AMEinfo.com

30 December 2009 - AMEinfo.com

Dnata Travel and the Hogg Robinson Group (HRG), partners in delivering award-winning international corporate travel services, have continued to extend their client portfolio and expand their regional network in spite of the challenging economic climate of 2009. Dnata/HRG saw the first early signs of returning confidence this year, with many areas recording strong client growth.

New business acquired in the Middle East, West Asia and North Africa region in 2009 covered a variety of industries including financial services, technology and pharmaceutical companies, highlighting Dnata/HRG's diverse service and cross-sector clients. Some of the high profile customers won this year include: Emaar Hospitality Group, Pfizer, ABB and Merck Serono.

Dnata/HRG has also retained a number of top clients, demonstrating its reliability and ability to deliver real savings at a time when travel budgets have come under scrutiny - Mars, Olive Group, Dubai Aluminium, Emirates National Oil Company, MasterCard and a host of others.

The client retention rate was over 98 per cent, a record that highlights Dnata/HRG's unique business travel offering. Bespoke technology products, flexibility and an ability to cater to each individual client's needs have allowed Dnata/HRG to continue to expand the network and provide top-of-the-range services throughout 2009.

Abdulla Tawakul, Senior Vice President, Regional and Corporate Travel, said: "Since the beginning of our partnership in 2006, Dnata and HRG have continually raised the bar for service excellence in the region. Our success in delivering the exacting standards demanded by leading corporate clients is evidenced by the impressive number of accounts we have won from the region's blue chip industries.

"Dnata and HRG have together grown a global presence that now spans from Morocco to Sri Lanka and from Afghanistan to Tunisia. Wherever our customers visit us in the world, they can expect expert travel advice and assistance, aided by the industry's most advanced technology."

David Radcliffe, Chief Executive of Hogg Robinson Group plc, said: "2009 has been a challenging year for everyone in the travel business. However, looking back at our impressive list of client wins and retentions, I am confident that we are well placed for a positive 2010. Our high profile client portfolio is indicative of the quality of our service and we will continue to partner with our clients to improve Dnata/HRG's offering and cater to their individual needs."

Over the course of the year, Dnata/HRG has continued to expand and consolidate its network, to ensure clients can benefit from on-the-ground expertise wherever they are travelling. In January, Dnata/HRG partnered with Dunya Travel to open Afghanistan's first internationally recognised one-stop travel shop in Kabul. Dnata Travel/HRG also opened a new outlet in Qatar in May and partnered with Travelscene to form HRG Bangladesh in November.

Dnata/HRG have continued to develop cutting edge technology, launching new versions of its bespoke tools to help clients achieve better visibility and control of corporate travel management programmes. The Dnata Travel Management Solution, the online booking tool is designed to improve efficiencies at various levels including access to a bigger results set, low cost carriers, automated approval workflow and lost savings tracking.

Source: AMEinfo.com

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