Direct Travel acquires ATPI to broaden Avenir know-how globally

Direct Travel, a U.S.-based journey administration firm (TMC), has acquired ATPI, a U.Okay.-based TMC for an undisclosed quantity.

The two corporations have been strategic companions for various years with Direct Travel centered on company and leisure journey in addition to conferences and occasions in North America and ATPI taking up within the markets the place Direct Travel doesn’t have a presence. ATPI can also be a specialist in company journey for the vitality sector.

“They have done a phenomenal job in the markets and in the areas where we haven’t put that attention or had that focus. What has been missing is that customers want one company to work with,” mentioned Christal Bemont, CEO of Direct Travel.

Bemont mentioned that whereas the 2 corporations have an identical tradition and philosophy, it’s nonetheless two totally different corporations within the eyes of consumers who she mentioned need “a single way of operating.”

She mentioned the ATPI group in addition to each manufacturers would stay put up acquisition. Bemont additionally mentioned that a part of the plan is to deliver Direct Travel’s Avenir Travel Edition know-how to a wider viewers. Avenir, which is constructed on the Spotnana platform, was unveiled earlier this 12 months.

ATPI is a TripStax person however spun the know-how out as a standalone firm in early 2022. Bemont mentioned that Avenir and TripStax have totally different choices with the previous specializing in the content material and reserving whereas TripStax focuses on crew and worker administration.

Direct Travel additionally acquires any stake ATPI has in TripStax.

“I see them more as complementary than having overlap,” she mentioned. “We’ve been working with customers to really think about what their needs are with a modern technology stack.”

Bemont additionally mentioned Direct Travel and ATPI would proceed to assist prospects on the reserving device of their selection.

“ATPI and Direct Travel have lengthy held a shared imaginative and prescient for reimagining how the world connects, underpinning a profitable business partnership,” said Ian Sinderson, CEO of ATPI. “Bringing our two organizations collectively will allow us to higher serve purchasers collectively, via the mix of our specialised providers, progressive applied sciences, and extremely expert buyer groups.”

Travel entrepreneur and Concur founder Steve Singh led a bunch of traders that acquired Direct Travel in April 2024.

The transfer follows different latest consolidation within the company journey administration market together with Trip.com Group’s company journey arm Trip.Biz acquisition of Key Travel’s enterprise in Europe. U.S.-based Globespan Travel Management acquired Key Travel’s U.S. division.