Over the past two months, Travel Leaders Network has added 34 travel management companies, including many former HRG network members. The network now reaches 50 countries. Travel Leaders expects more TMCs to join in the coming months. Travel Leaders Network president Roger Block said the expansion positions the TMC network to compete more aggressively on multinational RFPs.
He said the plan is to sign one agency in every country. "We are engaging partners who can offer a full portfolio of corporate, leisure and events services." He added, "We are creating a network of agencies that will serve as connective tissue enabling us to respond to larger opportunities both regionally and internationally."
Travel Leaders Group SVP of international markets Angeles Yugdar leads the expansion efforts, and Travel Leaders Corporate VP of international sales Kevin Brown also is working on the initiative. The company also has hired regional partner management directors to be based in three world regions: Carina Fernandez Grenno in Latin America, Susan Lancaster in EMEA and Pat Siow in Asia/Pacific.
Joining existing global network members in the U.S., Canada, Mexico and the U.K.—as well as Greaves Travel and Orchid Voyages in India, Travel Management International in Ireland and Cozmo Travel in Bahrain, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates—are companies in Brazil, Egypt, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Thailand and Uruguay, as well as one in Serbia that also will serve Croatia and Montenegro. Travel Leaders will release the names of these new members within weeks. Other new network members:
- Aerotravel in Romania
- Arcadia Travel in Madagascar and Mauritius
- Business + Travel Group in the Netherlands
- Compania de Desarrollo Turistico SRL—Comdetur in Paraguay
- Dakkak Travel Agency in Jordan
- Global Travel Club in Armenia
- Grupo Travel in Guatemala
- HG Group in Burma, Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam
- IBC Corporate Travel International Business Centre in Russia
- International Meetings and Conventions Panama
- Lachish Tours in Israel
- Jamadvice in Bulgaria
- JSC Vestekspress in Lithuania
- Kapico Travels and Tourism in Kuwait
- Kyvernitis Travel in Greece
- Marietton Development (Havas Voyages/Ailleurs Business) in France
- Molina Agencia De Viajes in Venezuela
- Promotora De Viajes Nuevo Mundo in Peru
- Rutas Aereas in Costa Rica
- TAS Baltics in Latvia
- Toppan Travel Service in Japan
- Trafalgar Tours in Colombia
- Travel Biz & Tours in Malaysia
- Travelux in China
- Select Travel in Luxembourg
- Sky Travel Holdings in Ukraine
- STC Travel Swiss (Havas Voyages) in Switzerland