American Express Global Business Travel today announced plans to acquire Hogg Robinson Group in an all-cash deal. Both are among the top four global travel management companies. Publicly traded HRG also announced it would sell its Fraedom software business to Visa for 142 million pounds ($198 million). Depending on conditions related to the Fraedom sale,… Read More »
Airlines, tech companies and travel agencies can register with the International Air Transport Association for certification on the New Distribution Capability. Air France-KLM and Hogg Robinson Group are among the latest to do so. What does this certification mean? Mostly, it’s a sign. A carrier that has done what it takes to get registered (AA, BA, United) is showing it publicly… Read More »
The new, Amadeus-endorsed model for airline distribution with International Airlines Group may or may not take hold among more travel management companies or even other GDSs. For now, it’s constructive to review the role of IATA’s New Distribution Capability. When IAG announced a GDS surcharge in May, NDC was the industry’s ticket to fee-free British Airways and Iberia… Read More »
There are three weeks to go before a surcharge takes effect on global distribution system bookings with British Airways and Iberia. Big travel management companies are revealing that they’re avoiding the fee on bookings through Amadeus thanks to the GDS company’s agreements with the airlines. Following a related Hogg Robinson Group announcement last week, American Express Global Business Travel… Read More »
Corporate travel policy has taken a lot of grief lately. It’s too long, so nobody reads it. It’s not traveler-centric. It doesn’t incorporate “behavioral economics.” Its ability to control behavior is a “myth.” Some generalizations are less true than others, and corporate policy is often misunderstood. That doesn’t mean companies can stand pat. The business environment is always… Read More »