Inbound giants merge

BTI Connex Travel, the recently privatised SA-based travel agency network, will merge and operate under the inbound division of one of its shareholders, Rennies Travel, with effect from April 15. Kananelo Makhetha, managing director of Connex Travel, said that the newly formed, highly competitive inbound travel division will focus its efforts on providing clients with competitive deals and focus increasingly on retaining and growing its retail travel business. "There are many positive features associated with this change," he said, "and we are confident that the consolidation of the two divisions will ensure that we remain highly competitive and sustainable in the dynamic, inbound market." He further said that Connex' privatisation in mid-'99, followed by the forging of closer ties with Rennies Travel and the subsequent BTI accreditation of Connex, marked the beginning of an "exciting new era". Lillian Boyle, ceo of Rennies Travel, confirmed that there are no plans to merge the retail operations of Connex with Rennies. "To the contrary, we are totally committed to the future growth of Connex Travel as a free-standing, autonomous business unit within the Rennies group." (Elizabeth Sheridan)