Host travel agency InteleTravel has acquired corporate travel alliance Hickory Global Partners. The acquisition allows both companies to execute a new strategy—driven by the trend towards blended travel—to optimize leisure and business travel resources by combining purchasing and negotiating power, talent and technology.
Working closely with InteleTravel President James Ferrara, longtime Hickory President Chris Dane will lead the focus on emerging market opportunities and initiatives for system-wide advancement, including a version of the new Hickory 365 staffing solution which will provide leisure fulfillment for Hickory members, and a new Hickory business travel education and certification program for InteleTravel advisors.
Hickory will continue operating as its own brand, newly powered as a wholly owned unit of InteleTravel. Over 100 new jobs are projected to be created over the course of the integration of the companies and development of the new programs.
“Merging leisure and corporate travel businesses at a time when travel is booming and the lines for both sectors are becoming more blurred positions us for greater growth and benefits for our members, advisors and preferred suppliers,” said Dane in a press statement.
InteleTravel has developed its own booking technology for all verticals and packaging tools including cruises, discount leisure hotel rates, short-term rentals, low-cost air carriers, activities and entertainment. The company also offers product training, automated learning systems for advisors and large-scale events. Powered by InteleTravel, Hickory will support members for their leisure demand in one, all-encompassing program, strengthening Hickory with as much as 30 percent more volume from members, and a completely new source of unmanaged business travel sales from over 90,000 InteleTravel advisors. The InteleTravel distribution network in North America, the U.K., and soon in the European Union, will also be a source of leads for Hickory members of larger managed corporate account referrals and meeting and event business.
Opening an entirely new market segment for InteleTravel advisors, Hickory will expand the former’s earning opportunities with business travel-focused education, negotiated travel products and services through Hickory’s air portfolio, preferred hotel and amenities programs, expense management tools and ancillary supplier partnerships.
Ferrara added: “With the new blending of leisure and business travel, the idea of separate consortia for these markets is now outdated. This merger creates a single source of advantages and support for all travelers and the professionals who serve them—the consortium of the future.”
For more information, visit www.inteletravel.com and www.hickoryglobalpartners.com.
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