amex corporate travel agency

• Travel management Toggle submenu Egencia Overview Travel management solutions Amex GBT Neo1 Amex GBT Neo Amex GBT Select Amex GBT Ovation Manage your corporate travel program Corporate travel policy Travel risk management Travel expense management Reporting Travel management consulting Industry Solutions Legal Transportation & Logistics

Egencia reviews

See how Egencia works

• Customer center Toggle submenu Travelers Help center Business traveler center Download the app Travel arrangers Help center Travel arranger center Training resources Travel managers Connect community Product updates Customer training
• Watch a demo
• Request a demo
• About Egencia

Corporate Travel Management, Business Travel Services & Solutions

Modern corporate travel management for the fast-changing travel landscape

Manage risk. Support traveler wellbeing. Plan for the future. How can Egencia™ help you modernize your corporate travel program?

The only proven global B2B travel tech platform

Egencia is always working to deliver travelers, travel managers, and travel arrangers unrivaled choice, value, and experience, with the powerful backing of Amex GBT.

We’re in a league of our own

Our platform can be optimized for all types of users, in companies big or small.

Tech is in our DNA   We originated in the labs of global tech giants and now we are a part of the most valuable B2B travel solution in the world.

AI-driven insights   Our AI delivers custom user experiences that add value to your company’s travel program.

Suite of APIs   Amex GBT Egencia’s open API platform gives you the ability to build robust integrations that help you automate, connect and simplify your travel and expense management.

Unbeatable travel content We lead the industry with over 290 global airlines and 650,000 lodging partners.

Industry-first NDC capabilities Amex GBT Egencia is the first to offer new distribution capabilities to our clients. 

Amex GBT Egencia Preferred Rates  We offer the best value for business travel with access to special discounted air fares.

The unique content from Amex GBT Egencia provides unrivaled choice and value for air, hotel, car and rail.

Our technology-driven customer service and commitment to excellence puts Amex GBT Egencia on another level.

Industry leader in service Our platform and services are consistently rated above 95% satisfaction by customers.

Best-in-class traveler support We provide services to over 2 million travelers in over 60 countries.

Globally proven Amex GBT Egencia proudly supports over 9,000 companies of all sizes around the world.

Constant innovation We consistently deliver enhancements and innovation across our online and offline services.

Smartest shopping experience Our technology provides the smartest, quickest shopping experience to give the best routes and rates based on user preferences.

Proven optimization Our AI and machine learning delivers the best experience and enhancements for savings, traveler wellbeing and sustainability.

We lead the industry in innovation, with data insights from 100s of millions of transactions every year.

The world's business travel platform

• Companies of all sizes in more than 60 countries trust Amex GBT Egencia to modernize their corporate travel programs
• We deliver simple, consumer-like business travel that users love and fast, knowledgeable support for unexpected moments
• With a globally consistent platform and skilled travel program management, rest assured your travel program is optimized to manage risk while maximizing ROI

Ready to update your travel program?

If now is the time to redesign your corporate travel program to manage risk, support traveler wellbeing and monitor your travel spend, this toolkit can help.

Amex GBT Egencia helps you stay connected

14 million business trips were made with Amex GBT Egencia last year. As your travel management company, we’ll be with you every step of the way.

Managing travel risk

Travel risk management has never been more important. Find out how you can manage risk, deliver duty of care and make your business travelers feel secure.

• A comprehensive and quickly adaptable business travel policy is crucial. Use this free guide to help you create a travel policy that adapts to your needs.
• Make traveler wellbeing a priority. Inform, alert and assist them in real-time via the mobile app and online booking tool
• Reduce risk by improving travel policy compliance

Putting traveler wellbeing first

You want employees to feel fully supported from the time they book until they return home. Amex GBT Egencia travel experts are ready to assist.

• Learn how you can enhance your duty of care policies for travelers
• Travel booking is only one part of the equation. Traveler safety is the other. Use this pre-travel safety checklist as a guide
• Learn how Amex GBT Egencia simplifies hotel bookings for travelers .
• Put your travelers in the driver’s seat and take advantage of our fleet of 5 million car rental options worldwide

Savings and ROI

Even as the travel industry changes, businesses still need to make strategic decisions based on cost and ROI. Amex GBT Egencia can help you boost your bottom line.

• Gain insights, identify savings and optimize travel spend in real-time with Amex GBT Egencia Analytics Studio
• Find out how Umpqua Bank maximized their business travel ROI with Amex GBT Egencia
• Amex GBT Egencia travel services can help simplify expense management . Easily track travel expenses that reflect spending with personal or corporate credit cards
• 19 ways our travel management solutions can help you save time and money

Amex GBT Egencia empowers over 2 million business travelers to get the most out of their business travel. Shouldn’t you be one of them?

Amex GBT Egencia’s G2 Winter 2024 Awards

Are you considering a return to business travel.

Amex GBT Egencia partners with Festive Road to offer a permissible travel framework to evaluate an organization’s overall readiness to travel based on corporate, individual and government regulations.

Are you an Amex GBT Egencia travel customer?

I'm a business traveler, i manage travel, recommended for you.

Request a demo to see what Amex GBT Egencia travel management solutions can do for you.

Already a customer? Contact Amex GBT Egencia customer service .

Welcome to GBT Partner Solutions

Become part of our fast-growing network of travel partners around the world.

GBT Partner Solutions (GPS) is a customized way for travel agencies to multiply their value to clients. Join and tap into one of the largest travel management networks in the world to extend your reach and optimize the value you deliver clients. GPS gives you the chance to become part of an expanding global community of travel management leaders.

Comprehensive technology, products, and servicing solutions

Businesses like yours have unique needs, which is why we offer flexible technology, product, and servicing solutions. Choose as little or as much technology as you need.

• Full or tailored tech stack options. Utilize American Express Global Business Travel's (Amex GBT) front, middle, and back office systems or digital products. Select a few tools or the full tech stack.
• Innovative technology including an online booking tool advantage. Utilize our unified platform with our industry-leading booking tool,  Neo TM , or choose your preferred online booking tool. As an example, GPS members can be a reseller of Neo TM which delivers GDS and Mozio content as well as our Supplier Marketplace ― a big plus over other booking tools. Learn more about Neo TM here.
• Unrivalled experience. With a variety of global servicing options, we offer support based on your clients’ local needs. Over 96% of Amex GBT customer needs are resolved and with a 91% overall quality of service satisfaction rate. 1

Minimize technology costs by tapping into our innovative product and technology solutions.

Progressive GDS and NDC strategies

Take advantage of an unrivalled choice of rates and content, all in one place.

• Streamlined shopping experience. Get richer content through global distribution system (GDS) and New Distribution Capability (NDC) and the highest standards in privacy protection.
• High yielding commissionable content. Enhanced hotel content with the potential for higher returns through an improved hotel commission collective service.
• GDS financial benefit. Optimized value based on our partnerships and volume. Deals tailored to a client's needs help avoid surcharges.

With over $20 billion in managed air sales in 2019, Amex GBT was noted as a top corporate distributor for the largest travel suppliers.

Highly valuable air content.

By accessing our vast flight options, you can offer your clients more choice and value to better meet diverse client needs.

• A world of options. 90+ carriers worldwide and multiple routes to choose from.
• Tailored choice. Premium and economy cabins help meet a range of budgets, policies, and tastes.

Nearly every type of accommodation

Offering as many accommodation options as possible can prevent travelers from booking outside of corporate channels.

• Valuable hotel content globally. As a GPS member, you benefit from our Preferred Extras TM Hotel Program that features over 50,000 properties in nearly 110 countries, along with our discounted rates and negotiated amenities.
• Unrivalled choice. Expanded options with over 2 million properties available worldwide. That includes non-GDS options and alternative accommodations to round out your program.
• Special rates. Our partnership with Expedia provides special access to Expedia Business Rates with flexible payment options.

Get access to over 700K plus traditional hotels and private rentals through our Expedia partnership.

Let’s talk more about how we can partner together to bring joint value to our organizations., ready to explore gps even further, great. first tell us a little bit about your business needs and we’ll gladly get back to you..

Please enable Javascript to view this form.

1 GBT Customer Satisfaction Survey of traveler care servicing, including offline, online-assisted and after-hours, GBT proprietary countries + Travel Partner Network, January–December 2020.

Your HIGH-TOUCH TRAVEL SOLUTION.

Get to Know Amex GBT Ovation.

CORPORATE TRAVEL

MEETINGS & EVENTS

OTHER TRAVEL SERVICES

• Privacy Policy
• Cookie Policy
• Product Privacy Statement
• Informed Traveler

GBT Travel Services UK Limited (GBT UK) and its authorized sublicensees (including Ovation Travel Group and Egencia) use certain trademarks and service marks of American Express Company or its subsidiaries (American Express) in the “American Express Global Business Travel” and “American Express GBT Meetings & Events” brands and in connection with its business for permitted uses only under a limited license from American Express (Licensed Marks). The Licensed Marks are trademarks or service marks of, and the property of, American Express. GBT UK is a subsidiary of Global Business Travel Group, Inc. (NYSE: GBTG). American Express holds a minority interest in GBTG, which operates as a separate company from American Express.

Please see the Data Protection and Privacy Principles , as applicable, for processing of personal information by Ovation Travel Group, a wholly owned company of GBT.

Ovation prioritizes compliance with leading data protection regulations and standards. Ovation is GDPR compliant and PCI DSS certified.

Your Travel Experience Our Unparalleled Expertise

Connect with one of our expert agents.

The Travel Authority, an ALTOUR owned company offers personal service and 24/7 support.  Whether for business, vacation packages, meetings and incentive or online travel services, our expert Travel Advisors and innovative technology save money and offer the best value on airline tickets, hotels, rental cards, cruises, and vacation packages”.

