American Express Business Travel, a global industry leader in business travel management, and Barceló Business Travel, a Barceló Group company specializing in business travel, announced an agreement to come together in a joint venture, combining the expertise and talent of two industry leaders in the region. Customers will benefit from access to American Express global product, knowledge and network and Barcelo Business Travel’s local network and expertise. The new joint venture came into affect at the beginning of 2008 launching a new identity with presence from both companies.
Charles Petruccelli, President, American Express Global Travel Services, commented on the agreement, “Partnership is a key part of our global growth strategy for American Express Business Travel and we already have a successful track record in operating joint venture partnerships in Italy, China and Japan. By teaming with strong joint venture partners we are able to grow in key markets around the world and strengthen our value proposition. Additionally, we continue to invest in servicing, innovation and talent to deliver superior global service standards and expertise with local insight to our clients.”
Simón Pedro Barceló, co-president of the Barceló Group, commented, “Today is a very important day for business travel. Two big companies have decided to join forces and work together, and now offer their clients the best. It’s an honour for the Barceló Group to share business travel with American Express.”
The new joint venture will bring together a workforce of over 450 business travel professionals in the company’s network of offices across Spain. The expertise and experience these two companies bring to bear in the market will enable them to offer a specialized service to corporate customers regardless of size or needs. The new joint venture will initially be servicing a portfolio of over 400 customers.
According to Ángel G. Butragueño, managing director of American Express Business Travel, “This partnership is about combining our two talented organizations to deliver increased service and capabilities to our joint customer base.”
Antonio Cursach, managing director of Barceló Business Travel, highlights, “The combination of resources and expertise delivers value to our current and potential customers. Merging the two businesses enables us to offer solutions that currently do not exist in the market by drawing on the global influence and capabilities of American Express together with the capillarity and flexibility of Barceló Business Travel.”
Under the auspices of this agreement, the new company will offer a competitive range of products, services and initiatives that address the needs of the whole of the business travel market in Spain.
Barceló Viajes, the consumer travel branch of the Grupo Barceló travel division, will continue to run independently from this new entity, albeit strengthened by the synergies in areas such as contracting and structure resulting from the agreement.
The agreement was signed on December 21st. Ángel García Butragueño, General Manager of American Express Business Travel for Spain, and Antonio Cursach, General Manager of Barceló Business Travel attended the signature ceremony. More information on the new entity and its strategy in the Spanish market will be available in the first months of 2008.
About American Express Business Travel
American Express Business Travel, a division of the American Express Company, is dedicated to helping its clients realise the greatest possible value from their investment in travel through increased cost savings, outstanding customer service and greater spend control. For small businesses, medium-sized enterprises and multinational corporations, American Express Business Travel provides a combination of industry-leading booking technology, travel management consulting expertise, strategic sourcing and supplier negotiation support and customer service available online and offline, around the world.
American Express operates one of the world’s largest travel agency networks with over 2,200 travel service locations in over 140 countries and territories worldwide. The Company processed US$21.8 billion in global travel sales in 2006.
American Express Company (www.americanexpress.com) is a diversified worldwide travel, financial and network services company founded in 1850. It is a world leader in charge and credit cards, Travellers Cheques, travel, business services and international banking.
About Grupo Barcelo
Barceló Business is part of Grupo Barceló, one of the most prestigious players in the tourist sector all around the world, with 75 years of history. It manages more than 150 hotels in 14 countries and 400 offices, helping more than 2 million clients per year.
Barceló Business has specialized in big corporations with a high volume of corporate individual travels and collective travel such as congresses, conventions, incentives and incentives, which requires integrated solutions