Sabre Travel Network has expanded its European business by opening an office in Istanbul, Turkey.
The technology company launched its Turkish operation by revealing it had signed Viking Turizm, one of the country’s leading corporate travel agencies.
Sabre said it had also won other new customers. Amadeus and Travelport are already present in the Turkish marketplace.
Harald Eisenaecher, the company’s senior vice president for Europe, the Middle East and Africa, said the Turkish travel industry had grown significantly over the past decade.
He said every technology company was watching the marketplace, particularly because of its young, technology-savvy population.
“This represents a great opportunity for travel management companies and agencies to innovate through technology and keep pace with new traveller expectations,” he said.
Altug Bekdemir, the former general manager for airline sales and marketing company Aviareps, will manage the office.
He said: “More and more Turkish people want to see the world, and Sabre technology is well positioned to support travel agencies in that move.
“I believe we have a very strong local technology offering that will help agents inspire their travellers in their world discovery.”
Sabre recently announced a new multi-year agreement with Turkish Airlines to provide air content to agencies.