ALTOUR is one of the largest travel management companies in the United States and one of the largest travel management companies globally. Serving the corporate and leisure luxury and mid-markets and entertainment community, ALTOUR has 53 offices and more than 1,300 travel professionals worldwide. In addition to travel management services, ALTOUR companies include ALTOUR Air, ALTOUR Meetings and Incentives and the ALTOUR Global Network.

Limited Time Offers

Upgrades on Us

You are using an outdated browser. Please upgrade your browser to improve your experience.

Card Accounts

Business Accounts

Other Accounts and Payments

Tools and Support

Personal Cards

Business Credit Cards

Corporate Programs

Prepaid Cards

Personal Savings

Personal Checking and Loans

Business Banking

Book And Manage Travel

Travel Inspiration

Business Travel

Services and Support

Benefits and Offers

Manage Membership

Business Services

Checking & Payment Products

Funding Products

Merchant Services

American Express Travel Help Center

How can we help, get in-the-know before you go. the travel help center has resources and information to help you plan a trip, learn about your travel benefits, manage an existing booking, and more. , popular topics.

Get up-to-date info on trending travel topics.

Manage My Trips

View your itinerary or cancel your trip online.

Why Amex Travel?

Explore the benefits of booking with American Express Travel.

How to use Pay with Points

Use Membership Rewards ® points toward all or part of your qualified booking. Terms apply.

Travel Packing Essentials

Whether you’re planning a weekend getaway, or a month-long escape near or far, don't leave home without the essentials.

eTicket Flight Credits

If you have eTicket Flight Credits available with Amex Travel, learn about your redemption options and expiration and ticket details. Terms apply.

Platinum Card® Travel Benefits

Explore all the travel benefits you get when you're with Amex.

International Airline Program

Get savings on the best seats in the house and accelerate rewards every time you takeoff. Explore lower fares on international First, Business, and Premium Economy seats with the International Airline Program through American Express Travel. Terms apply.

Fine Hotels + Resorts ®

Every stay at Fine Hotels + Resorts ® is packed with perks when you book with American Express Travel. Explore your benefits and find a hotel now. Terms apply.

Global Lounge Collection

Platinum Card Members can enjoy access to more than 1,400 airport lounges across 140 countries and counting. Terms apply.

Find a lounge

Insider Fares

Go further with fewer Membership Rewards ® points. With Insider Fares, it takes less points to get around the globe. Access these flight deals at AmexTravel.com if there are enough points for the entire fare. Terms apply.

The Hotel Collection

For a stylish escape in locations near and far, book The Hotel Collection with American Express Travel. Enjoy signature perks on stays of two or more nights. Terms apply.

Explore a new path. Earn every step of the way. Get to your next vacation faster with 5X Membership Rewards ® points on flights* and prepaid hotels booked on AmexTravel.com . Terms apply.

*Per dollar spent on up to $500,000 per calendar year on flights booked directly with airlines or AmexTravel.com.” 

$200 Airline Fee Credit

Receive up to $200 per calendar year in statement credits when you charge incidental travel fees on one selected qualifying airline to your eligible Card account. Terms apply

$200 Hotel Credit

Get up to $200 back in statement credits each year for prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts bookings or The Hotel Collection bookings of two nights or more through American Express Travel when you pay with your eligible Platinum Card. Terms apply.

Other Travel Benefits

Learn about additional Platinum Card ® benefits across each step of the journey.

Fee Credit for Global Entry or TSA, PreCheck ® , $200 Uber Cash, $189 CLEAR ® , Platinum Card Concierge, Premium Global Assist ® Hotline and

more! Terms apply.

Planning My Trip

From destination inspiration to travel insurance, get the most up-to-date trip planning information all in one place.

Explore Destination Experiences

Tour the tastes of San Sebastian. Watch elephants roam the Serengeti. Explore more of the world with the help of American Express Travel. Through personalized service and trusted partnerships, we help you experience destinations in an unforgettable way.

Recommended Flights

From now until October 1, 2024, Platinum Card ® and Business Platinum Card ® Members can access lower fares on select routes, for travel through October 1, 2024 when you book at AmexTravel.com. Terms apply.

Get Inspired

Plan your next vacation with the help of American Express Travel. View insider travel guides, sun to slope destinations, and one-of-a-kind properties from Fine Hotels + Resorts ® and The Hotel Collection.

Insurance, Protections, Trip Cancel Guard TM , and more.

You can enjoy a variety of benefits with American Express Cards ® , including embedded Card Benefits. American Express also offers optional trip protections available for purchase, including Trip Cancel Guard , for bookings made through AmexTravel.com. Terms apply.

Fine Hotels + Resorts ® Special Offers

Enjoy special offers including complimentary nights and property credits at select Fine Hotels + Resorts ® properties when you book through American Express Travel. Travel dates and terms apply.

Take control of your travel with easy links and tips to help redeem eTicket Flight Credits, view your itinerary, cancel bookings, and more. Simply log in to “ My Trips ”.

View Itinerary

View the details of your trip, invoice, and itinerary.

Flight Booking Hotel Booking Car rental Vacation Packages Cruise Booking 

Redeem eTicket Flight Credits

If you have eTicket Flight Credits available with Amex Travel, learn about your redemption options and expiration and ticket details.

Change my Booking

Understand how to make a change to your trip.

Change your Flight Booking Change your Hotel Booking Change your Car rental Change your Vacation Packages Change your Cruise Booking

Amex Travel Terms & Conditions

Membership Rewards ® Fine Hotels + Resorts ® The Hotel Collection 

Cancel my Booking

Understand how to cancel an existing booking.

Cancel your Flight Booking Cancel your Hotel Booking Cancel your Car rental Cancel your Vacation Packages Cancel your Cruise Booking

Frequently Asked Questions

Chat with us.

Please log in using your User ID and Password.

Trending Articles

View your itinerary, cancel a booking, or manage a trip yourself by logging in to “ My Trips ”.

Learn how to use Membership Rewards ® points for your next booking.

Eligible Platinum Card Members can get up to  $200 back in statement credits each year for prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts ® bookings or The Hotel Collection bookings of two nights or more through American Express Travel when you pay with your eligible Platinum Card. 

How-to Videos

Learn how to use Membership Rewards ® Pay with points for all or part of your flight, prepaid hotel, prepaid car rental, vacation packages (flight and prepaid hotel), or prepaid cruise booking through AmexTravel.com

How to Manage My Trip

Learn how to view your itinerary or cancel an existing booking, understand seat and baggage options, and more within My Trips. 

How to Redeem an eTicket Flight Credit Online

If you have an eTicket Flight Credit from a flight originally purchased through AmexTravel.com, learn how to redeem it online.

Search Travel Market Report

• Packaged Travel
• Hotels & Resorts
• Destinations
• Retail Strategies
• Niche & Luxury
• Training & Resources
• Brian Israel
• Briana Bonfiglio
• Dan McCarthy
• Dori Saltzman
• Jennifer Arango
• Kelly Fontenelle
• Keri-Anne Slevin
• Louis Intreglia
• Sarah Milner
• Tom McCarthy

Amex GBT Agrees to Acquire Carlson Wagonlit Travel for $570 Million

Photo: Amex GBT 

American Express Global Business Travel (Amex GBT) is acquiring corporate travel agency Carlson Wagonlit Travel (CWT), for $570 million, marking a new chapter for one of the industry’s longtime corporate giants.

The deal is expected to close sometime in the second half of 2024. The transaction will be funded by a combination of stock and cash.

CWT, which says it serves 4,000 global customers, has been undergoing major changes in recent years, including taking on new equity owners in 2021. As recently as November, CWT underwent some balance sheet recapitalization aimed at deleveraging its balance sheet and strengthening its financial position. At that time, CWT said it had a “strong financial foundation and capital structure.”

In Monday’s announcement, CWT said that moving under Amex GBT will help its long-term vision and that it was “confident” in the future of the company.

“Joining forces with Amex GBT helps accelerate our vision of a tech-enabled future for business travel, where people and technology combine to deliver an exceptional customer experience. We are highly confident in the value creation of the combined company,” CWT CEO Patrick Andersen said.

It also said that, when the deal closes, its clients would have access to Amex GBT’s proprietary software, including programs like Neo1, Neo, and Egencia, and Amex GBT’s professional services.

TMR reached out to CWT to ask about the evolution of the CWT brand when the company does move under Amex GBT, and whether or not the CWT will remain. A spokesperson told TMR that "it’s very early in the process to discuss CWT as a brand. We are all proud of the name we have built in the marketplace and our ancestry. Today, we remain CWT."

Amex GBT’s CEO Paul Abbot said on Monday that bringing CWT under the Amex banner will “create more choice for customers, more opportunities for people, and more value for shareholders.”

CWT traces its roots back to 1872 when a Belgian innovator Georges Nagelmackers, who went on to create the Orient Express, founded Wagons-Lits, which means "sleeping cars."

MOST VIEWED

• Report: Delta Air Lines Plans to Drop Baggage Recheck on Arrival to U.S.
• Op-Ed: Why I Won’t Use Costco for Travel Again
• Catering Strike Causes Delays at Toronto Pearson Airport
• U.S. State Department Updates Warnings for Two European Destinations
• Hawaii Set to Ban Airbnb and Short-Term Rentals State-Wide
• Horseshoe’s Jubilee Tower Becomes the Versailles Tower at Paris Las Vegas
• California Bans Drip Pricing: What It Means for Travel Advisors
• Holland America Group Resigns USTOA Membership
• Carnival Corp. Changes Advertised Pricing Policy & Cancellation Fee Structure to Comply with Calif. Law
• Princess Cruises Transforms Dining System Fleetwide
• American Airlines Pushes AAdvantage Change for Travel Agencies
• Delta Air Lines Is Changing the Way It Boards Flights

Subscribe today to receive daily in-depth coverage, analysis of industry news, trends and issues that affect how you do business. Subscribe now for free.

