Kuala Lumpur - Leading Malaysian travel management company (TMC) Boustead Travel Services has linked up with emerging global travel management company, GlobalStar Travel Management.

It took the initiative following an increasing number of requests from its multinational corporate customers for a global partner.

General manager, Mr Jayapala Abeysekera, said: “We had been representing Thomas Cook for many years. When it terminated the agreement some years back, we lost our global link.

“As it is the trend for MNCs to work with a TMC which is affiliated to a global TMC, this prompted us to initiate a search for a global partner. In fact we lost some accounts because we did not have one.”

As most of the big global TMCs have already tied up with partners in Malaysia, its search led to contact with the US-headquartered GlobalStar which has a presence in Singapore and Thailand within South-east Asia.

“After establishing links (and making a pitch), we were approached by its Singapore-based representative, Scenic Travel, to join GlobalStar and we agreed,” Mr Abeysekera said.

He added: “While it may not be as big as other global TMCs, it is emerging very quickly and has potential.

“It will provide us with the opportunity to win back accounts we have lost.”

GlobalStar made sales of US$20 million in 2002 and has corporate travel offices in three locations - the Americas; Europe, Middle East and Africa; and Asia-Pacific.

Boustead had to compete with another leading Malaysian travel agency in its attempt to partner GlobalStar. Its strength in corporate travel was claimed as the winning factor.