American Express Global Business Travel
A multinational travel management company providing corporate travel, travel technology, and meetings and events services.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
American Express Global Business Travel, commonly called Amex GBT, is a multinational travel management company serving corporations, government organizations, universities, and other institutions. Its services cover the planning, booking, administration, and analysis of business travel, together with meetings, conferences, incentive travel, and related corporate events. The company manages air travel, hotels, rail, ground transportation, traveler support, travel policy compliance, reporting, and supplier relationships through a combination of professional travel consultants and digital platforms. The business has roots in the corporate travel activities of American Express. In 2003, American Express acquired Rosenbluth International, a major travel management company founded by Hal Rosenbluth. The transaction combined two significant global travel agency operations and strengthened American Express's position in managed business travel. In 2014, American Express separated its Global Business Travel division into a standalone company. The transaction involved a $900 million investment by a group led by Certares, with participation from Qatar Holdings, Macquarie Capital, funds managed by BlackRock, and the Teacher Retirement System of Texas. American Express retained a 50 percent ownership interest at the time and continued to provide an important brand and commercial connection. As an independent company, Amex GBT developed a broad corporate travel platform rather than operating only as a traditional travel agency. Its offering combines booking tools, travel-policy controls, traveler communications, duty-of-care support, data and analytics, expense-related processes, and account management. The company has expanded through acquisitions in travel technology, corporate travel, meetings and events, and regional travel management. Notable transactions and integrations have included KDS, SMT Travel Agency, Banks Sadler, Hogg Robinson Group, Kanoo Travel, DER Business Travel, 30SecondstoFly, Ovation, and Egencia. Egencia added a digitally oriented corporate travel management proposition, while meetings and events acquisitions expanded the company's ability to organize conferences, incentive programs, and other business gatherings. In December 2021, Amex GBT announced an agreement to combine with Apollo Strategic Growth Capital, a special-purpose acquisition company backed by Apollo Global Management. The transaction was completed on May 27, 2022, and the public company began trading on the New York Stock Exchange on May 31, 2022, under the symbol GBTG. The listed entity is Global Business Travel Group, Inc., while American Express Global Business Travel remains the operating brand. American Express holds a minority interest in the public company, and Amex GBT operates separately from American Express's financial-services businesses. Amex GBT serves customers in more than 140 countries and has been described as employing approximately 18,000 people. Its competitive positioning rests on global scale, negotiated travel-supplier relationships, corporate account expertise, traveler assistance, event capabilities, and technology intended to make managed travel more efficient and measurable. The company is therefore distinct from the consumer-facing American Express card and payments businesses, even though it retains the American Express name and a continuing ownership relationship. In 2025, Amex GBT agreed to acquire CWT, a major corporate travel management company, subject to the terms and conditions of the transaction. In 2026, Long Lake Management announced a proposed acquisition of the company for approximately $6.3 billion, indicating a potential further change in ownership and public-market status.
History
American Express Global Business Travel developed from American Express's long-running corporate travel operations. A significant earlier step was the acquisition of Rosenbluth International in October 2003. Rosenbluth, associated with travel entrepreneur Hal Rosenbluth, was one of the large travel management businesses serving corporate customers. Its combination with American Express's existing travel division created a stronger global platform for arranging and administering business travel. In 2014, American Express separated its Global Business Travel division from the parent company's financial-services operations. The standalone company was created with a $900 million investment led by Certares, joined by Qatar Holdings, Macquarie Capital, BlackRock-managed funds, and the Teacher Retirement System of Texas. American Express retained 50 percent ownership in the new business. The company continued using the American Express name but was organized as a distinct travel-management enterprise, focused on corporate customers rather than consumer cards, payments, or lending. The independent company pursued expansion through acquisitions and integration of specialist capabilities. KDS strengthened travel technology; SMT Travel Agency and Kanoo Travel added regional capabilities; Banks Sadler expanded meetings and events; and the acquisition of Hogg Robinson Group broadened corporate travel-management operations. DER Business Travel, 30SecondstoFly, and Ovation added further regional, digital, and