Advanced Travel Group Joins Sea Gate

Today New York-based travel management company Sea Gate Travel Group LLC announced it this week bought New York-based Advanced Travel Group to form Sea Gate/Advanced Travel Group LLC. The new merged entity becomes the 11th largest corporate travel management firm in the country, with combined 2001 U.S. booked air sales of $505 million.

Sea Gate/Advanced Travel Group is led by longtime Sea Gate head Vic Ascrizzi, who is now chairman of the new company's three member board, which includes CEO Dan Green, also of Sea Gate and president Michael Share, of the Advanced Travel Group. The two companies will complete the integration of their operations in three to six months, said CEO Green.

The companies will realize economies of scale on technology, staffing and office space. "Sea Gate is a little ahead on online booking, and Advanced has a great meetings department," Green said. "This helps us manage our costs and gives more depth to our travel management offerings."

With major offices in New York, Los Angeles, Houston, Dallas, and Charlotte, N.C., the company is gunning for large corporate clients. "Most of our current accounts are in the $5-35 million range, although we do have a few 100-pound gorillas in the $75-100 million range," said Green. Among Sea Gate's clients are Viacom, Disney and the National Basketball Association. "No other travel management company besides the megas handles such large accounts," Green said, "and we provide better service than the megas: We have greater flexibility and higher-touch relationships with customers." Green said that Sea Gate/Advanced Travel's status as the sole U.S. representative of the global Synergi Network means the company is competitive with the megas on overseas support.