• NEWS
    • SUBSCRIBE
    • ADVERTISE WITH US
  • EVENTS
    • THIRSTY THURSDAY
      • ABOUT US
      • HOW TO JOIN
      • RSVP PORTAL
      • EVENT PHOTO/VIDEO
    • VIDEOS
    • PHOTOS
    • COMPETITIONS
    • TRAINING
    • CONFERENCES
  • JOBS
    • SEARCH FOR JOBS
    • POST A JOB
  • EVERYTHING BRAND TD
    • ABOUT BRAND TD
    • ADVERTISE WITH US
    • WHAT IS NATIVE CONTENT
    • EXECUTIVE TEAM
      • Gary (Founder/CEO)
      • Chris (GM & Managing Editor)
      • Mali (Finance Mgr)
    • CONTENT TEAM
      • Kristin (Senior Editor)
      • Kanchan (Editor)
    • SALES TEAM
      • Gary (CEO)
      • Chris (GM & Managing Editor)
      • Anthony (Regional Sales-APAC)
      • Martin C (BDM-Asia)
      • Maxine (BDM-UK)
    • EVENTS TEAM
      • Marc (Director)
      • Suwapa (Events Mgr)
  • SELF SERVICE
    • 2024 Media Kit
    • 2024 Events Kit
    • Submit Press Release
    • Self Service portal
    • Upload your Travel Blog
    • Upload your Event

Travel Daily Travel Daily - Informing, connecting and developing the world’s travel industry professionals.

  • MARKETS/SECTORS
  • FEATURES
    • Partner Articles
      • Airlines / Airports
      • Car Rental
      • Conferences
      • Cruising (Ocean)
      • Cruising (River)
      • Destination Management (DMC)
      • GDS / CRS
      • Hotels & Resorts
      • Hotel Management Company
      • Hotel Technology
      • HR / Appointments
      • Insurance
      • Meetings, Incentives, Conferencing, Exhibitions (MICE)
      • Travel Agents (all)
      • Travel Technology
      • Tourism Boards
    • Interviews
    • Industry appointments
    • Podcasts – Features
    • Guest Writers
    • PR Newswire
  • TRAVEL GUIDES
    • Destination NaJomtien BanAmphur BangSaray *NEW*
    • จุดหมายปลายทาง นาจอมเทียน หาดบ้านอำเภอ บางเสร่ *NEW*
    • South Australia Rewards Wonders *NEW*
    • Ponant Yacht Cruises and Expeditions
    • Encore Tickets (Chinese Guide)
    • Affordable Luxury in Thailand by Centara Hotels
    • Rising Above the Oridinary by Conrad Bangkok
    • The Best of Thailand
  • IWTA SERIES
    • Who is IWTA
    • Recommend Someone
    • Recommend yourself
    • Meet our featured leaders
      • Australia
      • Cambodia
      • China
      • Hong Kong
      • India
      • Indonesia
      • Japan
      • Laos
      • Malaysia
      • Philippines
      • Singapore
      • Thailand
      • Vietnam
  • IWTA Awards
Brand TD
HotelsTravel TechAsia

Hotelbeds eyes Asian expansion following GTA acquisition

By Mark Elliott On May 23, 2017
Guest Contributor

Contributors are not employed, compensated or governed by TD, opinions and statements are from the contributor directly

Share
Carlos Munoz, bedbank managing director for Hotelbeds
Carlos Munoz, bedbank managing director for Hotelbeds

Hotelbeds Group is making a strategic push into the Asian market following its recent acquisitions of Tourico Holidays and GTA, the company’s bedbank managing director, Carlos Muñoz, has told Travel Daily.

Speaking at the company’s inaugural MarketHub Asia event, which is taking place at the Avani Riverside Hotel in Bangkok this week, Muñoz said that the decision to acquire GTA and bring its industry conference to the region “absolutely” represents a strategic push into the Asian market.

“We started in Asia in 2007 at the time we acquired Pacific World. But now is the right time [to expand],” he said in a face-to-face interview. “We have a significant presence [in Asia] and GTA is also strong, so combining the two will make us a better player. We will convert this into more product, better solutions and better service for our customers.”

He added that GTA would “add a significant portfolio of products, of customers, and human capital – knowledge of the [Asian] region,” to the Hotelbeds business.

The GTA acquisition marked the second in a quick-fire double for Hotelbeds, which had earlier struck a deal to buy US-based wholesaler Tourico Holidays. And Muñoz said that the resulting entity would “combine the best of all three companies: the best technology, the best distribution capabilities, the best contracting, in one single business”. “This is the final goal,” he stated.

Munoz addresses delegates at the inaugural MarketHub Asia event in Bangkok
Munoz addresses delegates at the inaugural MarketHub Asia event in Bangkok

With the two deals being so fresh, Muñoz admitted that the structure of the final combined company – including branding and office network – is yet to be decided.

“We are already working on the design. This will take the best practices from each and combine these into a single company,” he said. “[In terms of] offices… we need to review the set-up, what GTA and Tourico have, and what should be our future footprint.”

But new employment opportunities seem certain to arise in Asia, as the business will “definitely” need more manpower, according to the Muñoz. He also revealed that the company’s key geographical areas of focus in the region would be China, Southeast Asia and India.

And while the last few months have marked the start of a rapid scaling up of Hotelbeds Group’s business, further growth appears to be on the cards. When asked by Travel Daily if his company would pursue further acquisitions in future, Muñoz replied: “absolutely”.