specialized capabilities. In May 2021, Amex GBT acquired Egencia, the corporate travel management business associated with Expedia Group. Egencia became an important digital-facing component of the company's portfolio and complemented Amex GBT's larger managed-travel and service operations. Amex GBT's operating model combines online booking and travel-management technology with human account teams, travel consultants, supplier negotiations, policy controls, traveler communications, and business intelligence. Its customers use these capabilities to centralize employee travel, manage costs, improve policy compliance, support traveler safety, and evaluate travel programs. Meetings and events services extend the offering beyond individual trips to conferences, incentive programs, group travel, and other corporate gatherings. In December 2021, Amex GBT announced a plan to merge with Apollo Strategic Growth Capital, a special-purpose acquisition company backed by Apollo Global Management. The business combination closed on May 27, 2022. Global Business Travel Group, Inc. began trading on the New York Stock Exchange on May 31 under the symbol GBTG. The public company became the listed corporate entity, while American Express Global Business Travel remained the principal operating brand. American Express retained a minority interest, and the travel business continued to operate separately from the American Express financial-services group. The company has been described as operating in more than 140 countries with approximately 18,000 employees. Its later expansion included the announced acquisition of CWT in 2025, a transaction intended to increase its scale in corporate travel management. In 2026, Long Lake Management announced a proposed acquisition of Amex GBT for approximately $6.3 billion. Because that transaction was announced rather than described here as completed, its ultimate effect on ownership, listing status, and corporate structure remains dependent on closing and applicable conditions.
- 2026
Proposed acquisition by Long Lake Management
[1]Long Lake Management announced a proposed acquisition of the company for approximately $6.3 billion.
- 2025
Agreement to acquire CWT
[1]Amex GBT announced an agreement to acquire CWT, subject to the transaction's stated conditions.
- 2022
Public listing under GBTG
[1]The business combination with Apollo Strategic Growth Capital closed on May 27, and Global Business Travel Group began NYSE trading on May 31 under GBTG.
- 2021
Egencia joins the Amex GBT portfolio
[1]Amex GBT acquired Egencia, adding a digitally oriented corporate travel management brand.
- 2018
Hogg Robinson Group acquisition
[1]Amex GBT acquired Hogg Robinson Group, broadening its corporate travel-management operations and customer base.
- 2017
Banks Sadler acquisition
[1]The acquisition of Banks Sadler expanded the company's meetings and events business.
- 2016
KDS acquisition
[1]Amex GBT acquired KDS, adding corporate travel technology capabilities.
- 2014
Global Business Travel becomes independent
[1]American Express separated its Global Business Travel division into a standalone company backed by Certares and other investors, while retaining a 50 percent interest.
- 2003
Acquisition of Rosenbluth International
[1]American Express acquired Rosenbluth International, combining two major corporate travel agency operations and strengthening its global managed-travel platform.
Products and positioning
Global corporate travel management and travel technology provider
Corporate travel management
Egencia
A digitally oriented corporate travel management brand offering business travel search and booking, itinerary administration, travel-policy support, and traveler servicing. Egencia complements Amex GBT's broader managed-travel operations by emphasizing online tools and a user experience designed for business travelers and corporate travel administrators.
Travel technology platform
Amex GBT Neo
A corporate travel technology platform intended to support travel search, booking, policy application, itinerary management, and integration with enterprise travel programs. It represents Amex GBT's effort to combine digital self-service with the company's account management, traveler support, and managed-travel infrastructure.
Meetings and events services
Meetings & Events
A suite of services for conferences, corporate meetings, incentive travel, group travel, and other business events. Work can include program design, venue and supplier coordination, participant registration, travel logistics, communications, and on-site execution. The business was strengthened by acquisitions including Banks Sadler.
Business travel management
Managed corporate travel
Amex GBT's core managed-travel service combines corporate booking channels, travel-policy administration, supplier content, account management, reporting, traveler assistance, and duty-of-care capabilities. It is designed for organizations seeking centralized control over air, hotel, rail, ground transportation, and related employee travel processes.
Brand decisions
2026
Proposed acquisition by Long Lake ManagementM&ABackground
Long Lake Management proposed acquiring Amex GBT after the company had operated as a public corporate travel group.
Action taken
Long Lake Management announced a proposed acquisition to be funded through existing investors, Koch Equity Development, and committed debt financing from JPMorgan, Bank of America, Citi, and Mitsubishi UFJ.
