Proliferating Alliance: Destination Management Deepens July 24, 2008 The joining of Allied International and Associated Luxury Hotels International expands and deepens both groups
By Alex Palmer
It was just a few months ago that Allied International, the conglomerate of European and Middle Eastern destination management companies, expanded their reach into North America by acquiring Carlsbad, Calif.-based PRA Destination Management. Now, Associated Luxury Hotels International (ALHI) has joined with Allied, offering both not only a wider reach, but a deeper one.
"We can now provide [our clients] the destination solution in addition to the hotel solution by working with AI," says David Gabri, president and CEO of Associated Luxury Hotels International. Gabri explains that Allied can now provide ALHI, an association of more than 100 Four- and Five-Star hotels and resorts with information on "the newest and brightest venues, programs and opportunities" at their destinations across Europe, America and the burgeoning Middle East. In exchange, says Gabri, Allied will be able to "meet our hotel executives, meet many of the customers that we've been serving for two decades, and have the opportunity to expand their business, where appropriate, in America."
Gabri emphasizes how complimentary the strategic global alliance is, saying that later this year and next the groups (as well as ALHI affiliate member Delta Airlines) may be doing joint sales calls with incentive companies. He says they will be able to provide more extensive program packages and site visits to their clients than either group could offer on its own.
The decision to partner with Allied International came out of several advisory council workshops that ALHI held in the first quarter of 2008. Bringing together panels of select clients, the association asked how ALHI's international members could best serve their needs. According to Gabri, "establishing a global relationship with a reputable and reliable DMC" was at the top of the list.
ALHI had been working with Allied's Paris and London offices, but on an ad hoc basis. The new alliance expands their affiliation into all seven countries and 27 office locations Allied service.
Gabri believes the effectiveness of their strategic alliance is likely to grow as the companies do. "In America as well as Europe, we expect to see our portfolio of luxury hotels continue to grow,” he says. “Later we would see a benefit in the Middle East and perhaps other emerging markets where [Allied] have established operations."
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