Article from Travel Weekly 18 December 2009

OETG – Number 12 on 2009 Power List

Orient Express Travel Group is Australia’s most successful Asian travel group.  Justin Wastnage charts its continuing development

The problem with being a sleeping giant is that eventually people will either trip over you or bump into you. The Orient Express Travel Group (OETG) is definitely a giant, but it is only now waking from its slumber.

Anchored in the ethnic Australian market, most of the group’s Select non-branded travel agents can be found in Chinatowns across the country. The buying group is also backed by its airfares consolidator, Express Ticketing, which is heavily focused on South East Asia in its special fares.  But the group still remains largely obscure to the rank and file in the travel sector.

But none of this fazes Tom Manwaring, the group’s no-nonsense chief executive.  The company’s 300-plus Select agencies tend to be high volume sites, each turning over at least $1 million annually, Manwaring says.  As Australia’s Asian suburbs grow, so do their travel agents, he adds.

The company revenue comes mainly through air tickets and Manwaring says OETG’s agents recorded around 22% growth in passenger numbers last financial year, which partially offset the 30% decline in yields to produce the modest increase in revenue.

The company has expanded out of its niche and into the mainstream; its 1ndependence buying group aimed at European-Australian agencies now numbers 53 members and its roster of airlines is up to 86. Qantas became the 21st carrier to sign a national preferred arrangement with OETG in May.  The Transglobal Destinations specializing in the Eastern Mediterranean is part of this new niche.

The group has also gone national, with an office in Perth joining those in Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney.  But after six years “watching our little acorn in the corner growing,” Manwaring has targeted a turnover of $500 million in two to three years by poaching more agents into 1ndependence.

The giant, it appears, can stay sleeping no more.

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Orient Express Travel Group takes out top CZ awards

DECEMBER 2009

 

Orient Express Travel Group® (OETG) recently became the recipient of two top national awards presented by China Southern Airlines.

At the China Southern Airlines Christmas party, OETG received the CZ ‘Business Class Sales Award 2009’ and the CZ ‘Major Sales Contribution Award 2009.’ Held at the Zilver Restaurant, the function was attended by over 100 guests representing travel agents, corporate clients, airport authorities, the Chinese Consulate, the China National Tourist Office and news media.

The NSW General Manager of OETG, Robert Leung, accepted the awards gracefully and thanked all the agents for their ongoing commitment and support.

With the enhanced Express Ticket 2.0 launched on the 14DEC, an Australia first product that provides travel agents with 24/7 CZ self ticketing services, agents will benefit further with more effective and faster ticketing making selling CZ easier than ever.

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OETG's MSA is Andara Phuket's GSA

OCTOBER 2009

 

Phuket’s newest and most luxurious resort, Andara Phuket, has appointed Mercury Silver Aviation (MSA) as its Australian GSA.

Andara, which opens December 1, is an ultra-deluxe private villa and residences resort at Millionaires Mile, Kamala Beach, Phuket, Thailand.

The villas are set on a hill rising gently from the Andaman Sea offering stunning ocean views. It is just 20 minutes from the airport and 10 minutes from Phuket’s best restaurants, boutiques, world-class golf resorts and other attractions.

Andara is a collection of 26 luxury villas and 37 resort residences complete with five-star hotel facilities.

According to Peter Power, Manager of MSA, it is a prestigious signing for MSA, the six-month-old GSA business of Orient Express Travel Group.

“Andara Phuket is a beautiful property, just perfect for the small incentives market,” he said. The villas, one to six bedrooms, are conceived in Thai design to exist in harmony with their natural lush tropical surrounds.

Among the services in the luxury villas are full-time housekeeper and chef to attend to all guests’ needs including meal planning and cooking in a private kitchen.

Andara Phuket is a luxury property development by Hong Kong businessman Dr Allan Zeman, who gave life to the popular entertainment district Lan Kwai Fong.

For bookings: (respective GDS codes are Sabre – WV 111936, Galileo – WV 72813, Worldspan – WV 72675, Amadeus – HKT 675)

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OETG partners with CTG Investments

AUGUST 2009

Orient Express Travel Group (OETG) expects to accelerate its business growth following a new business partnership announced today. After lengthy negotiations, OETG has signed a partnership agreement with a private investment company – CTG Investments Pty Ltd -- led by Spiro Alysandratos of Consolidated Travel.

All of OETG’s consolidation, retail and wholesale management and staff remain unchanged and will continue under the direction of CEO Tom Manwaring. Mr Manwaring said the investment was a strong endorsement of OETG’s future. “We can now reach our full potential by pursuing new business opportunities and investing in technology and brand distribution” he said.

Mr Manwaring said he had known Mr Alysandratos for over 20 years and welcomed his commitment to OETG. Mr Alysandratos said OETG was an attractive investment opportunity because of its diversified business base and solid brand. “We feel that this is a hand-in-glove fit for both parties and in light of the impact to our industry by the current economic climate, we also feel the timing of this partnership is right,” he said. The agreement will become effective upon the approval of key industry authorities. Terms of the agreement are undisclosed.

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OETS to be OETG

JULY 2009

ORIENT Express Travel Services P/L will adopt its parent trading name - Orient Express Travel Group P/L  - effective 01 Aug. CEO Tom Manwarning said all OETG trading partners have been notified of the move, referring to the decision as “an administrative change to tidy up the structure of the group following various mergers and acquisitions of recent years.”

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Hands up if you love OETG

JUNE 2009

Around 140 Select travel agents and industry partners from across Australia gathered in Beijing to celebrate the 6th Annual Orient Express Travel Group “Select Going for Gold” conference 09, which was a great finish to another successful year.

OETG thanks all airlines and partners who contributed to making the conference such a stand out.

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Express Events

MAY 2009

Orient Express Travel Group has announced the creation of a new Express Events Group to manage travel arrangements for conference and event planners.

Planners without a travel agency licence will be able to buy their tickets and other travel requirements through a “very competitive wholesale source rather than a retail source,” said OETG ceo Tom Manwaring.

The new division, which will be linked to OETG’s 1ndependence buying service for independent agents, will be managed by Peter Power who will also continue to
run OETG’s Mercury Silver Aviation gsa business.

See www.expressevents.com.au.