American Express Business Travel has teamed up with Barceló Business Travel to form one of the largest travel management companies in Spain.
The two companies said the joint venture would combine the global product of one with the local network and expertise of the other.
It is Amex's fourth joint venture, the previous ones being in Italy, China and Japan.
The new joint venture will have 450 employees in a network of offices around Spain serving about 400 clients.
Barceló Business is part of Grupo Barceló, which has operated in the tourist industry for 75 years.
It manages more than 150 hotels in 14 countries.
Barceló Business specialises in serving major companies with a high volume of corporate individual travellers and collective travel such as congresses, conventions and incentives.
Charles Petruccelli, president of American Express Global Travel Services, said: "Partnership is a key part of our global growth strategy...and we already have a successful track record in operating joint venture partnerships in Italy, China and Japan.
"By teaming with strong joint venture partners we are able to grow in key markets around the world and strengthen our value proposition."
Antonio Cursach, managing director of Barceló Business Travel, said: “The combination of resources and expertise delivers value to our current and potential customers.
"Merging the two businesses enables us to offer solutions that currently do not exist in the market."
The deal was signed last month but announced only last week. It came into force at the beginning of the year.
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