Travelport has unveiled a self-booking tool called TripGate, developed specifically for the Eastern European market.
The service is a partnership with Poland-based technology company TravelTECH, with both companies investing in the new service.
Following a pilot with four customers, TripGate has been launched in Russia initially with Poland to follow and then other territories.
The corporate booking tool offers business travellers access to local content in their language such as flights via Sirena Travel and hotel content while local support is provided via Travelport's Moscow and newly opened St Petersburg offices.
Additional content is planned for Q4 this year from HRS, Travelport Rooms And More as well as car rental and insurance.
TripGate is Windows-based and enables travellers to book their travel within policy and gain approval while additional functionality such as seat maps, Google Maps and Street View are also included.
Travelport says it partnered with TravelTech because it wanted a company that would not take a long time to develop the tool and because it already has experience as a content aggregator.
Marcin Pilarski, Travelport's managing director for Eastern Europe says:
"The key to being successful for us is local presence and support so customers are secure. Some have been trying to bring products from outside Eastern Europe but have failed because of the lack of local support. They have also built their own but are tired of having to maintain an IT department."
Both companies has invested in the development of TripGate with Travelport acting as the frontline sales support while TravelTech will continue to develop the service.
All of Travelport's offices across the region will also use the corporate booking tool.
NB: Suspension bridge image via Shutterstock