Subscribe to TMR

The new Victory Cruise Lines will launch on the Great Lakes in the spring of 2025.

This year’s Memorial Day weekend will be the busiest one for travel in almost two decades.

The airline pulled its Porter Escapes program, which paired flights with hotels and attractions.

Once signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis, the law would go into effect on July 1, 2024.

The adventure magazine is vouching for the benefits of using travel advisors.

TMR is excited to announce the next iteration of Travel Market Place. 

Amex Global Business Travel Sees Big Gains From Tech Customers

Dennis Schaal , Skift

May 7th, 2024 at 4:52 PM EDT

Big companies are on the move again, but the business travel growth engine — small- to medium-sized businesses — took a step back because of high interest rates and inflation.

Dennis Schaal

Much of the discussion about business travel revolves around large corporations that have strict managed-travel policies. They require employees to book trips through sanctioned tools and at hotels and airlines that give corporations volume discounts.

In the first quarter, those corporations delivered significant gains for American Express Global Business Travel, the world’s largest travel-management company.

AmexGBT saw strength in transactions from global multinational corporations — tech companies in particular, with 30% growth. Other sectors turned in double-digit growth too, including pharmaceuticals, mining, energy and utilities.

But there was a downside: Small- to medium-sized businesses offer the largest opportunity in winning new business and they showed a decline in transaction growth of 3 percentage points in the fourth and first quarters.

These smaller businesses spend $30 million or less on travel annually and mostly let their employees book wherever they want.

They may not need a travel management company like Amex GBT. What’s more, they’ve been hit hard in recent months by higher inflation and interest costs, leading to tighter travel budgets.

Amex GBT CEO Paul Abbott told analysts during the earnings call Tuesday that of the $900 billion in total transaction value in play in business travel annually, “$300 billion sits with, if you like, professional managed-travel programs, and $600 billion in unmanaged.”

The entire business travel market is worth $1.4 trillion, he said, and “SME is the biggest opportunity within that.”

Amex GBT Is Poised to Acquire CWT in the Second Half of 2024

The earnings call took place with some unfinished business on the agenda — the $570 million acquisition of CWT , which officials said is poised to close in the second half of 2024.

Abbott said the companies’ integration teams are “established.”

He said the acquisition would increase company revenue by one-third and it would have the potential to be a “significant” contributor to earnings in the long run. There would be $155 million in “annual run rate cost synergies,” Abbott said. Meaning layoffs and trimming other redundant operations.

American Express Global Business Travel stated that a recent survey of its top 100 customers found they expect their travel spend to rise 8% in 2024.

Net Loss Narrowed, Positive Free Cash Flow

In the first quarter, the company narrowed its net loss to $19 million from a loss of $27 million in the year-ago period.

Revenue rose 6% in the first quarter to $610 million.

One of the brighter metrics was that free cash flow hit $24 million in the first quarter, up from minus $109 million a year earlier.

Get Skift Research

Skift Research products provide deep analysis, data, and expert research on the companies and trends that are shaping the future of travel.

Have a confidential tip for Skift? Get in touch

Tags: AmexGBT , business travel , corporate travel , cwt , earnings , hotels , mergers , mergers and acquisitions , Travel Trends

Photo credit: A business traveler about to catch a flight. Pxfuel

Hamas chief says group to decide on post-war Gaza rule with Palestinian factions

Putin arrives in China for two-day state visit: Russian TV

Dow, S&P 500, Nasdaq end at records as US inflation cools

Hezbollah claims drone attack on base near Israel's Tiberias

France deploys army, bans TikTok in riot-hit New Caledonia: PM

Slovak PM's 'life in danger' and in operating theatre: interior minister

Attack on Slovak PM 'political assault': defence minister

Man with knife wounds several in Swiss town: police

Macron says 'shocked' by attack on Slovak PM

Biden condemns 'horrific' attack on Slovak PM

Business Wire

BUSINESS WIRE helps companies to disseminate their full text press releases, regulatory information and multimedia documents effectively and securely to news agencies, journalists, analysts and investors the world over.

Mercans Triples Its Global Payroll Innovation Center Resources

Mercans, the global leader in Payroll technology, announced that in the last 12 months, it has tripled its Global Innovation Center R&D resources and significantly accelerated the launch of technology improvements to its cutting-edge payroll technology stack. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240513739114/en/Payrol...

NielsenIQ launches GenAI-based tool NIQ Ask Arthur into NIQ Discover empowering users to unlock the power of data

NielsenIQ (NIQ), the world leader in measurement and data analytics, is excited to announce that ‘NIQ Ask Arthur’- a groundbreaking GenAI-driven tool—has been integrated into NIQ Discover. This transformative solution offers AI-guided global search and personalized recommendations, streamlining data analysis and facilitating informed decision-making. Launching “NIQ Ask Arthur” marks an importa...

Alvaria Announces Expansion of Avaya Partnership to Include Alvaria CX Premier Enterprise-scale Omnichannel Compliant Outbound Engagement

Alvaria® is pleased to announce the expansion of our partnership with Avaya, a leading provider of enterprise customer experience solutions, to include the Alvaria CX™ platform in our joint delivery of enterprise-scale high performance solutions for omnichannel-compliant outbound customer engagement. Alvaria CX will be available in the Avaya One Source store by the end of May. Alvaria will b...

NTT DATA to Provide Digital Transformation Services for Salesforce

NTT DATA, a digital business and IT services leader, has been selected by Salesforce, the #1 AI CRM, to help standardize and streamline the company’s application environment. NTT DATA will support the management and development of applications across Salesforce’s organization, including its internal instance of Salesforce. The applications span Salesforce Sales, Marketing, Service, Experienc...

Helical Fusion and National Institute for Fusion Science Establish 'HF Collaboration Research Group' and Dedicated Experimental Space for Early Commercial Fusion Reactor Deployment

Helical Fusion has entered a partnership agreement with the National Institute for Fusion Science (NIFS) in March 2024. NIFS has established the "HF Collaboration Research Group" with activities starting in April, special experimental research space has been dedicated onsite at NIFS, which already houses the world's largest superconductor and fusion experimental facility, for Helical Fusion. W...

Optiscan Signs Know-How Agreement with Mayo Clinic

Optiscan Imaging Limited (ASX:OIL) (‘Optiscan’ or ‘The Company’) is pleased to announce that it has entered into a collaboration through a know-how agreement with Mayo Clinic to develop a digital confocal laser endomicroscopic imaging system for use in robotic surgery. The collaboration combines Optiscan’s engineering expertise in digital endomicroscopic hardware and software development wit...

Falcon 2: UAE’s Technology Innovation Institute Releases New AI Model Series, Outperforming Meta’s New Llama 3

The Technology Innovation Institute (TII), a leading global scientific research center and the applied research pillar of Abu Dhabi’s Advanced Technology Research Council (ATRC), today launched a second iteration of its renowned large language model (LLM) – Falcon 2. Within this series, it has unveiled two groundbreaking versions: Falcon 2 11B, a more efficient and accessible LLM trained on 5....

Empatica and McRoberts Partnership Achieves 200+ Endpoints and Opens Platform to External Algorithm Developers

Empatica, a pioneer in digital biomarker development and patient monitoring driven by AI, and McRoberts, one of the leaders in ambulatory monitoring of physical activity, announce the integration of all 71 McRoberts endpoints in Empatica’s digital biomarkers portfolio and FDA-cleared platform, bringing its total offering to over 200. This press release features multimedia. View the full relea...

Lincotek Appoints Anthony Gascon as Head of Global Operational Excellence of the Group and General Manager of Lincotek Medical US Casting and Machining

Lincotek Group – a global Solution Provider for the Medical, Aerospace and IGT markets – this week appointed Anthony (Tony) Gascon as the head of Global Operational Excellence of the Group and General Manager of Lincotek Medical US Casting and Machining. Tony will report to Andrea Colombo, Lincotek Group CEO. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.busi...

Cepton Announces Significant Engineering Contract with Koito

Cepton, Inc. (“Cepton” or the “Company”) (Nasdaq: CPTN), a Silicon Valley innovator and leader in high-performance lidar solutions for automotive and smart infrastructure applications, has announced today that it has signed a significant Engineering Services Agreement (the “Agreement”) with its long-term automotive Tier 1 partner and current shareholder, KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD. (“Koito”)...

Incyte to Highlight Data From its Oncology Portfolio at the 2024 ASCO Annual Meeting and EHA2024 Congress

Incyte (Nasdaq: INCY) today announced that several abstracts featuring data from its oncology portfolio will be presented at the upcoming 2024 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting held May 31 – June 4 in Chicago, and at the European Hematology Association 2024 (EHA2024) Congress held on June 13-16 in Madrid, Spain, and virtually. "The data being presented at ASCO and E...

BeiGene Highlights New Hematology Portfolio and Pipeline Data at EHA2024

BeiGene, Ltd. (NASDAQ: BGNE; HKEX: 06160; SSE: 688235), a global oncology company, today announced it will share new data from its hematology portfolio and pipeline at the European Hematology Association 2024 Hybrid Congress (EHA2024) in Madrid, Spain, June 13-16, 2024. BeiGene has 28 abstracts accepted at EHA2024, with four scheduled for oral presentations. “As part of our dedication to bri...

