Travel management company FCM has secured a joint venture with business travel agency NSF Engagement in Japan, expanding its presence in Asia to support existing customers in the region and boosting its global footprint, the company has announced.
The company cited "a robust business travel market, a strong increase in demand from customers across Asia and an opportunity to provide a differentiated service offering" as factors in FCM's move. It pointed to Japan's conducive digital infrastructure as an advantage, particularly given FCM's recent platform and technology developments, which it expects to roll out to the Japanese market as well.
"FCM and NSF Engagement both recognised that the Japanese travel market is ripe for disruption and our partnership presents an alternative for clients who are currently being underserved," said FCM Travel Asia managing director Bertrand Saillet about the joint venture.
"NSF Engagement’s deep local knowledge complemented by FCM’s evolving technology and global expertise will allow us to provide global coverage for existing and new Japanese clients,” added Saillet.
President and CEO of NSF Engagement Shigeru Hiromatsu cited FCM's "unconventional, innovative and flexible DNA" as a foundation for the partnership. Kenichi Shiraishi will lead FCM Japan as general manager.