Travel Leaders Network embarks upon major international expansion

Travel Leaders Network, North America’s largest travel agency organization, in partnership with sister company Travel Leaders Corporate, has embarked upon a large-scale international expansion program to expand opportunities and provide enhanced service to corporate customers. To date, 40 major travel agencies from Europe, Latin America, the Middle East and Asia have become new members of Travel Leaders Network. Many more agencies are expected to join over the coming months.

“We are creating a network of agencies that will serve as connective tissue enabling us to respond to larger opportunities both regionally and internationally,” said Roger E. Block, CTC, President of Travel Leaders Network. “These agencies, now backed by the scale, technology and tools available through Travel Leaders, are positioned to provide an even more customized, personalized and superior level of service to existing and new clients within their respective geographies.”

New members, some of which are among the largest corporate travel agencies in their countries, join several existing international members of Travel Leaders Network. Combined, the network now has agency representation in nearly 50 countries. Additionally, Travel Leaders Group agencies across the U.S., Canada, the UK and Mexico, inclusive of CTS (Corporate Travel Services), will play a significant role in the international expansion.

“Our plan is to sign one exclusive Travel Leaders representative in key countries around the globe. We are engaging partners who can offer a full portfolio of corporate, leisure and events services and are recognized in their country and by their peers as service-oriented, successful agencies,” said Block.

The newly-joined international members will have access to Travel Leaders’ comprehensive suite of resources. Those include online booking tools, a wide variety of marketing programs, the company’s extensive hotel program, including its highly curated SELECT Hotels & Resorts Program, international destination company (DMC) network and access to a vast array of education and training resources. Additionally, members will be able to support both international accounts and local customers through Travel Leaders’ end-to-end technology suite that provides profile management, online trip authorization, data consolidation and analytics, meetings technology and customer reporting tools. International partners will also have access to some of the marquee leisure programs offered by Travel Leaders Network.

“This expansion program is transforming both Travel Leaders Network and Travel Leaders Corporate into more robust international players with stronger abilities and reach enabling true multi-national account management based upon a highly personalized service model on an international scale,” said Gabe Rizzi, President of Travel Leaders Corporate. “Clients will be serviced by local agencies who are leaders in their markets providing premium corporate travel services supported by a vast array of technology. These innovative agencies are now backed by one of the largest travel agency networks in the world. We’re not a call center operation and neither are they. That’s our sweet spot and our competitive difference.”

Member support will be provided on a regional basis with key positions located in each region, including Latin America; Europe, the Middle East and Africa; and Asia Pacific. “We have hired regional sales professionals in the areas of sales, operations, technology and account management to create a more localized support structure to best serve the needs of our international members,” Rizzi added.

Angeles Yugdar, Senior Vice President of International Markets for Travel Leaders Group, is leading the expansion efforts and overseeing the new regional team members. Kevin Brown, Vice President of International Sales for Travel Leaders Corporate, is also serving in a key role. New regional team members include:
•Carina Fernandez Grenno, Regional Partner Management Director, Latin America
•Susan Lancaster, Regional Partner Management Director, Europe, Middle East and Africa
•Pat Siow, Regional Partner Management Director, Asia Pacific

New international agency members include:

Armenia

Global Travel Club LLC

Brazil

Travel Leaders Brazil

Bulgaria

Jamadvice

Burma

Supported by Vietnam

Cambodia

Supported by Vietnam

China

Travelux Limited

Colombia

Trafalgar Tours SAS

Costa Rica

Rutas Aereas S.A.

Croatia

Supported by Serbia

Egypt

Travel Leaders Egypt

France

Marietton Development SAS (Havas Voyages / Ailleurs Business)

Greece

Kyvernitis Travel

Guatemala

Grupo Travel

Hong Kong

Travel Leaders Hong Kong

Indonesia

Travel Leaders Indonesia

Israel

Lachish Tours

Japan

Toppan Travel Service Corp.

Jordan

Dakkak Travel Agency (DTA)

Kuwait

KAPICO Travels and Tourism Co. WLL

Laos

Supported by Vietnam

Latvia

TAS Baltics Ltd.

Lithuania

JSC Vestekspress

Luxembourg

Select Travel S.A.

Madagascar

Arcadia Travel

Malaysia

Travel Biz & Tours

Mauritius

Arcadia Travel

Montenegro

Supported by Serbia

Netherlands

Business + Travel Group

Panama

International Meetings and Conventions Panama Inc.

Paraguay

Compania de Desarrollo Turistico SRL – Comdetur

Peru

Promotora De Viajes Nuevo Mundo

Romania

Aerotravel

Russia

IBC Corporate Travel International Business Centre Ltd.

Serbia

Travel Leaders Serbia

Switzerland

STC Travel Swiss SARL (Havas Voyages)

Thailand

Travel Leaders Thailand

Ukraine

Sky Travel Holdings Limited (Ukraine)

Uruguay

Travel Leaders Uruguay

Venezuela

Molina Agencia De Viajes C.A.

Vietnam

HG Group

The above agencies join Travel Leaders Network’s existing international members which include:

Bahrain

Cozmo Travel

India

Greaves Travel Pvt Ltd and Orchid Voyages Pvt Ltd

Ireland

Travel Management International

Qatar

Cozmo Travel

Saudi Arabia

Cozmo Travel

United Arab Emirates

Cozmo Travel

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