Travelport
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Travel technology, Global distribution system |
| Predecessor | Galileo GDS, Orbitz, Worldspan |
| Founded | 2006 |
| Founder | The Blackstone Group (as independent entity) |
| Fate | Acquired by affiliates of Siris Capital Group and Evergreen Coast Capital in 2019 |
Area served | Worldwide |
| Products | Travel distribution, IT solutions for airlines (shopping, ticketing, departure control systems) |
| Owner | Affiliates of Siris Capital Group and Evergreen Coast Capital |
Travelport Worldwide Ltd. offers comprehensive distribution, technology, and payment services tailored for the travel and tourism sectors. It holds the position of the third-largest global distribution system (GDS) by revenue, trailing behind Amadeus IT Group and Sabre Corporation.
Additionally, the company delivers IT solutions to airlines, encompassing functionalities such as shopping, ticketing, and departure control systems.
History
Travelport originated in 2001 when Cendant acquired Galileo GDS for $2.9 billion along with CheapTickets for $425 million.
The company's growth continued in 2004 through the acquisition of Orbitz for $1.25 billion and Flairview Travel for $88 million. In 2005, Travelport further expanded by purchasing eBookers for $350 million and Gullivers Travel Associates for $1.1 billion.
August 2006 marked a significant change when Cendant sold Orbitz and Galileo to The Blackstone Group for $4.3 billion, leading to the establishment of Travelport as an independent entity.
In August 2007, Travelport acquired Worldspan for $1.4 billion and conducted a partial public offering of Orbitz via an IPO in July of the same year.
The acquisition of Sprice.com occurred in May 2010, while Gullivers Travel Associates was divested to Kuoni Travel for $720 million in 2011.
Travelport made its debut on the New York Stock Exchange on September 25, 2014.
In 2015, the company expanded its mobile capabilities by acquiring Mobile Travel Technologies for €55 million.
On March 10, 2023, Travelport enhanced its corporate travel offerings by purchasing Deem from Enterprise Holdings; financial details were not disclosed.
Awards
In 2017, Travelport distinguished itself as the first GDS to achieve Level 3 certification under the International Air Transport Association NDC (New Distribution Capability) program as a travel content aggregator. The following year, it became the pioneering GDS operator to facilitate live flight bookings utilizing the NDC standard.
Acquisition
On May 30, 2019, affiliates of Siris Capital Group and Evergreen Coast Capital—associated with Elliott Management Corporation—completed the acquisition of Travelport for $4.4 billion.