Direct Travel Expands Globally with Acquisition of ATPI
Direct Travel, a prominent travel management company based in Centennial, Colorado, has announced its acquisition of British travel firm ATPI. This strategic move is set to enhance Direct Travel’s global presence and operational capabilities in the travel sector. With a history spanning approximately 50 years, Direct Travel aims to leverage ATPI’s established reputation to drive over $6 billion in annual travel volume across corporate, leisure, events, and specialized travel markets.
The financial details of the acquisition were not disclosed. However, the collaboration is significant, as ATPI has a strong international footprint, operating in over 90 countries. According to Direct Travel’s CEO, Christal Bemont, ATPI is particularly well-regarded for its focus on specialty markets, including oil, mining, and energy sectors. “About two-thirds of their business is in specialty markets,” Bemont noted, highlighting the complementary strengths of the two companies.
While ATPI excels in international travel management, it has limited operations in North America, where Direct Travel primarily focuses. Approximately two-thirds of Direct Travel’s business is derived from corporate travel. Bemont emphasized the history of collaboration between the two organizations, stating, “We’ve been supporting over 100 customers together.” Despite this partnership, she acknowledged that the separate organizational structures sometimes hindered optimal customer experiences.
The merger is expected to enhance service delivery for clients. “Bringing our two organizations together will enable us to better serve clients collectively, through the combination of our specialized services, innovative technologies, and highly skilled customer teams,” said ATPI CEO Ian Sinderson in a statement.
The newly formed entity will operate under the name Direct Travel and ATPI, with Bemont taking the role of CEO. Sinderson will serve as one of the presidents overseeing various groups within the company, which will now employ approximately 4,400 individuals.
Bemont anticipates minimal overlap between the two companies, describing the merger as “more synergistic than duplicative.” She joined Direct Travel in April 2024 and has focused on advancing technology to enhance the company’s service offerings. Her efforts align with the vision of improving customer service by integrating advanced technological solutions.
The business travel sector has shown signs of recovery following the disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. However, not all travel management companies have weathered the storm successfully. According to Bemont, many firms in the industry faced significant challenges, resulting in layoffs and a decline in service quality.
The Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) forecasts that global business travel spending will reach a historic high of $1.57 trillion by 2025. Nonetheless, the organization projects a moderate growth rate of 6.6% for this year due to ongoing global economic uncertainties, including trade tensions.
The travel industry is a vital component of Colorado’s economy, supporting approximately 98,541 jobs and generating $5.5 billion in total wages and income in 2022, as reported by the GBTA in 2024.
As Direct Travel embarks on this new chapter, it aims to position itself as a leader in the evolving landscape of global travel management, enhancing its service capabilities for a diverse clientele.
