Corporate travel industry veteran Mark Walton has launched Solutions Travel, a new travel management company built on an integrated travel-as-a-service technology stack provided by Spotnana, the startup managed travel tech company and TMC that gained the backing of Concur founder Steve Singh in 2021 and last summer brought its fundraising to $100 million.
Walton will serve as CEO of Solutions Travel.
“After decades of championing change, I’m excited to bring new innovation to the corporate travel marketplace through the launch of a new TMC built from the ground up on Spotnana’s new modern infrastructure,” said Walton, whose experience has included executive positions at Options Travel and the now-defunct Orbitz for Business.
Solutions is targeting small- and midmarket travel programs as it rolls out but also has plans to pursue the larger market as the TMC scales up its business.
According to Walton and Spotnana founder and CEO Sarosh Waghmar, the Solutions Travel platform powered by Spotnana will offer an integrated global travel management infrastructure that supports 24/7 global bookings via chat, email or phone; real-time integrated global data; direct content sources; NDC integration; and an open API platform that can integrate with client-preferred systems.
“We want to add value to customers and suppliers by utilizing Spotnana’s modern day tech stack, coupled with a strong service orientation to bring savings to our clients and better experiences to travelers,” Walton said in a statement. “The requirements are straightforward: deliver all relevant content to travelers and agents through a single, simple to use global application that integrates with our customers’ preferred systems including duty of care, sustainability, HR management and expense.
Walton enlisted a number of silent investors to launch the business, including two individuals among Options’ owner group, who have invested “as they would [in] other businesses … outside of the travel industry,” according to Walton.
Spotnana and Solutions told BTN they have been working together for more than a year to bring the new TMC to market. Solutions and Spotnana execs described the commercials behind the partnership as “consumption-based”—i.e. as Solutions uses the technology, Spotnana will get a piece of the pie.
Even while Spotnana aims to supply TMCs with technology, the company also operates as a full-service TMC. Asked how Solutions plans to differentiate itself from its technology provider, Walton said Solutions Travel plans to develop its own integrations with Spotnana’s open APIs and will work with clients to architect the integrations they need. He also pointed to his long history of providing account management and consultancy services for clients as a critical overlay to the Spotnana technology stack.
Waghmar, as well, underscored the ability for TMC partners to differentiate themselves with their own services and integrations, and that as a travel technology provider Spotnana would continue to look for like-minded TMCs with which to collaborate rather than compete.
“Mark and his team are industry innovators and leaders who share our vision for the future of travel,” Waghmar said. “We look forward to partnering on future enhancements to Spotnana’s travel-as-a-service platform that will add value to all Spotnana and Solutions customers.”