Venezuelan corporate travel experts Viajes Unión have announced that they are joining the HRG worldwide network. Demonstrating their commitment to Hogg Robinson Group (HRG), Viajes Unión’s corporate travel operations will trade as HRG Venezuela with immediate effect.

HRG is the award-winning international corporate services company focused on delivering value to value to both local and multinational clients through its comprehensive range of products and services. The HRG worldwide network extends to almost 100 countries. Its exclusive partner in Venezuela, Viajes Unión, has over 35 years expertise in the corporate travel market and in that time has built a reputation for service excellence.

According to Conapri (Consejo Nacional de Promoción de Inversiones), between 2004 and 2005 corporate travellers accounted for half of all those entering Venezuela and, in the same period, business travel increased by almost 48%. The country is one of the world’s main oil producers and is rapidly developing. As a result, Venezeuela is a key market for HRG as corporations start to consolidate their business travel requirements nationally and across the region.

Carlos Salvatierra P., President of HRG Venezuela, commented: “Joining HRG is a true honour for us. We are now part of a worldwide network that combines our local expertise and specialist knowledge with proven global capabilities. This means that our clients will benefit from an even higher quality service in the future, supported by an international organisation with an outstanding knowledge of the global corporate travel industry.”

Peter Vargas, HRG’s Vice President for Latin America, commented: “HRG’s capabilities stretch far beyond the classic travel management role and are designed to meet the needs of both the corporate decision-maker and their travellers. In addition to handling both simple and more complex travel bookings, we are able to offer a fully comprehensive range of value added services, assisting with programme management decisions and negotiation support.”

Vargas continued: “HRG offers expertise across five different business streams. In addition to Corporate Travel Management these include Consulting, Expense Management (including a fully integrated, multi-language, multi-currency, online solution), Events & Meetings Management and Sports.

“HRG has a long established reputation in delivering expert travel management solutions and logistics in sports,” explained Vargas. “We were the official logistics partner of the 2006 FIFA World Cup Organising Committee in Germany and have a cornerstone relationship with the NBA in the United States that can be traced back over 30 years.

“HRG has more than 160 years of experience specialising in high quality corporate services. Through the decades, we have grown and evolved, consistently providing winning solutions and unbeatable service in the markets in which we operate and we are delighted to welcome HRG Venezuela into our global organisation.”

Carlos Salvatierra concluded: “Our shared vision - to provide service excellence - will, without any doubt, deliver added value for our current and prospective clients.”

HRG currently has nine market leading partners in Latin America. In addition to Venezuela, these operations are located in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Mexico and Peru. Together with Hogg Robinson Group’s wholly owned operations in North America (Canada and USA), these companies form HRG’s ‘Americas’ region.

For further information:

HRG Venezuela enquiries
Elena Block, Corporate Communications Manager
Tel: +58 212 9050322
Email: elena.block@ve.hrgworldwide.com
          eblock@corporacionunion.com

Hogg Robinson Group enquiries
Laurie Waugh, Public Relations Manager
Hogg Robinson Group
Tel: + 44 (0) 1256 312 623
Email: laurie.waugh@hrgworldwide.com

Notes to Editors:

Viajes Unión S.A., now HRG Venezuela, was founded in 1972. Since that time the company has dedicated its expertise, using the most advanced technology, to offering personalised services to clients. Viajes Unión designs tailor made products and services to offer high levels of performance in travel management.

Hogg Robinson Group (HRG) is the award-winning international corporate services company. Founded in 1845, HRG has over 60 years specific corporate travel expertise. Its corporate services interests include wholly-owned or majority controlled corporate travel operations in 24 of the key driver and growth markets throughout Asia Pacific, Europe and North America. Supported by contracted partners, the HRG worldwide network extends to almost countries.

Totally committed to a value offering for clients, HRG offers a comprehensive range of corporate services which includes travel management, fulfilment services and low cost transactions as well as Consulting, Expense Management, Sports and Events & Meetings Management.