Media Comment: American Express – CWT Merger

Andrea Caulfield-Smith, Managing Director Global Business Travel of Advantage Travel Partnership, comments on the American Express - CWT Merger

Andrea Caulfield-Smith, Managing Director Global Business Travel of Advantage Travel Partnership, said: “This transaction consolidates two of the top three players in business travel management services resulting in reduced market competition and negatively impacting corporate customers, airlines, hotels and other travel suppliers. There needs to be global regulatory vigilance and true choice in corporate travel management.

The move reinforces an oligopolistic market structure at a time when the real value offered by independent TMCs shouldn’t be overlooked. Independent TMCs can offer a consultative approach to deliver a personalised and tailored service offering to their customers, something which remains competitive across the travel ecosystem. 

Independent TMCs are nimble, innovative, and customer-first alternatives in a market that’s becoming more consolidated. Advantage’s independent TMC members can continue to compete to win multinational businesses by providing consistently high levels of service to travellers and they are not impacted through consolidation such as the Amex-CWT merger.”