Sabre looks to leisure travel

Sabre is set to boost its European leisure travel content with the purchase of the remaining 49% stake of Hamburg-based Dillon Communication Systems (DCS) for $29million. Sabre initially bought 51% of DCS in June 2000. The company is a major distributor of leisure packages in Germany, where it is claimed it reaches 30% of leisure agencies. Over 140 tour and service providers use DCS to distribute their content, with around 5,700 German agents using the system. DCS also has owns the Travel Management Systems subsidiary which supplies an integrated mid- and back-office solution to German travel agents. According to Sabre this gives it a key advantage in the marketplace. Sabre also claims the acquisition will benefit it in other countries, allowing it to offer a greater range of leisure travel content to Sabre agencies. Tom Dillon, joint managing director of DCS will join Sabre Travel Network’s European leadership team as vice president with responsibility for EMEA leisure market development. He will report to newly appointed Europe Middle East and Africa senior vice president Richard Adams. Commenting on the deal, Mr Adams said: “This acquisition represents an exciting new stage in Sabre Travel Network’s continued growth in Europe. It will help us boost our leisure content to customers throughout the region.”