American Express Global Business Travel completes KDS acquisition

American Express Global Business Travel has completed the acquisition of KDS, a global provider of integrated travel technology headquartered in France.

Announced in August, this acquisition is part of GBT’s broader investment strategy to develop a suite of integrated digital services for business travellers, bolstering its core technology platform with KDS’ integrated travel SaaS technology.

GBT chief executive Doug Anderson said: “The acquisition of KDS is pivotal for GBT.

“We are focused on providing solutions that optimize the traveller experience within the managed travel environment.

“Our strategy is to develop and acquire the tools to deliver on that objective.

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“KDS allows us to offer the first seamless end-to-end shopping and booking experience centred on today’s business traveller.”

All KDS employees will today officially join GBT team of 12,000 employees globally.

There is no expected change in the KDS management team and the company will continue to operate in its current office locations.

Dean Forbes, chief executive, KDS, said: “The immediate focus will be on developing our solutions further as part of a global travel leader and continuing to work with all our partners and customers for the benefit of their business travel.

“It is something about which we have always been passionate, and we now have the reach to make it a reality for an even broader audience.”

American Express Global Business Travel will continue to work with and support other online booking tools across global marketplaces.