TQ3’s tie-up with Navigant International in the US complicates matters for another local player, Anglo-French Travel (AFT), which became Navigant’s Singapore partner in March last year.

AFT’s chairman and CEO, Mr Lee Liat Cheng, did not rule out the possibility of “some form of consolidation” between him, Corporate Travel Services (TQ’s existing partner in Singapore) and TQ3.

Mr Lee told BTN Asia-Pacific: “This (new development) may mean something has to be done with regards to Singapore…some sort of consolidation does make sense, at the end of the day…it depends on who’s comfortable to do what.”

Discussions among the three have yet to yield any conclusions, but Mr Carlra said that this was a brilliant opportunity and various options were being considered. He declined to comment on these options but said: “We all want the best for our clients so whatever is decided, there will be far more value add and no disruption of services.”