Growth Back On After US$4.5b Sale

3 July, 2006 by Martin Kelly

Cendant has sold Travelport, formerly known as Cendant Travel Distribution Services, to the Blackstone group for US$4.5 billion cash.

Blackstone, one of the world’s leading private equity groups, has not yet revealed its plans for Travelport, which has annual sales of US$2.5 billion and owns some 20 major travel brands acquired in a buying spree over the past five years.

These include the Galileo GDS, Gullivers Travel Associates, Orbitz and Cheaptickets.

Travelport CEO Jeff Clarke told the New York Times that each of its three divisions is profitable and that Blackstone wants to keep present management in place.

Integration has been a significant issue for the company in recent times but Mr Clarke, who joined the company two months ago, flagged further growth.

"As a private company, Travelport will now have considerably greater financial latitude and firepower to take advantage of burgeoning opportunities in the travel market," Mr Clarke said.

Cendant said the sale proceeds will primarily be used to reduce the debt carried by its Realogy and Wyndham subsidiaries.

The sale is expected to be completed by August.

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'REAL TIME - Sydney, March 30'

When: March 30, 2012
Where: Amora Hotel Jamison
Program: Real Time
Bookings: $499 + gst Early Bird

BOOK now to get the Early Bird rate for the No Vacancy accommodation industry conference in Sydney.

Real Time is the theme of No Vacancy 2012, reflecting the fact that we live in a world where everything happens now, or not at all.

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Rachel Argaman, CEO, Toga Hospitality
Dave Audley, Heading of Consulting, Experian Hitwise
Quentin Briard, GM Australia & NZ, Club Med
Daniel Bridges, Head of Travel, Trade Me (NZ)
Julio Bruno, Global Vice President Sales, TripAdvisor
James Cassidy, HomeAway.com.au
Robbie Cooke, CEO, Wotif.com
Will Deague, CEO, Art Series Hotels
Dean Dransfield, Director, Dransfield Hotels and Resorts
Bob East, CEO, Mantra Resorts
Leah Lipman, Area Director Reveneue Management Australasia, IHG
Simon McGrath, CEO, Accor Australia
Bryon Merzeo, Analyst, STR Global
Bernard O’Keefe, Group Online Marketing Manager, Hamilton Island
Todd Parker, Founder, Parker Travel Collection
Nikolai Pitchforth, Head of Online Travel, Google
Brett Pointon, Founder, Oaks Hotels and Resorts
Anton Stanish, GM, The Stayz Group
Janet Wilson, Managing Director, Nationwide Hospitality

It'll be a great day. As usual, the focus will be on distribution, marketing, sales, innovation and technology for both hoteliers and Online Travel Agents.

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Returning September 17, 2012

The date has been set for TRAVELtech 2012 - Monday, September 17.

Meanwhile, thanks to everyone who attended TRAVELtech: Best of Enemies in Sydney recently.

It was a fantastic event, lots of fun with a touch of controversy.

Please check out the photographs or use this link to see great 360 degree panorama shots of the conference from Panedia.

TRAVELtech is Australia's original web travel, marketing and distribution event, featuring a compelling program, great speakers and fantastic networking.

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