Major deal for US-based Rearden Commerce after securing a partnership with UK agent consortium Advantage to power the web and mobile tech for its business travel wing.
Through a three-year deal, travel ecommerce specialist Rearden will provide travel agent members in the Advantage Focus Partnership with combined travel, procurement and spend management system.
The number of agencies included in the partnership is 77, all of which will have web-based systems to power bookings for UK and some European rail systems, airport parking, dining and chauffeur services for business travel customers.
The deal illustrates the next stage of the expansion of Rearden's services into Europe after establishing a relationship with Amex in the UK in recent years.
Advantage Focus members will also get access to the Rearden Mobile Personal Assitant system, giving customers an app-based platform to manage travel itineraries, travel alerts, online check-in, reservations, flight search and weather information.
The apps are available for travellers using Android, Blackberry and iPhone devices.
Until signing the Rearden deal, which essentially puts the group under a single platform, Advantage Focus members used a number of different systems - including Amadeus - to power booking, procurement and spend management tools.