American Express Global Business Travel (GBT) has completed the acquisition of travel management firm SMT.
GBT said Finnish company SMT has been a part of its travel partner network for 27 years and the acquisition will “further enhance” GBT’s service and capabilities in the Nordics.
Elyes Mrad, GBT’s managing director EMEA, said: “This is truly exciting for our business, and for our customers in Finland and beyond. Organisations and companies in Finland and around the world will continue to benefit from SMT’s local expertise, in addition to our global scale and access. As we come together as one company we welcome the dedicated SMT employees and look forward to achieving great things together for years to come.”
SMT was formed in 2013 after the merger of the two largest Finnish-owned business travel agencies, Area Travel Agency and Finland Travel Bureau.
SMT MD Kirsi Paakkari, who will continue to manage the SMT business post-closing, said: “SMT's main strategic objective is to be the leading provider of corporate travel services and Meetings and Events in Finland. Joining GBT will accelerate our progress toward that objective. Our dynamic business style, combined with GBT's resources, will make us a powerful and effective business travel partner for companies across Finland.”