Executive travel’s edge, powered by partnership plus

A bit about Executive Travel 
Executive Travel is one of the fastest-growing private companies for business travel in the US, redefining what modern travel management looks like. Founded in 1986, this travel management company (TMC) is a small, family-run business based in Nebraska, headed by Chairman & Chief Visionary Officer Steve Glenn, his son, Chief Executive Officer Paul Glenn, and President Jennifer Belt (both pictured). Driven by people and powered by passion, they provide everything you need to deliver travel experiences tailored to customers’ needs.

But how does a modern-day TMC stay true to its core values of being people-centric and technology-focused while keeping up with customers’ evolving needs? Travelport’s Partnership Plus is the answer. With Travelport+, our modern retailing platform, combined with the expertise and support of our dedicated teams, we deliver the winning formula: powerful tech backed by people who understand the industry. This partnership ensures agencies can adapt, grow, and consistently exceed traveler expectations. 

And with all the phases and trends the travel ecosystem has been through in the last 30 years, one thing is apparent—having a partner to rely on matters. We chatted with President Jennifer Belt to learn how Travelport’s partnership supported her team.

From paper tickets to AI: together through it all 

Despite the shifts in the travel industry over the years, Executive Travel has remained committed to a single GDS partner, Travelport. Why? Well, Jennifer credits the consistency of the Travelport team and the ongoing investment in modern retailing tools for the longstanding relationship. The Travelport+ platform ensured stability for their agency and kept Executive Travel confident to tackle any travel complexities head-on. “Travelport listens to our needs, anticipates industry shifts, and equips us with the tools to stay competitive”, says Jennifer. “That level of commitment is rare, and it has been the cornerstone of our long-standing relationship.” 

For Executive Travel, it’s been reassuring to be linked with a GDS that’s always adapting to change in an industry that constantly faces disruption. They experienced major shifts as a business, but through each transformation, the up-to-date tools available via Travelport+ helped it adjust and prosper. And when looking for advice amid these changes, the quick response times of the dedicated Travelport team allowed them to exceed expectations for clients and keep delivering. “From paper tickets to e-tickets, from phone-based bookings to online platforms, and now the move toward AI and personalization. Travelport’s ability to modernize while keeping customer service at the core has been invaluable for us as we navigate these generational changes side by side”, Jennifer adds. 

Smooth service through smarter retailing 

Amplifying easier, smarter, and faster retailing for agencies is Travelport’s mission, and this strongly resonates with Executive Travel’s forward-facing vision. To the team, it represents the idea of continuously moving forward and equipping their people with modern tools that enhance their ability to serve clients.  

Travelport helped Executive Travel streamline the booking experience for agents and clients via Travelport+. It increased their efficiency, allowing for more transparent comparisons. This translated into better outcomes for their customers— more choice, faster service, and an overall better travel booking journey.

Smoother access to richer content was also something that simplified retailing for Executive Travel. Being able to access content easily from all sources within the one workflow on Travelport+ enabled agents to simply source the right option. Customizable rules with Content Optimizer made a big difference—powered by AI and machine learning, they were able to cut down on excess information and complexity.  “Content Optimizer helps us cut through the noise”, says Jennifer. “Ensuring our agents spend less time searching and more time advising clients, which improves both operational efficiency and traveler satisfaction.”   

Executive Travel, guaranteed to deliver, powered by Travelport+ 

What does a winning partnership look like for Executive Travel today? Travelport+ is still making their retailing easier, smarter, and faster. It’s continually helping to simplify typical agency challenges, such as customer support, and automating internal processes like predictive reporting and workflow efficiencies. Jennifer says that Travelport’s ability to modernize while keeping customer service at the core has been invaluable to their business, as Executive Travel navigated generational changes with their GDS by their side.

As for the future of this TMC, Executive Travel is excited to embrace the next 30 years of travel retailing. Partnered with Travelport, they’re motivated to deliver for the future with Travelport+, the tech that adapts and grows alongside the evolving needs of travelers. Whether you’re a family-run TMC like Executive Travel or a small agency excited to leverage the power of modern retailing tools and time-saving automation, we have the modern retailing tools for you. Through our solutions, easy-to-use point-of-sale Smartpoint, revenue optimization tools like Content Optimizer, and the support of our expert teams, we amplify modern retailing—for everyone.