Liliana Frigerio, one of the foremost figures in the European travel management industry, has joined Hogg Robinson as director European sales.
She joins Hogg about eight months after she left Carlson Wagonlit Travel where she was executive vp global account management and solutions group.
Ms Frigerio was a long serving employee of Carlson and had previously been responsible for account management and solutions group in Europe. She held her last post at Carlson for nine months before leaving in June 2005.
She had joined Carlson in 1990 having previously worked for Nestle.
At Hogg, Ms Frigerio will have "particular responsibility for strategic opportunities in Continental Europe."
She will be based in Rome and report to Les Middleditch, Hogg's sales director.
Mr Middleditch said: "She is held in exceptionally high regard across the corporate travel industry and has built substantial and long-lasting relationships with clients."
Sabre signs deal with Priceline
Sabre Travel Network has signed a long term GDS deal with online hotel booking agency Priceline.
Sabre also announced that it had bought TRAMS, a Los Angeles-based company which develops software for travel agencies worldwide.
The agreement with Priceline strengthens Sabre's presence in the online travel market. The company said that it now had agreements with three of the four leading online agencies in America.
Priceline is also expanding its presence in Europe. It has bought up two European agencies, Active Hotels of the UK and Bookings BV of Amsterdam, and last week announced plans to open three more offices in Europe, bringing its total to 11.
Its ceo Jeffery Boyd has said it is considering further acquisitions in Europe.
Sabre said the acquisition of TRAMS would enable it to serve the needs of front-, mid- and back-office requirements of small to medium-sized agencies.
TRAMS' products will be integrated with Sabre's, the companies said.
Lee Rosen, founder and president of TRAMS, will continue to manage the TRAMS business.