Peakwork establishes team to drive global expansion and targeting OTAs

Peakwork establishes team to drive global expansion and targeting OTAs

German travel software specialist Peakwork has created a new team, aimed at building strategic partnerships in international markets and with online firms.

German travel software specialist Peakwork has created a new team, aimed at building strategic partnerships in international markets and with online firms.

The firm headed by Ralf Usbeck, founder of TravelTainment, said that growing demand in all business segments has prompted a focus on global expansion.

Today more than 80 international tour operators, 30 leading international airlines and flight providers, and 20 of the world’s biggest hotel providers use Peakwork’s technology for producing travel products.

The firm said interest in its technology from online portals and meta search engines is continually growing, leading it to establish a Global Business Development department.

The UK affiliate Peakwork Ltd, based in Peterborough will play a key role, headed by Annika Kessel, director of business development global. Kessel is also the new managing director of Peakwork Ltd.

She reports directly to the executive board, Usbeck and Michael Schmidt. Her strategic activities to drive internationalisation and growth will be supported by experienced team members Manuel Saballus, Uli Zimmermann and Daniel Zingsheim.

In addition Geoff Whitfield has joined peakwork as chief commercial officer. He was commercial and business development director at Anite Travel, and managing director of his own company 1st Class Cruise systems which he sold to Anite.

Usbeck, said: “The demand for our technology comes from all over the world with different requirements for the various stages within the tourism value chain.

“The importance of strategic prioritisation surrounding the expansion of the Player-Hub network will keep growing and in turn offer maximum added value for all partners in our network.

“We are happy to welcome new experts for the further development of new markets and customer contacts to our team.”

In 2015 Peakwork says it will give special focus to online travel portals and meta search engines for package, hotel-only and flight-only products.

Peakwork is forging partnerships with online businesses and social travel communities to take account of the latest trends. Such trends include OTAs embracing meta, mobile search, additional holiday activities and personalised preference searching in combination with social networks and user knowledge.