LambdaTest Partners with BugHerd to Optimize Web Testing and Bug Tracking

LambdaTest, a leading cloud-based unified testing platform, is excited to announce its integration with BugHerd, the Australian-based website feedback and bug tracking tool. This collaboration is designed to enhance the efficiency of identifying and logging website bug reports during the testing phase. BugHerd is a popular website bug-tracking tool that aids organizations by enabling them to...

Buffalo Mania Deluxe charges onto Springbok Casino

Saddle up for a brand-new adventure, as the brilliant Buffalo Mania Deluxe charges head-first into Springbok Casino’s ever-increasing herd of hot slots. Ride into the Wild West and give Springbok Casino’s freshest arrival a go, a five-reel slot with 4,096 ways to win. Well, at first… That can all change when you trigger the Major Replacement feature. One random symbol will roam onto the re...

Pink Lipsticks and Green Thumbs: Mary Kay Inc. Celebrates 60 Years of Sustainable Beauty With Special Tree Planting Event in Lewisville

Mary Kay Inc., a corporate leader in global sustainability, is strengthening its roots in Lewisville. On May 10, the company partnered with the Arbor Day Foundation and Keep Lewisville Beautiful to host a tree planting event at Railroad Park to celebrate Mother Nature and Mother’s Day. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/2...

Cencora To Host Inaugural ThinkLive Cell and Gene Therapy Summit

Cencora, a global healthcare company, will convene leaders from across the healthcare and biopharmaceutical industries for its inaugural ThinkLive Cell and Gene Therapy (CGT) Summit, an event designed to explore the latest developments in the CGT sector and strategies to accelerate product commercialization and patient access. The two-day virtual event, which kicks off May 14, will feature p...

Xsolla Releases Quarterly Insights Report on the Future of Gaming and Game Development: a Preliminary Analysis of Spring 2024 Metrics and Upcoming Trends

Xsolla, a global video game commerce company, published the Spring 2024 edition of "The Xsolla Report: The State of Play” today. Launched on the heels of the Game Developers Conference (GDC) 2024, this extensive report provides invaluable insights into the emerging trends and pivotal shifts impacting the gaming industry in the short and long term. It sets the stage to significantly shape the f...

Online Trading Broker Taurex Launches New App That Makes Trading Simple for Everyone

Designed under the premise that trading should be for everyone, the Taurex Trading App launched today, introducing simplicity to the often-complicated financial markets. Built to cater to the needs of every level of modern trader, the app provides a seamless and intuitive platform for trading more than 1,500 CFDs across forex, shares, metals, commodities, indices, and cryptocurrencies. This p...

REVEAL GENOMICS® HER2DX® Genomic Test to Be Validated in Pivotal ECOG-ACRIN CompassHER2 pCR Trial in HER2+ Breast Cancer

REVEAL GENOMICS, S.L., a Barcelona-based biotechnology start-up seeking to revolutionize precision oncology through biomarker innovation, today announced the forthcoming prospective validation of its groundbreaking diagnostic tool HER2DX® within the framework of the ongoing CompassHER2 pCR Trial. This study is led by the ECOG-ACRIN Cancer Research Group (ECOG-ACRIN), a scientific organization ...

NetApp and Lenovo Offer Converged Infrastructure Solution Optimized for GenAI

NetApp® (NASDAQ: NTAP), the intelligent data infrastructure company, today announced NetApp AIPod with Lenovo ThinkSystem servers for NVIDIA OVX, a converged infrastructure optimized for the generative AI era. NetApp and Lenovo have had a strong partnership for over five years and are now taking the partnership to the next level with the introduction of this simple, cost-effective, and powerfu...

Visa Reinvents the Card, Unveils New Products for Digital Age

The way people pay and get paid has changed more in the past five years than in the last 50. Consumers have evolved, adapting to new payment experiences – from the advent of embedded, digital commerce to the rapid adoption of “the tap.” Today at the annual Visa Payments Forum in San Francisco, Visa (NYSE: V) unveiled new products and services that will revolutionize the card and address the fu...

ACT Abu Dhabi Is Now Open for Business

Arabian Chemical Terminals LLC in Abu Dhabi (ACTAD) is proud to announce the start of operations at its newly built chemical tank storage terminal in Khalifa Port, Abu Dhabi, UAE. The terminal is the first commercial chemical tank farm of its kind in the Emirate. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240515922771/en/ACT Ab...

Vochlea Music Selects Verimatrix XTD

Regulatory News: Verimatrix, (Euronext Paris: VMX), the leader in powering the modern connected world with people-centered security, today announced that UK-based Vochlea Music chose Verimatrix XTD to secure its Dubler Studio Kit and Dubler 2 desktop application products. Offering real-time vocal recognition technology for music creation, Vochlea’s proprietary voice-to-MIDI (Musical Instru...

Award-winning Once Again: ChargePost from ADS-TEC Energy Honored with German Innovation Award 2024

ADS-TEC Energy today announced that ChargePost has won a German Innovation Award in the category Excellence in Business to business: E-Mobility Technologies, recognizing its design, brand, and innovation. ChargePost is a battery-buffered fast charging station developed and produced in Germany that enables off-grid ultra-fast charging of EVs within minutes. In a statement, the jury said, "With ...

Jennifer Schneider Elected to Vertex Board of Directors

Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated (Nasdaq: VRTX) today announced that Jennifer Schneider, M.D., M.S., has been elected to its Board of Directors as an independent director. Dr. Schneider has more than two decades of experience in the health care industry as a physician, scientist and health care executive. She co-founded and serves as Chief Executive Officer of Homeward Health, a company com...

CRN Recognizes Noel Loughrin, Katherine Hou, and Kristen Petruzzelli of Laserfiche on the 2024 Women of the Channel List

Laserfiche — the leading SaaS provider of intelligent content management and business process automation — announced today that CRN®, a brand of The Channel Company, has named Noel Loughrin, Katherine Hou, and Kristen Petruzzelli to the Women of the Channel list for 2024. These channel leaders are an instrumental part of Laserfiche’s success, which includes growing the Laserfiche channel’s f...

Andersen Global Launches Member Firm in Belgium

Andersen Global debuts Andersen in Belgium, as Seeds of Law, a collaborating firm since 2022, becomes the first member firm in the country to adopt the Andersen brand. Andersen in Belgium is a full-service law firm led by partners and co-founders Leo Peeters and Koen de Puydt; and Jan Ghysels, who joined the executive committee in 2022. The firm specializes in corporate and commercial law, r...

EM-Power Europe: Flexible Consumers Take the Burden Off the Grid

Climate-neutral power generation from solar and wind will place several new challenges on the energy system. Key is that a significantly higher degree of flexibility will be required compared to today to keep supply and consumption in balance. Flexible consumers can make a significant contribution to this. How this can be achieved will be an important topic at EM-Power Europe, the internationa...

Worldcoin Foundation Launches, Open Sources "Perfect Secrecy" SMPC System to Help Organizations Strengthen Biometric Data Security Protections

The Worldcoin Foundation today announced it launched and is open sourcing a novel secure multi-party computation (SMPC) system. The system, available now in a GitHub repository for any organization to use, aims to set a new standard for data protection, including the protection of biometric data. The Worldcoin Foundation also announced that, after the migration of iris codes to the new SMPC sy...

Pacific Healthcare Group Selects Rimini Street to Extend the Life and Value of its Highly Customized, On-Premises Oracle Environment

Rimini Street, Inc. (Nasdaq: RMNI), a global provider of end-to-end enterprise software support, products and services, the leading third-party support provider for Oracle and SAP software, and a Salesforce and AWS partner, today announced that Pacific Healthcare Group, the leading sales and marketing services organization for the Southeast Asian healthcare industry, has selected Rimini Suppor...

Suzano announces first quarter results and Cerrado Project nears completion

Suzano, the world’s largest pulp producer, which celebrates its centenary this year, announces its financial results for the first quarter of 2024 (1Q24). The highlight of the period is the progress of the Cerrado Project, the largest ever capital investment project by the company. The new pulp mill, under construction in the municipality of Ribas do Rio Pardo, Mato Grosso do Sul state, is now...

John Potthoff Joins RQM+ as CEO

RQM+, a leading global MedTech contract research organization (CRO), today announced John Potthoff, Ph.D., as its new CEO. This transition comes as former CEO, Margaret Keegan, announced she plans to move out of day-to-day operations to focus on her role as an operating partner with Linden Capital Partners. Margaret will remain on the board of RQM+. This press release features multimedia. Vie...

Rigaku Conducts Elemental Analysis of a Sample Obtained by NASA of the Asteroid Bennu

Rigaku Corporation, a Rigaku Holdings Group company and Rigaku global solution partner in X-ray analytical equipment (head office: Akishima, Tokyo; president and representative director: Jun Kawakami; hereinafter “Rigaku”), has completed analysis of particles from 101955 Bennu, a near-Earth carbonaceous asteroid classified as a type B. The analysis was performed using ZSX Primus IV, a waveleng...

Wasabi Technologies Delivers Flexible Hybrid Cloud Storage Solutions for Data Protection

Wasabi Technologies, the hot cloud storage company, today announced a collaboration with Dell Technologies, via the Extended Technologies Complete program to bring affordable and innovative hybrid cloud solutions for backup, data protection, and long-term retention to customers. In a time marked by the exponential growth of data, organizations worldwide face the need for efficient and cost-e...

Tecnotree Collaborates with People+AI to Drive Open Cloud Compute Infrastructure and AI Standardization

Tecnotree, a global digital platform and services leader for AI, 5G, and cloud-native technologies, announced its partnership with people+ai, an initiative of the non-profit EkStep Foundation, on joining the Open Cloud Compute (OCC) project. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240509411323/en/ As the market leader in TM ...

