MELBOURNE – – Orient Express Travel Group (OETG) has created Express Events Group to manage travel arrangements for conference and event planners.
Conference and event planners will be invited to become members of Express Events Group, much the same as agents are aligned with OETG’s “Select†and “1ndependence†buying groups to access OETG’s Express Ticketing and Express Fares services which hold inventory for 82 airlines.
For event planners without a travel agency licence, they will be able to buy their tickets and other travel requirements through a competitive wholesale source rather than a retail source, according to OETG chief executive Tom Manwaring.
Formation of the events travel business follows the appointment of Peter Power as manager of Mercury Silver Aviation (MSA), a new GSA business within OETG.
Koptur Tourism DMC in Turkey had become MSA’s launch client.
Power will also manage Express Events Group which will be linked to 1ndependence, a buying service created two years ago for independent travel agents.
He said there were obvious synergies for Express Events with OETG’s strong industry base, retail agency status, Mercury Silver Aviation, Express Ticketing and Express Fares.
OETG, a 30-year old Melbourne-based national travel company, also operates the wholesale brands Orient Express Holidays, Transglobal Destinations and Cathay Pacific Holidays
