Sean O'Neill, Skift
Travelport's latest earnings report is a chance to judge its performance since it went public in 2014. The answer is mixed: The company invested more than its rivals in its airline distribution business, which let it punch above its weight. But not everything on other matters panned out as well as it might have hoped.
1 month ago
Sean O'Neill, Skift
Few companies other than activist investor Elliott Management expressed a serious interest in acquiring Travelport. Elliott twice lost potential private equity partners after they reviewed Travelport's books. The deal price is underwhelming, and that's a signal that some things haven't been going the company's way.
2 months ago
Travelport + Skift
The speed at which airline distribution stakeholders are able to transform their distribution technologies so that they can directly impact their bottom line will be determined by their ability to effectively collaborate.
3 months ago
Maria Lenhart, Skift
As more business travelers view their trips as working vacations, travel advisors must draw on both corporate and leisure travel-planning skills. It's no simple challenge, but it's necessary given the strength of the bleisure travel trend.
3 months ago
Sean O'Neill, Skift
The early consensus is that Elliott Management put together a disappointing deal for investors. We cover the case for and against the deal here. But expect larger Travelport investors to consider resisting the deal or hope that a white knight acquirer rides in with a better offer.
3 months ago
Sean O'Neill, Skift
The long-predicted buyout of public-company Travelport has happened at a premium of about twice the market capitalization of the company. Expect a spinout of the company's eNett payments division and the proverbial "cost restructuring."
4 months ago
Sean O'Neill, Skift
Travelport has only been on the public market for four years, but hedge fund Elliott Management believes it can engineer a leveraged buyout that will unlock more value from the company. A spin-off of payments unit eNett is a likely early goal.
4 months ago
Sean O'Neill, Skift
In settling this lawsuit, Amadeus doesn't admit to any wrongdoing or violations of antitrust law. Along with Travelport, Amadeus agreed to have its team engage in antitrust compliance training.
4 months ago
Dennis Schaal, Skift
Over the years, the big global distribution systems have been a major barrier to innovation by airlines and travel startups, in particular. The European Commission now intends to take a serious look at this dynamic.
4 months ago
Sean O'Neill, Skift
Gordon Wilson, the CEO of Travelport, said in an interview that he sees India as one of the drivers of its long-term growth. That's plausible, but not assured. Private equity should take the company private to shield it from quarterly earnings pressure, and allow it to invest properly to make the most of its varied opportunities.
5 months ago
Paul Biasco, Skift
This move signals Sabre's eagerness to remain a powerhouse for travel agents in a changing landscape where alternative lodging, driven by the popularity of Airbnb, takes off. Come 2019, Sabre aims to be more of a one-stop shop for agents. Some agents applaud the move; others couldn't care less.
7 months ago
Andrew Sheivachman, Skift
Travelport has worked hard over the last few years to develop new airline merchandising and travel payments solutions on a global level. Next comes the challenge of driving wider adoption in the marketplace.
7 months ago