Nextel Partners last month became the first of several corporate clients to select self-booking, global distribution and fulfillment services from Cendant Corp.'s Travelport, launched at the National Business Travel Association convention last summer
(BTN, Aug. 25, 2003).
Kirkland, Wash.-based Nextel Partners, which markets Nextel Communications' wireless products to businesses, is a fast-growing firm that generated $650 million in 2003 revenue, spending less than $10 million annually on air travel. It previously managed travel with Cendant's Galileo GDS through Metropolitan Travel in Seattle, which Expedia bought in 2002.
"The business travel industry is changing with different types of companies entering the market or altering their business to provide services," said Nextel Partners travel manager Nancy Witt. "This can be confusing and inefficient. We believe having all services and points of contact with one company is definitely the way to go."
Travelport likes to point out that it is the only "end-to-end" provider that owns all of its U.S. self-booking, GDS and fulfillment portions, although it partners for fulfillment internationally. Competitor Travelocity Business this week named Manchester, England-based NIS Europe as a partner to build its fulfillment services in Europe.