InteleTravel Acquires Hickory Global Partners
InteleTravel has acquired Hickory Global Partners.
Building upon InteleTravel’s 30-plus years of experience and proven infrastructure which is approaching $1 billion in sales this year, the acquisition allows both companies to execute a new strategy – driven by the trend toward blended travel – to optimize leisure and business travel resources by combining purchasing and negotiating power, talent, and technology.
Working closely with InteleTravel President James Ferrara, longtime Hickory President Chris Dane will lead the focus on emerging market opportunities and initiatives for systemwide advancement, including a version of the new Hickory 365 staffing solution which will provide leisure fulfillment for Hickory members, and a new Hickory business travel education and certification program for InteleTravel advisors.
Hickory will continue operating as its own brand newly powered as a wholly owned unit of InteleTravel.
Over 100 new jobs are projected to be created over the course of the integration of the companies and development of the new programs.
Chris Dane, president of Hickory Global Partners, said: “Merging leisure and corporate travel businesses at a time when travel is booming and the lines for both sectors are becoming more blurred positions us for greater growth and benefits for our members, advisors and preferred suppliers.”
And he continued: “We have a vision for a consortium that leads into the next decades with a modern view of business and leisure travelers, and advantages, technology, and supply for our members to satisfy those needs. InteleTravel’s resources and reach will help us do that.”
As for Canada, Dane pointed out that: “Hickory has important members in Canada and they are included in the new programs and other benefits from this acquisition.”
James Ferrara, president and co-founder of InteleTravel, observed that: “Business and corporate travel rebounded faster than predicted following the pandemic, and the leisure travel market continues to boom into 2023. However, the pandemic, new technologies and trends have changed travelers, which requires new solutions.”
He explained that: “With the new blending of leisure and business travel, the idea of separate consortia for these markets is now outdated. This merger creates a single source of advantages and support for all travelers and the professionals who serve them – the consortium of the future.”
And he noted as well that: “InteleTravel is the largest member of the Ensemble consortium which is a longtime joint Canada/US organization, and plans to promote Ensemble leisure travel advantages through the new programs for Hickory. InteleTravel does not currently have travel advisors in Canada.”
Go to www.InteleTravel.com or www.hickoryglobalpartners.com for more.
