Uniglobe expands into Australia
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Uniglobe has expanded its global network by moving into Australia and Russia for the first time. The two new signings are Platinum Travel Corporation of Sydney and Melbourne, Australia, and Alliance Avia of Moscow and St Petersburg, Russia. The network now operates across more than 50 countries and includes one of the UK’s largest business travel networks.
The news was welcomed by Uniglobe agents in the UK with Clare Collins, general manager of CT Business Travel, saying:
“One of our corporate accounts has an office in Sydney and we have a small requirement for flights from SYD to the UK especially for relocations, which in the past have not been competitive as there has not been an office that we can contact locally re inbound fares.”
Kevin Harrison of Hull-based Good Travel Management, adds: “It is a very positive move. We organise a number of trade missions to Australia and the local knowledge and input that Platinum can provide will be invaluable. We also have regular traffic going to Russia so look forward to working with the two agencies in the future.”
Both agencies will be a significant addition to the network according to Derek Hearl-Maunder, president and COO of Uniglobe British Isles, who explains:
“Corporate travel is about to explode in developing markets such as South Asia and the Pacific Rim. Russia was one of the few gaps in our international network and with the growth of businesses across Europe and into neighbouring markets, combined with the rapid opening-up of Russia into the free market economy, an important area to fill. Both agents are very well respected in their individual countries and will no doubt grow the number of referral opportunities for agents in this country.”
Platinum Travel’s founder and executive chairman, Carl Buerckner, is a past director and chairman of the Australian Federation of Travel Agents and former managing director of HRG Australia. He sees potential for significant growth in Australia’s corporate travel sector and points out: “Our national airline ranks among the top five internationally and Australia is a desirable destination for the world’s fastest-growing travel markets. The only downside for foreign visitors at the moment is the strength of our Dollar against the US; however, it’s a great time for Australians travelling overseas.”
Platinum Travel Corporation and Alliance Avia join Uniglobe’s Global Partner Programme, a worldwide network of top-performing corporate travel agencies. It was launched by Uniglobe with the intention of attracting independent agencies wishing to globalise their local brands with support from the organisation’s international brand recognition, referral networks and booking technology. Membership is open to agencies in countries without an existing Uniglobe licensed network agreement.
The Uniglobe Group is the only global business travel network branded under a single name. Unique technology enables accounts to be networked on a global basis and access Uniglobe fares worldwide. This can be particularly important for clients with an international parent company located outside the UK.
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