Boomi to Simplify and Accelerate the Move to SAP Datasphere

Boomi™, the intelligent integration and automation leader, today announced an enhanced version of Boomi for SAP to help accelerate the migration of SAP Business Warehouse (SAP BW) customers to SAP Datasphere. By leveraging Amazon Web Services (AWS), Boomi aims to address the critical challenge of enterprise customers who need to transition to SAP Datasphere, and unlock the full potential of th...

London Set to Host Second Annual Global Wealth Conference, Driving Positive Change

The Sovereign Wealth Fund Institute (SWFI) is proud to announce the return of the Global Wealth Conference (GWC) to London for its second consecutive year from May 28-30, 2024. Building upon the resounding success of the inaugural event, GWC 2024 will once again bring together a distinguished array of industry leaders to share their expertise across various domains. This press release feature...

Energy Vault, ACEN Australia Announce Agreement for 400 MWh of Battery Energy Storage Deployments

Energy Vault Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: NRGV) ("Energy Vault"), a leader in sustainable, grid-scale energy storage solutions, and ACEN Australia, today announced the main contractual agreements for two battery energy storage system (BESS) deployments totaling 400 MWh in Australia. Construction on both deployments is expected to begin in the second half of 2024, with commercial operations expected i...

Vecima and VECTOR TECH SOLUTIONS Secure Entra® DAA Launching Point with ASTA-NET in Poland

Vecima Networks Inc. (TSX: VCM) today announced that VECTOR TECH SOLUTIONS is deploying Vecima’s Entra® SC-1D Access Node and Entra® Access Controller (EAC) solutions for ASTA-NET, a telecommunications provider in Poland. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240509796116/en/ The collaboration underscores Vecima’s commitme...

Nordic and Sisvel to Streamline Cellular IoT SEP Licensing

A new agreement between Nordic Semiconductor and patent pool administrator Sisvel for the licensing of standard essential patents (SEPs) reading on LTE-M and NB-IoT cellular technology has been announced. The agreement creates a framework for easy and transparent access to the LTE-M and NB-IoT radio technology standards for a diverse range of IoT applications. Specifically, the initiative pr...

EGLE Therapeutics Strengthens its Leadership Team with the Appointment of Pejvack Motlagh, MD, MSc, as Chief Medical Officer and its Board of Directors with Appointment of John Celebi, MBA, as Independent Board Member

EGLE Therapeutics, a clinical-stage biotechnology company uniquely positioned to advance the next generation of regulatory T cell-focused therapies for oncology and auto-immunity, announced today the appointment of Pejvack Motlagh MD, MSc, as Chief Medical Officer and John Celebi, as Independent Board Member. “We are excited to welcome Pejvack and John at Egle and to benefit from their stron...

HighRadius Named 2024 Gartner® Magic Quadrant™ Leader for the Third Time in a Row

HighRadius, the leading provider of the Autonomous Finance Platform for the office of the CFO, has once again been named a Leader in the 2024 Gartner Magic Quadrant for Invoice-to-Cash Applications. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240510668572/en/HighRadius Named 2024 Gartner® Magic Quadrant™ Leader for the Third Tim...

The Ministry of Investment of Saudi Arabia (MISA) Signs MoU with Ant International to Expand Business in Saudi Arabia, Supporting Regional Digital Innovation

The Ministry of Investment of Saudi Arabia (MISA) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Ant International, to facilitate the business expansion into the Kingdom. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240507130337/en/(Photo: Business Wire) Ant International’s President, Douglas Feagin, met with Mr. Eng Saleh K...

Wipro Appoints Vinay Firake as Chief Executive Officer for APMEA Strategic Market Unit

Wipro Limited (NYSE: WIT, BSE: 507685, NSE: WIPRO), a leading technology services and consulting company, today announced the appointment of Vinay Firake as the Chief Executive Officer, APMEA (Asia Pacific, India, Middle East & Africa) Strategic Market Unit (SMU), effective immediately. Vinay will report to Srini Pallia and will also join the Wipro Executive Board. Vinay has been with Wi...

Kolmar BNH, a Top-Tier Korean Enterprise Specializing in the Production of HemoHIM, Dedicates over 2% of its Annual Sales to R&D

Kolmar BNH (KOSDAQ: 200130), a manufacturer of HemoHIM, a health-enhancing functional food, has emerged as a frontrunner in the global Original Development Manufacturing (ODM) market, owing to its pioneering investments in research and development. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240510895890/en/A researcher from Kol...

AngloGold Ashanti Delivers Steady Start to 2024; Gold Production1 Up +2% y-o-y; Gold Production Guidance Reconfirmed and Obuasi on Track to Achieve FY 2024 Forecast Gold Production

AngloGold Ashanti plc (“AngloGold Ashanti”, “AGA” or the “Company”) today reported a 2% year-on-year increase in first quarter gold production1, in line with its plans and despite the previously reported impact of rains and flooding in Western Australia on gold production which contributed to a drop of about 15,000oz in production in the first quarter relative to the previous quarter. The Comp...

SPINNOVA® Fibre Manufacturer Woodspin Awarded FSC® Chain of Custody Certification

Woodspin, the exclusive producer and distributor of wood-based SPINNOVA® fibre, has obtained Forest Stewardship Council® (FSC) Chain of Custody certification. This recognizes that wood used by Woodspin for its manufacturing can be fully traced from its origin to the final fibre product, providing its customers with the assurance of sustainable sourcing. Woodspin is a 50/50 joint venture betw...

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) Recommends Use of Exact Sciences’ Oncotype DX® Test to Help Guide Chemotherapy Decisions for Node-positive Breast Cancer Patients

Exact Sciences, a leading provider of cancer screening and diagnostic tests, today announced that the UK’s National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has recommended the expanded use of the Oncotype DX Breast Recurrence Score® test to more effectively target chemotherapy treatment for women who have hormone receptor-positive (HR+), human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negativ...

MOGAS Mourns the Death of Their Beloved Chairman and Founder Vincent Louis Mogas

MOGAS mourns the death of their beloved chairman and founder Vincent Louis Mogas, who died on May 2, 2024 in Houston, Texas. Louis spent his life building a valve manufacturing business and a company culture that stood for goodness. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240503919754/en/V. Louis Mogas, Founder and Chairman ...

Ververica Achieves ISO 27001 Certification, Bolstering Data Security

Ververica, a comprehensive streaming data platform provider, announces the achievement of ISO 27001 certification, a significant milestone in its commitment to data security and governance. This certification is internationally recognized as the gold standard for information security management systems (ISMS), and demonstrates the company’s commitment to protecting sensitive corporate and cust...

ReNAgade Therapeutics Continues Commitment to GanNA Bio and Glycan Biology

ReNAgade Therapeutics, a company unlocking the limitless potential for RNA medicines, today announced its ongoing commitment to exploring the therapeutic opportunity of glycobiology through support for ongoing research at GanNA Bio, and the integration of key individuals of GanNA Bio into the ReNAgade ecosystem. GanNA founders Carolyn Bertozzi, Ph.D., and Richard D. Cummings, Ph.D, will now se...

China's 2024 Labor Day Sees 77% Rise in Outbound Travel Transactions and 700% Surge in Inbound Spending YoY via Alipay

Alipay's data indicates a significant uptick in both outbound and inbound tourism spending in China during the 2024 Labor Day holiday. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240505795104/en/The salesperson welcomes Chinese travelers to use Alipay for payment at Designer Outlet Roermond in the Netherlands (Photo: Business Wi...

TUM Races to Victory at ASPIRE’s Inaugural Abu Dhabi Autonomous Racing League at Yas Marina Circuit

TUM (Technical University of Munich) from Germany, claimed victory at the inaugural Abu Dhabi Autonomous Racing League (A2RL), at Yas Marina Circuit on Saturday (April 27). As the cars lined up on the grid, with antennae, sensors, AI capabilities, and drive-by-wire systems instead of human drivers, eight teams vied with one another over two days of races and challenges. TUM beat back the compe...

MetaHomes Takes Center Stage by Announcing Free Property Listings on Its Online Real Estate Marketplace

In the last couple of decades, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has emerged as a beacon of innovation, prosperity, and opportunity, drawing millions of people from around the globe. Renowned for its world-class attractions, vibrant lifestyle, robust economic benefits, and progressive governmental initiatives, the UAE stands as a shining example of modernity and growth in the Middle East and beyo...

Gansu Hengyuan Dongli New Energy Limited Company Participated in the World Future Energy Summit and Announced Its Industrial Investment Plan

From April 15th to 20th, 2024, representatives of Gansu Provincial Government of China and Jiuquan Municipal Government participated in the World Future Energy Summit in Abu Dhabi also visiting Dubai and Saudi Arabia. During this period, Gansu Hengyuan Dongli New Energy Limited Company signed contracts with several international solar buyers, opening new international sales channels for China ...

OUTSIDE FESTIVAL JUNE 1-2

Don't miss Thundercat + Fleet Foxes, adventure films, experiences, and more!

GET TICKETS

Should I Use a Travel Agent? Our Travel Expert Says It Makes All the Difference.

The new age of travel agents know how to find deals, book off-the-beaten path adventures, and get you out of any jam. Especially if you know who to use.

Heading out the door? Read this article on the Outside app available now on iOS devices for members! >","name":"in-content-cta","type":"link"}}'>Download the app .

I’ve always thought that planning my own trips was the most cost-effective way, but I’ve been hearing more about travel agents making a comeback and saving their clients a lot of money. What kinds of outdoor trips should I turn to a travel agent for, and are there any who specialize in working with adventurers like me?

Technically, I’m a professional traveler. As a journalist, it’s my job to research and connect with locals to get beneath the surface of a destination. So I have never really used travel agents. What could they plan better than I could?

