Member Article

Key Travel announces Newcastle expansion with new partnership

Travel Management Company Key Travel has opened an office in Newcastle city centre, following a partnership with Northumbria University.

Specialising in managing travel programmes for the Academic and Charity sectors, the firm will open its new North East office at the beginning of November.

The opening coincides with the announcement that Northumbria University has appointed Key Travel as its new Travel Management partner following a competitive tender in the summer.

Mark Henry, Key Travel’s UK Managing Director, said: “We are absolutely delighted to be working with Northumbria University. It has a truly innovative culture and international reach, attracting students from over 135 countries across the globe.

“With more than 100 important partnerships in major global economies, the university creates a community of learners and opportunities for their students and staff. We are working with them to ensure both their domestic and international staff travel is cost-effective, efficient and safe.

“We have been considering the location for another UK regional office following our successful launch in Edinburgh in 2010. The complexity of the travel we manage on behalf of our clients requires our travel consultants be experienced and highly-trained with an international outlook. We believe the North East gives us access to the range of capable and diverse people we need.”

The new office will complement Key Travel’s other UK offices in Manchester, London, Liverpool and Edinburgh as well as its presence in the USA and Benelux.

Chris Reilly, Chief Operating Officer at Northumbria University, said: “We will give Key Travel all the help we can to build a strong base in the region and have already established a link to our business school and its talented students.

“Key Travel has a similar profile to the University in being an innovative, UK-based organisation with a global outlook and we are looking forward to developing a mutually beneficial relationship with them.”