Corporate Travel Management has announced the acquisition of Melbourne-based agency, etm group, effective 1 October 2011.

The corporate and leisure divisions of etm group will change names to Corporate Travel Management (CTM) while the Meeting, Incentive, Conference and Events arms of etm group will rkeep the etm name and operate nationally with the CTM events division under the single brand of ETM (Event Travel Management).

“CTM was looking for a company who would offer us the opportunity to expand our current offering and add value to our clients; and whose culture, value set, passion, expertise, technology and processes positively aligned with ours,” said CTM managing director Jamie Pherous.

“The etm group ticks all of those boxes and more – they have a very similar culture to CTM, they have the exact same software platforms to ensure a seamless transition for staff and clients, and we are delighted with the opportunities it presents for our clients, in particular relating to providing quality Event and Conference Management, and high-end Leisure services,” he added.

“Together, we are ideally positioned to service the needs of corporate clients under the one roof – something very valuable in Australia and New Zealand, where finding award-winning quality and superior expertise across multiple travel segments in the one provider is extremely difficult.”
 
“CTM not only have the infrastructure to support our clients and people but the client base to leverage our expert services across Australia and New Zealand,” said co=director David Hummerston.

“The fact we are on exactly the same software platforms and transition for both our clients and for our people – we are excited about the opportunities ahead.”

Both CTM and etm were winners at the recent National Travel Industry Awards, with Corporate Travel Management once again named as Best National Corporate Travel Management Company, while etm group won the inaugural Best Conference & Incentive Travel Agency award.