Travel Counsellors has announced a partnership with corporate travel network GlobalStar Travel Management.
The home-based agency specialist said the deal would allow its corporate travel counsellors to offer services to clients “within a global framework” and would offer access to discounted air and hotel rates in addition to local emergency support.
GlobalStar Travel Management operates in more than 85 countries and says it is made up of “hand-selected, highly experienced and skilled” TMCs.
Kieran Hartwell, Travel Counsellors managing director for corporate travel, said: “We are excited to be partnering with GlobalStar, as this will enable our corporate travel counsellors to win, retain and grow their client relationships on a multinational level.
“The network gives us an unrivalled global hotel programme and client technology portfolio to broaden our suite of offerings, as well as allowing us to work with a community of like-minded travel management experts focused on taking care of their clients.”
Hartwell added: “We are increasingly seeing that smaller businesses have the same expectations as larger multinational companies when it comes to business travel.
“Whilst their needs can be lost within a larger TMC focused on supporting and retaining the business of much larger companies, with Travel Counsellors, SMEs can work closely with a dedicated travel professional whilst experiencing all the benefits which come with being part of a wider global framework.”
James Stevenson, chief executive of GlobalStar Travel Management, said: “This is an exciting addition to our network and builds our bench strength in the UK, one of our key driver markets.
“I am looking forward to seeing the team at Travel Counsellors benefit from new business, additional technology, improved supplier deals and the breadth and knowledge of our network.”
Travel Counsellors said the deal came as it continued to see an upturn in corporate business. The company said it had recorded business travel bookings worth more than £1 million for 10 consecutive weeks, with the greatest growth driven by SMEs with annual travel spend under £500,000.
