Hogg Robinson will rebrand its global travel management company operation and most of the former Business Travel International network under the name HRG as of April 3.
U.K.-based Hogg has whole or majority ownership in 20 countries. Recent U.S. acquisitions Sea Gate Travel and Robustelli World Travel, in the process of being merged
(BTNonline, Feb. 22) will be known as HRG USA. All of Hogg's other TMC operations traded under the BTI name will switch from BTI to HRG.
The joint-venture company that owned the BTI brand was dissolved on Jan. 3, when Hogg and BCD Holdings went their separate ways. Hogg said that all 68 BTI partners that were owned by neither Hogg nor BCD have opted to become part of the new HRG network, giving HRG a presence in a total of 88 countries. Hogg claims the network has a combined turnover of $12 billion and a workforce of 15,000 employees.
When Hogg and BCD split, the pair argued over whether Hogg retained the legal right to use the BTI name. Hogg corporate and marketing director Chris Fry said today that his company decided it wished to adopt a new name anyway. "We want to be clear about who we are because we don't want any confusion," he said. "We also want the new name to be a catalyst for change."
Hogg and BCD continue to serve existing international BTI clients, who may continue to be served under the BTI name if they wish.