TRAVELPORT today announced its acquisition of a majority stake in German tour operator distribution company travel-IT, significantly increasing the company’s presence and reach in the German leisure travel industry.
Travelport’s participation in the equity of travel-IT was part of a wider transaction which also saw some leading German tour operators invest alongside.
Juergen Witte, Travelport’s managing director in Germany and Switzerland and managing director of travel-IT commented: “This is an exciting investment for Travelport. It will allow us to offer a full range of product and content for the largest economy in Europe, to both traditional and online retail travel agencies, supported by several of the leading tour operators in Germany.
“travel-IT offers some significant innovations to both travel agencies and tour operators which make the distribution and sale of leisure travel products better than older incumbent offerings.”
Gordon Wilson, president and CEO of Travelport, added: “This latest tuck-in investment in travel-IT for Germany is consistent with our strategy to address the previously unmet needs of our customers and to redefine travel commerce using newer and better technology to enable unrivalled access to travel content through empowered selling systems.”
Said Michael Kalt, CEO of travel-IT: “Travelport’s investment marks a new milestone for our company and will increase revenue and growth for travel-IT and its partners. We plan to shake up the leisure sector and bring increased choice, flexibility and efficiency to tour operators, travel agencies and consumers.”