A lot, it turns out. Over the years, I’ve gotten to know many travel specialists, and I consider them magicians. My big aha moment happened two winters ago on a trip to Iceland . A massive storm shut down internal flights for a day, causing me to miss my return flight to the U.S. Normally, I would have spent frustrating hours on hold with the airline. But because I’d paid $65 to have Ana Gloria Garcia, an air-support specialist at the travel agency EmbarkBeyond, find and book the most affordable and convenient flight option for me, she handled the rebookings while I soaked in the Blue Lagoon.

During the pandemic, agents became advocates helping travelers get refunds on canceled flights and trips. As travel has come roaring back, an agent’s superpower is now their access to the best hotel rooms, most in-the-know guides, free amenities, and more, says Cory Hagopian, senior vice president of sales and partnerships for Virtuoso , a global network of travel agencies.

And they’re attracting a young clientele. According to a recent industry survey , 38 percent of millennials and Gen Zers are opting to use travel agents as opposed to booking on their own trips. That number is far greater than Gen Xers and baby boomers, of whom only 12 and 2 percent respectively use agents.

What Do I Gain from Using a Travel Agent?

I recently had a friend tell me she spent close to 40 hours researching a family trip online. She probably could have gleaned the same intel from an hourlong conversation with a travel adviser. Knowledge is priceless, and advisers act as your insiders. They know what you don’t and fill in the blanks for things you might not have considered, says Erika Richter, a spokesperson for the American Society of Travel Advisors (ASTA). Their firsthand knowledge, vast network, and on-the-ground connections all combine to provide a unique perspective for crafting the perfect itinerary for you.

Most travel advisers specialize in certain regions and countries and travel to them frequently, so they have up-to-date intel on not only the best safari camps but the perfect tent to book for the most incredible views and the best local restaurants you won’t find on Tripadvisor. They want their client’s trips to go well to keep them coming back, so it’s in their interest to have sussed out hotels and itineraries before they send you out into the world.

Nicole Forster, 29, considers herself a savvy traveler. She’s been to 20-plus countries and enjoys destination research. But when it came to planning her honeymoon in Africa, she felt overwhelmed, so she reached out to Danielle Meyer at Coastline Travel Advisors , which specializes in bespoke itineraries. “Originally, I wanted to go to South Africa, Victoria Falls, and Madagascar,” Forster recalls. “Danielle convinced me that if we wanted to relax, we should stay in South Africa and save the other countries for separate trips.”

Over five phone conversations and multiple emails, they crafted a 15-night itinerary that included Cape Town, the winelands, the Cape Peninsula, and a safari at the Thornybush Game Reserve. Forster established her budget early in the process, and Meyer sent her a variety of lodge options to choose from.

“I initially wanted to start with the safari, but she pointed out that we’d be jet-lagged and would need to wake at sunrise for game drives,” says Forster. “The safari was our highlight, so it was a perfect way to end the trip.”

Not only did Meyer book all of the flights, hotels, and transfers, but she created a detailed, day-by-day trip app for the couple that included useful information like check-in times at hotels and how much to tip guides .

Agents also act as advocates. If something goes wrong during your travels, they’re on call 24/7 to handle it. When Forster left the battery and charger for her camera at a hotel, Meyer arranged for an on-the-ground contact to go to a camera store and buy new ones that would be delivered to her hotel the next day.

The cost for the honeymoon planning: $150 per person. “I wouldn’t use a planner for a trip to Hawaii ,” Forster says, “but if I ever took a big trip like this again, I’d 100 percent work with an expert.”  

When to Consider Using a Travel Agent

For savvy trip planners, the best time to use a travel agent is for complicated international travel. It can save you hours of planning and peace of mind that if anything goes wrong in your chosen far-flung destination, there’s someone a What’sApp message away to handle it.

Domestically, I’d consider using a travel agent when planning a multi-week national park trip or multi-island trip in Hawaii. They will save you time, guarantee you get the best guides, and help you land reservations at always-booked lodges and hotels.

Dream Trips Delivered

Jessica Cook and her husband both work in the travel industry. Decision fatigued, they handed their honeymoon logistics over to the team at Askari Travel , an agency that specializes in South Africa. Their original plan was also an African safari, but just as they were about to put a deposit down, the Omicron variant of the coronavirus made headlines. Worried about getting stuck abroad, they reached out to Askari’s founder, Muriel Truter, who is from Zimbabwe, and upon her advice, changed their focus to South America.

Knowledge is priceless, and advisers act as your insiders. They know what you don’t and fill in the blanks of things you might not even have considered.

Truter suggested they stick to Colombia rather than country-hop. Cook supplied a budget and a wish list: 12 days, no more than three destinations, a barefoot-luxe feel, and adventures like horseback riding and mountain biking. The rest was a surprise that Askari pretty much nailed, with the exception of one hotel.

“Everything felt so authentic, but this one hotel on Barú island felt really fabricated and was full of American tourists,” recalls Cook. She immediately messaged the Askari team, saying, “Hey, this place really isn’t our vibe,” and within an hour they were on a water taxi headed to Blue Apple, a B Corp hotel—and an Outside pick for tropical adventures —on Tierra Bomba island. “It was honestly the best trip we’ve ever taken,” she says.

Are Travel Agents Expensive?

It depends. Cost varies. Some travel agencies won’t charge any fee, as they receive a commission from the bookings, while some high-end agencies will charge pricey annual membership fees for their services. Still others charge nominal “professional” fees starting at $150. Fees often fluctuate based on the length and intricacy of a trip and how far out you do the planning (6 to 12 months is recommended). You may occasionally come across agents who charge a percentage of the total trip price or hourly rates.

Basic travel enquiries are generally free. In 2016, Leah Smith, founder of Tafari Travel , opened an old-school brick-and-mortar location in Denver’s Cherry Creek neighborhood so her services would feel less intimidating to first-time users. “With our retail-office location, we’ve become part of the community, and both clients and non-clients are welcome to pop in and ask whatever questions they may have, no charge,” she says.

Matt Lindsay, founder of the surf-guiding and travel company LuxSurf Travel , builds relationships with resorts and property owners to get discounted rates that he can then pass on to guests.

Dominic Allan, the founder of Real Latin America , specializes in travel to Belize and Nicaragua and caters to independent travelers who are happy to book their own flights and hotels but are seeking his local intel. Allan’s three-tier pricing structure starts at $300 for up to three hours of phone calls, during which he might weigh in on where to eat (or not to), the best room to request in a certain lodge, or whether you really need a guide to hike.

Value Versus Savings

If you’re just looking for deals and steals, you might not be ready to work with a travel adviser, says Richter of the ASTA. “Anything you invest in with a travel adviser comes back to you in the form of amenities, customer service, peace of mind, better access to unique experiences, and handcrafted itineraries,” she says. “You could save money by cutting your own hair, too, but most people go to someone who knows what they’re doing.”

Agents work with preferred partners who can guarantee perks for clients, such as free upgrades, early check-in or late check-out, and resort credits. Those add-ons often translate into savings, says Justin Huxter, cofounder of the UK-based Cartology Travel . “We had a client go to Maui for a week, and because of our partnership with the resort, breakfast was included,” he says. When breakfast costs $120 for two, that’s a savings of $840.”

Some of the Best Travel Agents in the Adventure World

Some of my go-to resources for finding a person to work with include travel expert Wendy Perrin’s annual Wow List of tried and trusted agents, the Adventure Travel Trade Association’s adviser network , and the ASTA’s advisor directory .

In addition to the agents mentioned throughout this story, others I highly recommend for adventurous travelers include:

• Dan Achber of Trufflepig , for Africa and the Middle East
• Miguel Cunant of Sri Lanka in Style
• Javier Echecopar of Journey Costa Rica
• Daniel Fraser of Smiling Albino , for Southeast Asia
• Elizabeth Gordon of Extraordinary Journeys , for Africa
• Kleon Howe of the Art of Travel , for French Polynesia
• Jay Johnson of Coastline Travel , for Hawaii and California
• Antonello Losito of Southern Visions Travel , for Puglia, Italy
• Rabia Malik of Fora Travel , for general worldwide travel
• Robyn Mark of Mayamaya Travel , for Africa, the Alps, Patagonia, and Japan
• Marisol Mosquera of Aracari , for Peru and Bolivia
• Zach Rabinor of Journey Mexico
• Raluca Spiac of Beyond Dracula , for Romania

Travel-advice columnist Jen Murphy is now a believer in using a travel agent. Thanks to their expertise and connections, she’s avoided dozens of trip catastrophes. 

• South Africa

Popular on Outside Online

Enjoy coverage of racing, history, food, culture, travel, and tech with access to unlimited digital content from Outside Network's iconic brands.

Healthy Living

• Clean Eating
• Vegetarian Times
• Yoga Journal
• Fly Fishing Film Tour
• National Park Trips
• Warren Miller
• Fastest Known Time
• Trail Runner
• Women's Running
• Bicycle Retailer & Industry News
• FinisherPix
• Outside Events Cycling Series
• Outside Shop

© 2024 Outside Interactive, Inc

• Destinations
• For Agencies

Our goal is to provide the highest quality services to make your clients fall in love with Russia.

Whether you are looking to get the most out of a tight budget or prefer premium luxury when discovering Russia, Olta Travel will be your perfect partner.

Let us make your tour to Russia a memorable experience, so you can enjoy a worry-free journey!

• FROM BIG GROUPS TO INDIVIDUALS: we craft a tailored offer for almost any budget, thanks to our distributed network of trusted partners, direct connections with service providers and our own profound knowledge of destinations in Russia. 
• TOP SERVICE GUARANTEE:  We take care of everything to secure travelers’ satisfaction and are prepared to deal with unexpected issues should they arise.
• COMFORTABLE PRICING:  Olta Travel keeps the cost of discovering Russia at a fair, reasonable level because we love our country and seek to share this love with you.
• NATION-SPECIFIC PROGRAMS : based on our experience working with tourists from all parts of the world, we know how to surprise and amaze your compatriots with Russia.

