Travelocity Business has recently launched its first wholly-owned service centre in Europe and shared its plans to pursue business local to the UK this summer. (6/19/2006)

The company has decided to move its current US multinational customers that use Travelocity Business in the UK from an outsourced facility to its own full-service fulfillment centre in Amersham, UK.

The facility will act as a base for its European operations, supporting new business local to the UK in its first phase. In the second phase scheduled for this fall, the service centre will support the corporate travel requirements of Travelocity Business customers that have offices in other European countries.

As part of the rollout, Travelocity Business is deploying localised versions of its unique technology and processes within the UK facility, providing UK corporations with the opportunity to gain efficiencies and cost savings already experienced by its US customers.

This centralised approach also will offer its multinational customers consistent service and consolidated travel data across the US and the UK. In addition, Travelocity Business is providing local agents and account teams that cater to the specific needs of UK companies and their travelers, stated the company.

The announcement comes following the acquisition of lastminute.com by Travelocity in 2005, whereby Travelocity Business acquired the company's UK-based corporate travel offerings, Travelstore and First Option. Both offerings have been re-branded as Travelocity Business, with Travelstore now serving as Travelocity Business's local fulfillment centre, and First Option continuing to serve as a hotel reservations specialist that provides Travelocity Business customers with valuable non-GDS hotel content.

Ellen Keszler, president of Travelocity Business, said, beveraging Travelstore and First Option as the base for our operations is a natural progression that will allow Travelocity Business to compete in the global marketplace with a consistent brand and service offering.

Jason Stockwood, a former lastminute.com executive, who was named managing director of the UK corporate offerings in May 2005, will continue to lead Travelocity Business's efforts in the region.

Stockwood said, we are creating a stronger entity that will ultimately offer a wider portfolio of products and services to our existing and new customer base.