Hogg Robinson Group has bought U.K.-based travel management consulting firm Ian Flint & Associates and installed founder Ian Flint as head of its global consulting operations, a position he is to begin on Friday.
This is HRG's second acquisition of an independent consulting firm specializing in travel management in recent months. In April, it bought Princeton, N.J.-based Partnership Travel Consulting, led by Andrew Menkes, and subsequently appointed him president of consulting for HRG North America
(BTNonline, April 6). Menkes will report to Flint.
HRG's purchase also smothers at birth an alliance that Ian Flint & Associates announced last month with U.S.-based consulting firm Caldwell Associates
(BTN, July 17).
Flint, who established his practice in 1989, is one of the best-known and longest-established consultants in the United Kingdom. He regularly has worked for clients from North America, Asia/Pacific and Europe. Flint also has extensive experience in consulting on meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions, as well as the management of transient travel.
Asked why HRG is acquiring independent consultancies rather than growing the business internally, commercial director Chris Fry said, "We have been building organically but we wanted to make our steps a bit bigger. Ian has a superb international reputation. Our reason for wanting him on board is as simple as that."
As is the case with most corporate travel consultants, a significant chunk of Flint's business has been helping clients through the request-for-proposals process to select travel management companies. Flint does not rule out continuing this service, even though his consultancy has been bought by a TMC. "If the demand is there, I will say yes," he said. "I have been given assurances on confidentiality by the HRG board. In any case, I honestly believe that impartiality can be maintained so long as the methodology is strict. If a client turns to me and says, 'I can't make my mind up, which TMC do you recommend?' then I will have failed them anyway."