Direct Travel, a prominent travel management company based in Colorado, has announced its acquisition of the British travel firm ATPI, marking a significant expansion of its global operations. This strategic move was revealed on Monday, with both companies projecting to generate over $6 billion in annual travel volume across various sectors, including corporate and leisure travel, events, and specialized markets.
ATPI, a well-established player in international travel management with operations in over 90 countries, has been a long-standing partner of Direct Travel. The CEO of Direct Travel, Christal Bemont, emphasized the complementary nature of the two companies. “ATPI is known for their global presence,” Bemont stated. “About two-thirds of their business is in specialty markets such as oil, mining, and energy.” This acquisition is expected to enhance service capabilities for clients worldwide.
The integration of ATPI will allow both firms to operate more seamlessly, addressing previous limitations in customer experience due to their status as separate entities. “We’ve been supporting over 100 customers together,” Bemont noted, highlighting their collaborative history. “By bringing our two organizations together, we can better serve clients collectively through the combination of our specialized services, innovative technologies, and highly skilled customer teams,” added Ian Sinderson, CEO of ATPI.
The merged entity will continue under the name Direct Travel and ATPI, with Bemont taking the role of CEO and Sinderson serving as president of various groups within the organization. The newly formed company will employ approximately 4,400 individuals. Bemont anticipates minimal overlap between the two organizations, describing the merger as “synergistic rather than duplicative.”
Since joining Direct Travel in April 2024, Bemont has prioritized advancing technology to enhance customer service. She acknowledged the challenges faced by the travel management industry, particularly during and after the COVID-19 pandemic, which led to significant layoffs and service disruptions. “Many companies fell behind in terms of technology,” she remarked, stressing the importance of modernizing systems to meet client needs effectively.
Looking forward, the travel industry is on a recovery path. The Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) expects global business travel spending to reach a historic high of $1.57 trillion by 2025. However, its recent forecasts indicate only a moderate increase of 6.6% this year, attributed to ongoing global tensions and uncertainty regarding policies.
In Colorado alone, the business travel sector supported approximately 98,541 jobs and generated $5.5 billion in total wages and income in 2022, reflecting the critical economic impact of this industry, as reported by the GBTA in 2024.
As the landscape of travel management continues to evolve, the merger between Direct Travel and ATPI positions the newly combined company to better navigate the complexities of the global travel market.