“In the future we may look to other opportunities. We’ll always be in the market for this. Which segments we don’t know; it may be in future that we look at other segments, more like bolt-on acquisitions related to technology or distribution,” he revealed.

Hotelbeds was purchased by two private equity companies – Cinven and CPPIB – from TUI for US$1.3 billion in 2016.

BangkokHotelBedsAvani Hotels & ResortsGTACarlos MuñozHotelbeds GroupHotelbeds MarketHub Asia
Share
You might also like
Global

Industry leaders share insights on the “Future of Travel” at MarketHub Asia 2023

Global

Raising the bar in travel and tourism: MarketHub Asia in Bangkok

MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferencing, Exhibitions)

Raising the bar in travel and tourism: MarketHub Asia in Bangkok

Features

Bangkok is the most popular city for India’s solo travellers

Prev Next

Comments are closed.

POPULAR STORIES

Big 5 Global continues its success in the ‘Year of…

Europalco back at IBTM World 2023, boosting Portugal as a…

Red Dot Representations facilitates streamlined Vietnam Visa…

365Villas integrates tailor made Worldpay solution for…

Prev Next 1 of 6,790

PARTNER CONTENT

  • Unveiling the unmatched charms of The Kayana Seminyak: A paradise of luxury and tranquility

    Read More...
  • New Agenda: Meetings Redesigned programme – 4 reasons why Centara is “The Place to Be for MICE”

    Read More...
STAY UPDATED WITH THE LATEST TRAVEL NEWS, JOBS & EVENTS!
Join over 180,000 travel agents, professionals and executives subscribed to our daily newsletter.
You can unsubscribe at any time
Search
MENU
  • News
  • Events
  • Jobs
  • Subscribe

MARKETS

  • Asia
  • Australia
  • New Zealand
  • India
  • Middle East
  • UK & Europe
  • USA

SECTOR

  • Airlines
  • Airports
  • Cruise
  • Hospitality
  • HR & Careers
  • Luxury Travel
  • MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferencing, Exhibitions)
  • Travel Tech
  • Tourism
  • Travel Agents
About
  • BOOK A SALES CALL
  • About TD (Travel Daily Media)
  • Advertise with Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
© 2023 - Brand TD. All Rights Reserved.
Subscribe to our newsletter
Sign up here to get the latest news, updates and special offers delivered directly to your inbox.
You can unsubscribe at any time
Close

Welcome, Login to your account.

Forget password?

Sign in with Google

Powered by wp-glogin.com

No account? Sign Up
Sign in

Recover your password.

A password will be e-mailed to you.

CREATE A NEW PROFILE
SIGN IN TO EXISTING PROFILE
back

LOG IN

Welcome back, Log in to your account.

Continue with Facebook
Continue with Google
Continue with Twitter
Continue with LinkedIn

OR
Log in using your email
Forgot password?
back

Recover your password.

back

SIGN UP FOR FREE

(New User)

Be part of our community of seasoned travel and hospitality industry professionals from all over the world.

I want to
Only letters and numbers are allowed
Please enter a valid email address
Must be between 6-8 characters
Must be the same with Password
  • LOGIN / SIGN UP
  • NEWS
    • MARKETS
      • Asia
      • China
      • Pacific
      • India
      • Middle East
      • UK & Europe
      • USA & Canada
    • SECTORS
      • Airlines
      • Airports
      • Cruise
      • Hospitality
      • HR & Careers
      • Luxury Travel
      • MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferencing, Exhibitions)
      • Travel Tech
      • Tourism
      • Travel Agents
    • FEATURES
      • Partner articles
        • Airlines / Airports
        • Car Rental
        • Conferences
        • Cruising (Ocean)
        • Cruising (River)
        • Destination Management (DMC)
        • GDS / CRS
        • Hotels & Resorts
        • Hotel Management Company
        • Hotel Technology
        • HR / Appointments
        • Insurance
        • Meetings, Incentives, Conferencing, Exhibitions (MICE)
        • Travel Agents (all)
        • Travel Technology
        • Tourism Boards
      • Interviews
      • Industry appointments
      • Travel Bloggers
      • Podcasts – Features
  • EVENTS
    • Thirsty Thursday
      • About us
      • How to join
      • RSVP Portal
      • Event Photos/Videos
    • Photos
    • Videos
    • Webinars
    • Competitions
    • Conferences
  • JOBS
    • Search for Jobs
    • Post a Job
  • TRAVEL GUIDES
    • Destination NaJomtien BanAmphur BangSaray *NEW*
    • จุดหมายปลายทาง นาจอมเทียน หาดบ้านอำเภอ บางเสร่ *NEW*
    • South Australia Reward Wonders *NEW*
    • Ponant Yacht Cruises and Expeditions
    • Encore Tickets (Chinese Guide)
    • Affordable Luxury in Thailand by Centara Hotels
    • Rising Above the Oridinary by Conrad Bangkok
    • The Best of Thailand
  • IWTA SERIES
    • Who is IWTA
    • Meet our featured leaders
      • Australia
      • Cambodia
      • China
      • Hong Kong
      • India
      • Indonesia
      • Japan
      • Laos
      • Malaysia
      • Philippines
      • Singapore
      • Thailand
      • Vietnam
    • Recommend Someone
    • Recommend yourself
  • IWTA AWARDS
    • Awards site