Aftermath
The proposal could change the company's ownership and public-market status, but the supplied material does not establish that the acquisition had closed.
Proposed acquisition value. Approximately USD 6.3 billion (2026 announcement)
2025
Agree to acquire CWTM&ABackground
Amex GBT sought to increase its scale and capabilities in corporate travel management.
Action taken
The company announced an agreement to acquire CWT.
Aftermath
The transaction was described as subject to its applicable conditions; the supplied reference does not establish all closing details.
2021
Acquire EgenciaM&ABackground
Amex GBT pursued additional digital corporate travel capabilities and a broader portfolio of managed-travel offerings.
Action taken
The company acquired Egencia and integrated the digital corporate travel brand into its portfolio.
Aftermath
Egencia became a significant digitally focused component of Amex GBT's corporate travel proposition.
2021
Combine with Apollo Strategic Growth CapitalM&ABackground
Amex GBT planned to access public capital markets through a combination with a special-purpose acquisition company.
Action taken
The company announced a business combination with Apollo Strategic Growth Capital, which was completed in May 2022.
Aftermath
Global Business Travel Group became the listed corporate entity, with trading on the NYSE under GBTG beginning on May 31, 2022.
2014
Separate Global Business Travel from American ExpressStrategyBackground
American Express sought to establish its Global Business Travel division as a separately operated corporate travel company while retaining an ownership and branding relationship.
Action taken
The division was separated into American Express Global Business Travel with investment led by Certares and participation from other institutional investors.
Aftermath
The business operated independently and focused on managed corporate travel, travel technology, and meetings and events.
Investment. USD 900 million investment (2014 transaction)
Recent events
American Express Global Business Travel completes Egencia acquisition[2]
Reported:
American Express Global Business Travel completed its acquisition of travel management platform Egencia. Expedia Group became a shareholder in GBT as part of the transaction.
Expedia Group agrees to provide lodging supply to GBT[2]
Reported:
Expedia Group entered into a long-term agreement to provide accommodations supply to American Express Global Business Travel.
Shell Aviation and American Express GBT form SAF partnership[3]
Reported:
Shell Aviation and American Express Global Business Travel formed a partnership to make sustainable aviation fuel available and develop a model to increase its supply and use.
- Unconfirmed
GBT makes binding offer to acquire Egencia[4]
Reported:
American Express Global Business Travel (GBT) made a binding offer to acquire Egencia, Expedia Group’s business-travel brand. The report also says Expedia Group would become a GBT shareholder and enter a long-term strategic commercial agreement with GBT as part of the transaction.
American Express GBT acquires Ovation Travel Group[5]
American Express Global Business Travel (GBT) announced that it had acquired Ovation Travel Group. The deal terms were undisclosed; Ovation's brands were to remain in place, and the agency and its employees would become a division of GBT's Global Customer Partnerships organization.
Neo adds carbon emissions filter[6]
Reported:
American Express Global Business Travel announced that its Neo travel and expense management software added a carbon emissions filter that lets travelers sort flight and train search results by emissions when booking.
American Express Global Business Travel appoints Paul Abbott as CEO[7]
American Express Global Business Travel appointed Paul Abbott as chief executive officer, effective 1 October 2019, replacing Doug Anderson, who was stepping down after three years in the role.
Sources10 sources
- 1American Express Global Business Travelen.wikipedia.org
- 2American Express Global Business Travel完成对Egencia的收购traveldailymedia.com
- 3壳牌航空与美国运通全球商务旅行建立可持续航空燃料合作canadianbiomassmagazine.ca
- 4运通商旅向易信达发出收购要约prnasia.com
- 5American Express GBT收购Ovation Travel Grouptravelmarketreport.com
- 6Neo新增碳排放过滤器finance.sina.com.cn
- 7美国运通全球商务旅行任命保罗·雅培为首席执行官asiatraveltips.com
- 8美国运通全球商务旅行完成对Expedia集团旗下易信达的收购prnasia.com
- 9American Express GBT appoints new CEOtraveldailymedia.com
- 10American Express Global Business Travel acquires Egencia from Expedia Group - Conference and Meetings World | Global MICE Industry News from CMWc-mw.net
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