AMERSHAM Travel Management has ended its 17-year partnership with Galileo UKand signed a three-year deal with rival Sabre.
It is believed that Amersham was swayed by Sabre’s commitment to invest in Internet products over the next few years.
The business travel agency previously used its own hardware and Galileo’s software, but has started to remove this technology before installing Sabre’s version.
This software includes the TravelBase back-office accounting and information management system and Sabre’s graphical Planet Sabre reservations programme.
Six Sabre staff will be based in Amersham’s head office to provide on-site training in the new systems. All systems are expected to be fully operational by December.
A Sabre spokesman said:”This deal is a big coup for Sabre, which has traditionally been focusing on the business travel market.
“Amersham managing director David Giles is vice-chairman of the Guild of Business Travel Agents and is therefore very high profile in the business travel sector.”