PRIVACY POLICY ON THE PROCESSING OF PERSONAL DATA

This Policy of personal data processing (hereinafter - the Policy) applies to all data that "OLTA Travel" Co. Ltd (hereinafter – Olta Travel) receives from the visitors of website http://www.oltatravel.com (hereinafter "the Website") and explains how it is processing, stored and how the confidentiality is ensured.

1. Processing and use of personal data.

1.1. In this Policy, personal information means any information left by users on the Website of Olta Travel, including Name, Surname, company, email address and other contact information, left in the message.

1.2. The person who left personal data on the Website of Olta Travel, consents to their use, namely:

1.2.1. The inclusion of the email address, name, surname, company name or any other contact information left in the message in the contact database of Olta Travel. The database is hosted in a secure cloud-based customer relationship management service Bitrix 24, as well as on a secure service for newsletters – Unisender.

1.2.2. Receiving email newsletters with news, promotions, special offers and other useful materials, but no more than twice a week. The visitor of the Website at any time has the right to unsubscribe from the mailing list of Olta Travel, by clicking on the unsubscribe link located at the bottom of each letter.

1.2.3. Direct communication with the manager of Olta travel on the treatment of the user.

1.2.4. The use of contact information to show relevant advertisements to users in social networks and the Internet.

1.2.5. For other purposes performed with the individual consent of the user.

2. The collection, storage and protection of personal data.

2.1. All personal data collected on the Website is processed, stored and secured in strict accordance with the provisions of the legislation of the Russian Federation (Federal law of the Russian Federation of 27 July 2006 № 152-FL "On personal data") and the European Union (The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) (EU) 2016/679).

2.2. Olta Travel is taking the necessary legal, organizational and technical measures to protect personal information from unlawful or accidental access, copying, distribution of personal information, as well as other unlawful actions in relation to personal data of users, which include:

•     secure transfer and storage of personal data on secure servers;

•     automated processing of personal data;

•     identification of possible threats to the security of personal data;

•     limiting the number of persons having access to personal data;

•     application of measures of internal regulation of the procedure of working with personal data (internal regulations for employees of Olta Travel);

•     improving methods of collection, storage and processing of data.

2.3. All data received on the Website of Olta Travel are transmitted via a secure https Protocol and stored on servers in secure, cloud-based customer relationship management service Bitrix 24, as well as in safe service for creating email newsletters Unisender.

3. User rights and obligations of Olta Travel.

3.1. Upon the request from the user Olta Travel should:

•        confirm the fact and methods of storage and processing of personal data of users;

•        inform about the method of obtaining personal data of the user;

•        explain the legal bases, objectives and timing of the processing of personal data;

•        in case of personal data leakage, inform the user about it;

•        make changes or delete users ' personal data from the database to stop storing and processing it;

•        warn about the expected cross-border transfer of personal data.

3.2. The user has the right to request the deletion of his personal data by sending an e-mail to [email protected] as well as the exclusion from the email-mailing by clicking on the "Unsubscribe" button located in the body of each letter.

4. Conditions of termination of processing and storage of personal data:

•       company liquidation;

•       a written request for withdrawal of consent or exclusion from the database;

•       at the request of the user, if the data were obtained illegally.

5. Olta Travel is not responsible for information posted by a visitor on the third party websites, links to which can be posted on the Website of Olta Travel.

6. More information about the collection, storage and processing of personal data by Olta Travel, the user may get by sending an email to [email protected] .

What counts as travel on the Amex Green card?

Editor's Note

The American Express® Green Card is a decent option for travel purchases.

New cardholders can now get a welcome bonus of 40,000 bonus Membership Rewards points after they spend $3,000 on purchases on your new card in the first six months of card membership.

The Amex Green earns 3 points per dollar on travel, transit and dining at restaurants. For all other purchases, you'll earn one point. Terms apply.

But exactly which purchases count as "travel" and earn 3 points per dollar? Here's what you need to know.

The information for the American Express Green Card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

Here are the travel purchases that will earn bonus points, according to the Amex Green Card's terms:

• Car rentals
• Campgrounds
• Third-party travel websites (i.e., Orbtiz, Expedia, Priceline)
• Travel booked through amextravel.com
• Vacation rentals (with exceptions—see below)

That's a pretty strong list — but let's see what purchases won't count as travel with your Amex Green card.

What doesn't count as travel on the Amex Green?

Amex's terms clearly specify that timeshare purchases will not count as travel.

Additionally, whether or not something counts as travel depends on how the merchant codes when you make your purchase. According to Amex's terms:

Merchants are assigned codes based on what they primarily sell. A purchase will not qualify for additional points if the merchant's code is not eligible.

This won't be an issue for most purchases, but it could be, depending on where you make the transaction. For instance, if you purchased a tour ticket from a convenience store, it likely wouldn't code as travel and would not earn any bonus points.

Another common area of confusion when it comes to determining travel purchases is home-sharing and vacation rental sites such as Airbnb , Homeaway and VRBO .

These will usually code as travel and earn bonus points, but some TPG staffers and readers have reported inconsistent experiences with these purchases.

Bottom line

The Amex Green Card has impressive bonus-earning on travel, transit and dining purchases . But before you put a big travel purchase on this card, ensure it falls under Amex's travel category and know that vacation rentals are hit-or-miss.

Fortunately, the travel category is broadly defined for the Amex Green card — great news for earning the most points possible.

For more information, read our full review of the Amex Green .

4 Predictions for the Future of Airline Rewards

Image source: Upsplash/The Motley Fool

The airline industry is always trying to find ways to stay profitable while flying millions of people safely around the world, and airline credit cards and travel rewards have become a big part of that picture. Travel rewards credit cards are big business — not just for banks, but for airlines that sell frequent flyer miles and other travel perks to banks and their credit card customers.

Just in the past few months, there have been a few big developments in the world of airline credit cards. American Airlines and Delta Air Lines and their bank partners have made some eye-opening announcements about their future plans and intentions to make more money with airline credit cards. The future of air travel — from booking flights to extra fees and in-flight extra experiences — could be changing fast.

Featured offer: save money while you pay off debt with one of these top-rated balance transfer credit cards

Let’s look at a few predictions for what could be coming next to the world of airline frequent flyer rewards and airline credit cards.

1. More rewards and incentives for airline cardholders

In March 2024, American Airlines announced that it is renegotiating its airline credit card deals with its partner banks, and said that it wants to increase its revenue from credit cards to 10% of the airline’s total revenue (up from 7% today).

We don’t know exactly what American Airlines is going to do next as far as new rewards and incentives for its airline credit cards. But this announcement is a sign that airlines want to make more money from credit cards, and they’re going to rely on their bank partners to get more creative and sweeten the deal.

This could be good news for airline credit card customers. You might start to see more rewards and better reasons to reach for your airline credit card when booking your next flight. But it could be bad news for anyone who doesn’t have an airline credit card, and who isn’t in a frequent flyer program.

2. Fewer good deals for “non-preferred” travel agencies

As part of its March 2024 announcement, American Airlines also said that, starting May 1, 2024, AAdvantage® miles and elite status Loyalty Points can only be earned by booking flights directly with American Airlines (or partner airlines or preferred travel agencies).

As of April 27, 2024, American Airlines has not announced specific details on what its “preferred” travel agencies are. But this is a warning sign that in the near future, not every cheap flight search engine or online travel agency might get you the best deals on flights. Airlines will want you to book your flights directly with them. They want to know more about their customers, they want to know your preferences, and they want to control when and how you get the best price on airfares — rather than giving away that power to outside travel agencies.

3. Basic economy gets more “basic”

If you’re (like me) still buying basic economy airline tickets, your life as an airline passenger might be about to get more complicated and expensive. My usual strategy over the years has been to just try to buy the cheapest ticket on whatever airline I can find — I haven’t been particularly loyal to any airline.

But airlines don’t want to give away cheap deals on basic economy fares. Airlines are going to use “carrots and sticks” to try to get more customers to spend more money on higher-class airfares, not just basic economy. And if you’re a basic economy customer, be prepared to take some financial risks and accept some inconvenience for that lower-priced ticket.

Just as airlines have eliminated little perks for basic economy like free seat selection and sometimes even free carry-on bags, the basic economy experience might soon feel more like a low-budget airline where you get nickel and dimed for every last thing. Is this a good business move for airlines? That’s debatable, but the message seems to be clear: if you want a better airline passenger experience, be a more loyal, lucrative customer for the airlines — and don’t buy basic economy tickets.

4. A growing gap between premium airline credit cards and the rest

In its March 2024 announcement, American Airlines told investors that it is now earning approximately 80% of its revenue from AAdvantage® members and from airline tickets that cost more than basic economy. American Express also recently announced that it is making a bigger share of profits from premium credit cards, and not seeing any slowdown in customer demand.

According to Bloomberg, American Express customers’ spending on air travel increased by 9% in Q1 2024, and much of that came from “front-of-cabin” tickets like first class and business class. Delta Air Lines and American Express also announced in February 2024 that they are expanding perks (and raising fees) for their premium Delta Air Lines cards .

These announcements could be a sign of a larger industry trend: higher fees for premium travel credit cards , and better perks for bigger spenders. This doesn’t mean that lower-fee cards will get “worse,” but the better deals on airline tickets are likely going to keep flowing toward premium cards that charge higher annual fees.

Bottom line

Airlines want to own more of your business — from the site you use for booking to the credit card you use to pay. They want you to book your flight on the airline website or app, they want you to be an airline credit cardholder, and they want you to join their frequent flyer program.

