23 October, 2007: SINGAPORE – Travelocity Business will begin providing travel management services in select Asia/Pacific countries for its client base.
The expansion into the Pacific Rim represents another milestone for TBiz, which has grown organically from its introduction in 2003 to rank among the industry´s leading global travel management companies.
TBiz now manages more than US$800 million in annual travel spend.
Travelocity Business announced the service rollout to the business travel community at the Association of Corporate Travel Executives Global Education Conference in Munich.
The announcement follows the successful launch of TBiz services in the United Kingdom and European Union in early 2006. TBiz air bookings originating from the European Union increased more than 30 percent in the first nine months of 2007.
Beginning in November, the agency will extend its service offering to existing clients with managed travel needs in Australia, Hong Kong, Singapore, South Korea, and Taiwan. Services include:
- initial booking (both online and offline);
- standardised fulfillment and reporting that mirrors processes in North America and Europe;
- in-country quality control and ticket issuance;
- personalised account management;
- support for ticket changes; and
- 24 x 7 telephone support, including a centralised call center in the region during business hours.
Working together with its multi-national clients based in North America and Europe, TBiz is focusing on broadening its successful automation-focused model to serve those clients as they increasingly travel to the Pacific Rim.
Similar to the manner in which TBiz leverages infrastructure and online travel expertise built by Travelocity in North America and lastminute.com in Europe, TBiz is working closely with Travelocity-owned ZUJI, Asia-Pacific´s most comprehensive online travel company, to deliver value and superior service to clients in this region.
At this time, TBiz will not pursue local corporate travel opportunities in Asia/Pacific countries.
"Launching in this region is the next logical step in our development as a truly global TMC," said Lesley Harris, president of Travelocity Business.
"An increasing number of clients and prospects have demonstrated that standardising processes and procedures across borders drives measurable savings. As we grow with our clients in these countries, we look forward to extending their savings opportunities in the fastest-growing region of the world."
