Travelport has entered into a strategic
relationship with PSP International to form a joint venture
company to provide state-of-the-art innovative and integrated
payment solutions tailored specifically for the travel industry.
The joint venture, in which Travelport holds a majority stake, was
completed on June 24, 2009.
The joint venture will
be branded “eNett, A Joint Venture with Travelport”. It leverages
the existing successful payment and settlement capabilities
already established by PSP International in the Pacific region
with Travelport’s worldwide travel product distribution
capabilities and significant airline, rail operator, hotel and car
rental relationships. The joint venture also leverages Travelport’s
strong position with the on and offline travel
agency community and its global brand in the sector. The two
companies have enjoyed a strong commercial relationship since
2003.
The eNett suite of products will enable
automated payments, settlement and reporting between travel
agencies and travel product suppliers, supporting debit cards and
other increasingly relevant alternative forms of payment which are
not well supported today.
It will enable non traditional players
in the travel industry, such as low cost carriers (LCCs), who
desire to distribute their products through the travel trade, to
be able to offer tailored credit and settlement terms.
eNett is
also working on solutions for corporate travel such as automated
hotel bill back generation that will save travel management companies
(TMCs) and the corporations they service, both time and money.
“One of Travelport’s stated goals is to build adjacent
businesses that will help power our clients’ success,” said Gordon
Wilson, President & CEO,Travelport GDS. “The payment and
settlement business is a multi-billion US dollar industry and with
eNett's innovative suite of payment and settlement solutions, we
believe we can take out some of the inefficiencies that currently
exist today. Moreover, the joint venture will meet customers’
desire for tailored payment solutions with a stronger focus on
cost, reduced risk and faster settlement across the broadest array
of travel products.”
The eNett joint venture will have
four designated Travelport board members, including the Chairman,
Keith Woodcock, Senior Vice President New Business Development of
Travelport GDS. Two PSP directors will serve on the joint venture
board - leading payment expert, Rob Bishop, will join the joint
venture as Executive Director, while PSP founder Anthony Hynes
will assume the role of Chief Executive Officer.
“eNett’s scope
and depth go well beyond what is currently available in the
marketplace,” said eNett newly appointed Executive Director, Rob
Bishop. “The eNett joint venture helps travel
customers simplify their businesses by providing payment solutions
that supports both air and non-air transactions. Other payment and
settlement systems generally do one or the other but not both.”
See
other recent news regarding:
Travel News Asia,
PSP,
Travelport
|