Italian TMC ACI Blueteam Travel saw travel volumes surge in 2023, exceeding pre-pandemic levels by 7 per cent, the company announced.
With offices across Italy as well as one in the US, the travel management company said it closed the 2023 financial year with a “positive balance” and a “record” 34 per cent year-on-year growth in travel volumes.
Named among Europe’s top 20 TMCs in BTN Europe’s Leading TMCs 2023 report, the company reported “constant growth” across all business units, including corporate travel, MICE and leisure. This also led to a “significant increase” in staff with 43 new hires in 2023 with a further 26 new joiners expected for 2024, marking a total increase in staffing levels of 25 per cent.
ACI Blueteam chief business officer, Alfredo Pezzani, said: “The considerable commitment and excellent results obtained in 2023 have laid solid foundations for the new year which, since these first months, is highlighting extremely positive signs, providing for further optimisation of operational processes and controlled growth in volumes.
“This approach aims to consolidate and, where possible, further increase the high level of quality of the service, which also represents a significant increase in the savings percentages for our customers,” he said.
In 2023, the company opened its first international office in New Jersey, US, launched a new division dedicated to luxury travel and added new capabilities to its proprietary BT Tool self-booking tool, including the integration of travel risk and safety services, the management of rail carnets and the integration of NDC fares currently available in the Italian and US markets.
Looking ahead, the company said 2024 objectives include consolidating market share and making “important investments” across all its technology platforms – BT Tool, Wondermiles and PrenotACI – such as additional search functionality based on best-pricing options for flights, trains, hotels and leisure services.
Following the success of its first US branch, the TMC also flagged further international expansion “in the future”.