Singapore - Global travel management network, TQ3 Travel Solutions, which lost a couple of clients in the region recently, has established an Asia headquarters in Singapore.

It said the move would ensure better support for partners and corporate clients who are based in the region or have businesses here – not to stem the outflow.

Asia was previously looked after by TQ3’s UK office.

TQ3’s global chief operating officer, Mr Toby Joseph, said the renewed interest in Asia was also due to TQ3’s recent agreement with US-based Navigant International, which cemented its position as number two in the US market.

Mr Joseph said: “Our attention now turns to Asia-Pacific, where we have already built our network, and will now focus on growing our marketshare in this key region… our competitors have woken up to the global threat we pose them, and of course have been aggressive as a result.”

TQ3 has 14 partners in Asia and at press time was in the process of signing a new partner in Hong Kong where it had no representation.

At the end of last year, Malaysia-based Holiday Tours & Travel ceased its 16-month association with the company and tied up with Carlson Wagonlit Travel. TQ3 has since signed on PST Travel in Malaysia.

Carlson also entered into an agreement last month to buy MCT, the corporate travel arm of US-based Maritz, which has operated under the TQ3 brand for the last three years.

There is speculation TQ3 and Australian partner, Flight Centre, are parting ways. When contacted by BTN Asia-Pacific, both denied this.

TQ3’s senior vice-president, Asia & the Middle East, Mr Bicky Carlra, said with more focus, he was confident of growing the business in Asia “by 100 per cent if not more”. Mr Carlra heads the new office, at Republic Plaza in the heart of Singapore’s business district, with a team of four, including regional manager, marketing and projects, Ms Angeline Tang.

TQ3’s existing Singapore partnership with Corporate Travel Services, which has been a licensee of TQ3 since 2002, remains as it is, headed by general manager, Mr Simon Heng.

Mr Carlra said: “We have been focused on implementing our strategy in the US and Europe and have not really put in any effort in Asia. We haven’t really serviced our customers here on a proactive basis and that is the role that the regional office would play – to see how we can better extend our services to our clients through our network of partners and to help them optimise on global consolidation.”