Business travel technology provider HRS has expanded its 2016 investment into automated hotel technology platform, The Lido Group, by completing a full takeover and merger of the organisation.
The move, which will see the combined entity take the HRS name, will primarily offer corporate and government clients access to industry rates at more than 515,500 properties worldwide, backed by streamlined by automated payment systems which generate procedural and administration savings of up to 70 per cent for clients. Improved rate negotiations and payment processes will also be improved for clients under the new combined organisational structure.
As part of the merger, HRS and The Lido Group have relocated from the latter’s long-time home in the inner-Sydney suburb of Rozelle into new state-of-the-art premises in the CBD.
Based in Cologne, Germany, HRS has grown to now maintain 35 offices worldwide with a combined 1,500 employees on its books. The company expanded to the Asia-Pacific in 2000 when it opened an office in Shanghai and today has 11 offices in the region.
HRS Australia / New Zealand Managing Director, Ana Pedersen, said the merger will drive enhanced results for both Lido and HRS clients at all stages of the corporate or government travel process.
“This merger is good news for a marketplace that is increasingly aggressive in implementing automation and technology that minimizes hotel costs while maximizing business traveller satisfaction.
“What makes this stand out is the unsurpassed combination of leading technology – like HRS’ proprietary ‘Recommendation Engine’ and Hotel Rate Filtering Solution – with the expertise of our 60+ staff located in Australia.”
According to the Global Business Travel Association (GBTA), the trillion-dollar worldwide business travel sector will see hotel rates rise by an expected average of five per cent next year. Business travel spend in Australia alone is tipped to increase by four per cent annually to $28.9 billion by 2023.