Accor today holds a 60% stake in Go Voyages, France's leading specialty operator in
scheduled and chartered flights and the development of online booking engines, after
acquiring 21.5% of the company's capital.
Accor, which has held a 38.5% stake since April 2000, has thus become
Go Voyages' majority shareholder. In addition, the Group has given the
management team, which remains in charge of the company, a promise to
purchase the remaining shares, whose price will be determined depending on
the results of future fiscal years.
Go Voyages is today in France, thanks to the deployment of innovative IT
tools, one of the most active players in the distribution of business travel
and tourist services, in particular over the Internet. For example, Go
Voyages has developed some of the market's most efficient online booking
software and travel-related search engines. This technological expertise
enables the company to offer more than 500 web partners access to its
pricing databases through B to B to C solutions.
Since early 2002, Go Voyages has offered an "airfare + hotel" package that
combines the search for an airplane seat and a hotel room in real time.
Go Voyages has set itself apart with a new generation online booking system,
by combining e-tourism's two key lists (airline seats and hotel rooms). This
initiative is in line with Accor's sales and distribution strategy, in
particular in the tourism sector, and strengthens the two partners'
Internet projects.
Go Voyages is one most profitable companies in its industry. In fiscal 2001
(ended October 31), it reported sales of Euro126 million, up 57%, and
generated pretax income before exceptional items of Euro5.73 million, up
82%. Growth in sales has averaged 43% since November 2001.
Go Voyages develops and distributes through a broad range of channels
(travel agencies - web sites - call centers - tour operators) travel
packages at the best available price, on scheduled and chartered flights. In
2001, Go Voyages organized flights for 368,000 passengers; in 2002, the
company expects this number to rise to 420,000, reaching over 1,000
destinations. Go Voyages also designs and supplies booking engines that
distribute web-based tourism products to more than 500 affiliated websites.
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