T&T Buys East Coast TMC Presence

Travel and Transport today announced it has completed the acquisition of Boston-area travel management company Abacus Travel for an undisclosed amount. The deal, which became effective Jan. 1, gives Omaha, Neb.-based super regional TMC Travel and Transport its first "brick and mortar" presence on the East Coast. In addition to its Peabody, Mass., headquarters, Abacus has branch offices in Plainville and Worcester, Mass., and Manchester, N.H.

Travel and Transport president and CEO Bill Tech said Abacus Travel serves more than 450 small corporate accounts that represent about $100 million in annual total travel volume. Its largest account spends $3 million in total volume. He said Travel and Transport, which primarily handles accounts with overall volumes between $3 million and $45 million, now has a stronger presence in the small market and the East Coast where it already has some onsite operations for some clients.

The integration of Abacus is underway and its 100 employees will transition to Travel and Transport, Tech told BTN. During the transition period, Abacus CEO Allan Huntley and president Marla Huntley will serve on a contract basis, according to Tech, who expects integration to be complete within two to three months. Tech said he plans to maintain Abacus' remaining management team.

DeAnna Overman, Travel and Transport vice president of operations, is overseeing the integration until her planned retirement in August. Nancy Miller, current vice president of branch support services, will then transition into Overman's role.

With the first travel management company acquisition of 2008, Tech said it will not be his last. "We are still a debt-free company after this acquisition, so we didn't have to get any loans to buy it," he said. "We have money in the bank and are going to be looking for more opportunities."