Carlson Wagonlit Travel, the global travel management company, today announced that Vipservice, the leading local travel company in Russia, will be appointed to join CWT’s Global Partner Network. It is expected that Vipservice will join the CWT Global Partner Network later this month, once the proposed sale of CWT’s wholly owned Russian subsidiary to Vipservice is complete.
This transaction underlines CWT’s commitment to growing its presence in Russia. CWT services clients through its Global Partner Network in around 100 out of the nearly 150 countries in which CWT operates. CWT believes that the businesses have complementary core competencies, technologies, and share values in marketing and customer service. This appointment will allow СWT to offer many new benefits to its customers in Russia, centered around an online service solution integrated with local content.
“We are delighted to have found such a well-established, respected international partner in Vipservice – a company that shares CWT’s commitment to providing outstanding customer service,” said Natalia Morozova, CWT's General Manager in Russia. “By combining the experience of one of the largest travel companies in Russia with our unique solutions and global best practice, we believe this will create a winning offering for all of our customers. We look forward to working with Vipservice on new and exciting projects in the future.”
"This is certainly a historic event for both sides," said Dmitry Gorin, Vipservice’s General Director. "We have much in common – our client portfolio structures are similar, both companies have been doing business in Russia for more than twenty years and both are passionate about using advanced technological solutions in the field of business travel. Together with CWT, we will provide the best global business travel and MICE practices for our clients in Russia. The partnership deal with the leading global agency is yet a further step in the implementation of our five-year strategy to build the #1 TMC in the Russian travel market.”
Upon deal completion, expected later this month, Natalia Morozova will start a handover period to newly appointed General Director, Alexey Kushkin. She will remain with the company for the handover period to ensure a seamless transition.
About Carlson Wagonlit Travel
Companies and governments rely on us to keep their people connected. We provide their travelers with a consumer-grade travel experience, combining innovative technology with our vast experience. Every day we look after enough travelers to fill almost 200 Boeing 747s and around 100,000 hotel rooms, and handle 95 corporate events. We have more than 18,000 people in nearly 150 countries, and in 2016 posted a total transaction volume of US$ 23 billion.
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About Vipservice
Established in 1993, Vipservice has grown steadily to become one of the largest travel consolidators, managing over 10.000 sub-agents across Russia and employing more than 1,400 people. Vipservice successfully operates in four of the most important travel areas like business travel and MICE, consolidator business, OTA and specializes on leisure travel.
Vipservice is regularly ranked among the top travel agencies by airlines including Lufthansa Group, Air France/KLM and many others. Vipservice is the leading sales agent for Aeroflot and RZD (Russian Railways). In 2016, the sales volume of air and rail tickets was 13 million transactions. In 2009, Vipservice launched Portbilet, an integrated online solution for travel market and today is recognized as a leading travel technology provider in Russia.
For more information about Vipservice, please visit www.vipservice.ru