The upside for customers: if you go deeper into your relationship with the airline, they will offer better deals and perks. The downside: it might get harder for non-frequent-flyer program members to find good deals.

Alert: highest cash back card we’ve seen now has 0% intro APR until 2025

This credit card is not just good – it’s so exceptional that our experts use it personally. It features a 0% intro APR for 15 months, a cash back rate of up to 5%, and all somehow for no annual fee!

Click here to read our full review for free and apply in just 2 minutes.

We’re firm believers in the Golden Rule, which is why editorial opinions are ours alone and have not been previously reviewed, approved, or endorsed by included advertisers. The Ascent does not cover all offers on the market. Editorial content from The Ascent is separate from The Motley Fool editorial content and is created by a different analyst team.American Express is an advertising partner of The Ascent, a Motley Fool company. The Motley Fool recommends Delta Air Lines. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy .

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

3 Ways to Save $80 or More on American Airlines

Statistics Say: This Is the Best Age to Claim Social Security

3 Things You Probably Don’t Know About Your Costco Executive Membership

How Bad Is a $10,000 Balance on Your Credit Card?

For magic to happen we use cookies, privacy overview.

Select your preferred language

• Deutsch English English (Australia) English (China) English (India)
• English (United Kingdom) Español (Latinoamérica) Español (España) Français Italiano
• Português (Brasil) Suomi Svenska 中文

VIPSERVICE BT LLC

17, Perevedenovskiy Lane, Bld. 1, 5th  floor, Moscow 105082 Russia

Phone: +7 495 725 7888

CWT Russia is independently owned and operated by Vipservice BT LLC, an integral part of the CWT Global Partners Network since April 2017.

Vipservice BT LLC is owned by Vipservice Group, one of the largest Russian travel consolidators, managing over 10,000 sub-agents across Russia and employing more than 1,400 people.

Traveler help

Help me manage my travel

Careers at CWT

Explore career opportunities

Careers @ CWT

Learn more about travel management

Contact CWT

Learn more about our travel management offering

Travelers: manage your travel here . The below form is for inquiries about our corporate travel management offering.

To reach out to CWT to learn more and also receive communications (email or phone) on our products and services, please complete the form below. You can unsubscribe at any point in the future from our mailing list using the ‘unsubscribe’ link on any of our emails.

Thank you for your interest in CWT, we will contact you soon.

Thank you for your interest in CWT. Unfortunately, CWT cannot offer services in your home country at this time. Your contact request has not been submitted.

With kind regards,

Ukraine war latest: Russia's troops 'partially pushed back' from key town, Ukraine claims - as Putin's offensive 'appears to slow'

The Ukrainian president has cancelled visits to Spain and Portugal after Moscow's forces began a new offensive in the northeast of the country. Submit your question on the war for our experts to answer in the box below.

Wednesday 15 May 2024 21:46, UK

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

• Ukraine 'partially pushes back' Russian troops from Kharkiv town
• Russian offensive in Ukraine 'going to plan', Putin says
• Analysts say Russian offensive 'appears to have slowed'
• Situation there 'extremely difficult'
• Zelenskyy postpones all foreign visits due to 'situation in Kharkiv'
• US announces $2bn in extra aid for Ukraine
• Russia downs missiles launched at Crimea
• Analysis:  Putin's 'baffling' reshuffle explained
• Live reporting by Lauren Russell

Ask a question or make a comment

Vladimir Putin has landed in Beijing for a two-day state visit to China, in what marks a significant show of unity between the two allies.

He was greeted by Chinese officials as he stepped off the plane in the early hours of the morning local time.

Mr Putin and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping are not expected to announce any major deals during his visit - but the trip is a sign of the two countries' deepening "no limits" partnership.

Ahead of the visit, the Kremlin said Mr Putin and Mr Xi will "have a detailed discussion on the entire range of issues related to the comprehensive partnership and strategic cooperation and determine the new directions for further development of cooperation between Russia and China".

We're pausing our live coverage for the day - thanks for following along.

We'll mark any major moments in the blog in the meantime, and will resume our rolling updates tomorrow. 

 By Ivor Bennett , Moscow correspondent 

You've heard of the transatlantic Special Relationship. 

This is the "no limits" partnership - a term coined when Vladimir Putin visited Beijing in February 2022.

It was just days before he ordered the full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

A lot's changed for Russia since then, of course. It’s now an international pariah. One thing that hasn’t changed, though, is China’s support.

Why? For one, Presidents Xi and Putin share a similar outlook. Both oppose external "interference" in domestic affairs, and long for a "multipolar" world.

There are economic benefits for both, too. But this is not an equal partnership. The power lies with Beijing.

"Because of the war, Russia is in desperate need of any kind of partnership", said Alexandra Prokopenko, a Berlin-based fellow at the Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center, adding that Beijing had provided "a real lifeline" for Moscow.

"China is not only a market for Russian oil and gas, which is the major source of the currency for the Russian budget, but also China’s become a very important source of imports to Russia," she said.

Putin won't like being the junior partner, but it’s a role he’s clearly willing to accept, given the benefits.

Last year, trade between the two nations soared to $240 billion - an increase of more than 25%.

Cheap energy flows one way; cars and telephones come back. But the West fears that's not all Russia’s importing.

The US and others believe Chinese products and dual-use goods, like machine tools and microelectronics, are also fuelling the Kremlin's war machine, by filling critical gaps in its military-industrial.

China denies supplying any actual weaponry, and maintains a neutral stance on Ukraine.

But the assertions have done little to dampen suspicions with US secretary of state Antony Blinken reiterating his "deep concern" today.

Putin's entourage might also raise eyebrows. He’ll be accompanied by his new defence minister, Andrei Belousov, with Putin widely expected to push for more support for Russia's militarised economy.

But despite the "no limits" characterisation of the relationship, analysts say it does have boundaries.

"China knows red lines," Prokopenko said, referring to Washington’s concerns over the extent of Beijing's support.

In her view, the partnership between Xi and Putin should be viewed "as part of a big, big game between the US and China".

In that sense, then, this visit is likely to be more symbolic than anything else. It's the first foreign trip of Putin's new presidential term and signals his priorities.

But in terms of the optics - two strongmen leaders defying Western pressure - one of them is clearly stronger than the other.

These images show Vladimir Putin chairing a security council meeting. 

Former defence minister and new secretary of the council Sergei Shoigu was in attendance - pictured in the first image next to chief of the general staff Valery Gerasimov.

Earlier today, Volodymyr Zelenskyy postponed all foreign trips due to the situation in the Kharviv region.

Russia has also claimed to have taken three more settlements in the country - two of which are in the Kharkiv region.

The offensive by Moscow started at the end of last week, and today our military analyst Michael Clarke says Russia has already achieved some of what it intended to do. 

He says by targeting the Kharkiv region Moscow's main goal is to "draw Ukrianian forces from elsewhere". 

"The Russians are trying to stretch the Ukrainian forces all the way round the front.

"If the Russians get to the village of Lyptsi then they can put Kharkiv under artillery barrage, because it is within range of normal artillery weapons.

"More importantly, the village of Vovchansk, may mark the beginning of a bigger offensive that could go southwards or maybe eastwards to link up with other forces."

Despite fierce fighting in Vovchansk, Clarke says the Ukrainians have slowed Russian advances down, by redirecting their best units from the south.

"Parts of their best brigades have been sent north to stem the tide," he says.

"But the Russians have already achieved what they wanted, which is to draw off some of the best troops and equipment which are fighting in Chavis Yar down in the south, which really mattered to the Ukrainians."

Watch Clarke's full analysis here:

Finland will change its legislation to allow thousands of reservists to patrol the country's border with Russia, should there be a sudden wave of migrants. 

"With the changed security situation, we need to complement existing methods with new ways to maintain border security," defence minister Antti Hakkanen said in a statement.

Finland, which joined NATO in April last year, has accused Moscow of weaponising migration against the Nordic nation, which the Kremlin denies. 

Finland shut its 1,340km-long border with Russia late last year amid a growing number of arrivals from countries such as Syria and Somalia via Russia.

Away from Kharkiv, and Ukraine has denied Russian claims of progress in the Zaporizhzhia region. 

The Ukrainian military dismissed reports that Moscow's forces had taken control of the village of Robotyne in the southern part of the region. 

"This information is not true," military spokesman Dmytro Pletenchuk was quoted by Ukrinform agency as saying.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy has condemned the assassination attempt on Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico. 

Russia's offensive in northern Kharkiv has been the focus of much of the reporting on the war in Ukraine over recent days.

Sky News military analyst Michael Clarke has said the aim of Moscow is to draw Ukraine's forces to that area from the south, thus stretching the country's military resources.

And the latest analysis from US thinktank the Institute for the Study of War suggests that the pace of the offensive "appears to have slowed over the past 24 hours".

The group's experts said the pattern of Russian offensive activity in the area was consistent with assessments that Vladimir Putin's forces are prioritising the creation of a "buffer zone" in the international border area over a deeper penetration of Kharkiv Oblast.

It said several Ukrainian military officials reported yesterday that they believed the situation in Kharkiv Oblast was slowly stabilising.

"Drone footage purportedly from Vovchansk shows Russian foot mobile infantry operating within the settlement in small squad-sized assault groups, consistent with Ukrainian reports," the analysis added.

Two people have been killed after a Russian air attack on infrastructure in the Ukrainian city of Dnipro, the regional governor has said.

Serhiy Lysak said on  Telegram that there were a number of people who had been injured, but gave no other details.

Dnipro is Ukraine's fourth-largest city, it sits on the Dnipro River  and is around 300 miles from Kyiv.

Be the first to get Breaking News

Install the Sky News app for free