Egencia spreads its wings

Expedia Inc’s wholly owned travel management company Egencia has launched the Egencia Global Alliance (EGA) to help speed its development as a global travel management company (TMC).

Christophe Peymirat, UK vice president and managing director for Egencia UK, said: “The past two years have been good for Egencia in terms of customer acquisition, but it became clear to us that the model needed to extend its footprint.”

Egencia has a presence of its own in fifteen countries, with the US, Canada, UK, France and Germany, the most important markets.

The EGA partners – all established TMCs within their market – will service Egencia’s existing customers’ needs in the local market, but are not intended to go out and source new business for Egencia.

EGA gives Egencia a presence in nine new territories – Argentina, Hungary, Russia, Romania, United Arab Emirates, Singapore, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Uruguay.

Peymirat said that Egencia was firmly established as a major TMC, and was picking up clients from a number of sectors.

He identified access to Expedia inventory as one of its differentiators. “Our hotel supply is the best in the market,” he said.

He also talked up Egencia’s access to Expedia Inc technology.

“As well as the supply, our technology is extremely competitive. Some of the tools we use have been tested by millions of people.”

He added that another benefit of its parent company was that Egencia would always be investing in and improving its technology.

“We’ve also structured our business so that online and offline are completely integrated,” he added. “Our consultants can work across both channels…We are in very advanced talks with a big UK corporation which is having great difficulty with its present TMC which keeps the two flows separate.”

Looking ahead, he said there are “signs of a slight recovery” in demand for business travel next year, but that the focus will continue to be on cost efficiency and cost control.