Reed & Mackay’s global footprint in corporate travel and events management continues to expand across Europe as we celebrate the full rebranding of Atlanta Events & Corporate Travel Consultants – which joined the Reed & Mackay family in November 2022 – to Reed & Mackay.
Atlanta was established more than 40 years ago. Then in 2004 it was acquired by an accomplished group of professionals and entrepreneurial partners, with a shared vision, passion for delivering dedicated service to clients, delivering a clear roadmap for innovation and growth in travel and event management. For Atlanta, joining the Reed & Mackay family was a natural progression; Atlanta had been a member of Reed & Mackay’s partnership network since 2009.
To mark the rebrand celebrations, we catch up with Reed & Mackay in Spain Managing Director Paula Fuster. Here, she talks about how the business has grown organically in Spain over the decades, its ambition for the organisation in corporate travel and events following its rebrand and how the rebrand will reflect in the service it offers clients.
Q: How has Atlanta influenced Spain’s travel and events landscape over 40 years?
A: Atlanta was founded in 1980 with a focus on events, conferences and corporate travel. Since then, observing how business tourism had become a strategic lever for business development and its economic impact, Atlanta focused not only on providing travel services but also became consultants in business tourism. We have sought to understand the objectives of all parties involved in our clients’ organisations and provide personalised and innovative solutions.
Personalisation, professionalism, reliability and efficiency are at the very heart of the company. And, over the years, we have worked hard to become a trusted partner to our clients.
Q: How has the business travel and events sector in Spain changed in recent years?
A: It has changed a lot recently due to globalisation, technology and evolving with customer expectations. This has led to the development of more advanced solutions for the ever-changing business world. Clients are seeking services that not only meet their current needs but also anticipate and address future challenges.
Q: What does future success in Spain look like?
A: Providing quality service, plus integrating a personalised approach with a strong global presence, is crucial. It’s important to understand and meet the unique cultural, legal and financial needs of each company and its travellers and provide a service that aligns with a client’s internal policies.
Now, as Reed & Mackay in Spain, we have the advantage of global purchasing, global presence, global technology and global product investments. This allows us to provide competitive advantages to our clients – offering them the benefits of this global reach – and access exclusive opportunities that will help their strategic growth.
Q: Why is it essential for a global brand to still offer local knowledge and expertise in region?
A: Local experience and teams are key. Speaking the same language and understanding a company’s characteristics provides security and strengthens their identity in a globalised world. And that, in turn, builds and drives close working relationships with our clients.
Q: What trends can we expect to see in corporate travel and meetings and events in 2024 and beyond?
A: The demand for smart technology powered by AI, blockchain and machine learning, is an integral component for business travel and meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions (MICE). It influences the complete process; it can provide innovative solutions for venue sourcing, travel management, trip planning, expense reporting and more, to enhance efficiency and elevate customer experiences. This is driven by the need to optimise processes.
As we look ahead, we’re also seeing an increased focus on sustainability, as it’s becoming more appealing to organisations and business travellers who are concerned about their environmental impact (covering new eco policies, sustainability reporting, etc).
Finally, clients are increasingly requesting consultancy and advisory services; they want to rely on a human for support with more complex travel issues and services.
The rebrand shows we are committed to new ideas and advanced technology. We want to offer personalised technology solutions that make planning events and business trips effortless, which, in turn, will help our clients to drive their businesses forward.
In addition to staying ahead of industry trends, our goal is to add substantial value to our clients’ confidence, contributing significantly to their overall success. Furthermore, we provide the means to measure and demonstrate success and return on investment, allowing our clients to tangibly appreciate the outcomes of our collaborative efforts.
Q: What excites you about rebranding as Reed & Mackay in Spain? What added value will it bring to clients?
A: Reed & Mackay in Spain represents a new phase of maturity in our evolution. Our focus has always been on going above and beyond for our clients. Integrating Reed & Mackay’s global experience with our local presence, customer knowledge and personality will strengthen our ability to provide more comprehensive and personalised solutions. This includes access to a broader network, enhanced resources and a more diversified and specialised service offering that will elevate our clients’ experience.
Q: Why is Reed & Mackay in Spain’s team looking forward to being a part of a global travel management company?
A: The rebranding gives the entire team the opportunity to be part of an organisation that embraces innovation and excellence globally. It means new possibilities for access to resources, knowledge, and professional development opportunities. Employees are excited about the chance to share and acquire knowledge globally, strengthening their personal and professional development and allowing closer collaboration between experts from different parts of the world and cultures sharing a common interest.
Mail hello@reedandmackay.com to discuss all of your meetings and events management needs.
