CWT Gives Serko’s Zeno Preferred-Tool Status

Serko has signed an agreement with for travel management company CWT to offer Serko’s Zeno booking platform as a “globally preferred” tool, Serko announced.

CWT already had a reseller agreement with Zeno, last renewed in February 2019 with an agreement that expanded availability to CWT clients in the U.S. and Canada, expanding on previous availability in Australia and New Zealand, and added hotel content from CWT’s RoomIt platform for their mutual clients. That agreement was due for renewal next month.

Now, as a globally preferred booking platform, Zeno is “one of a limited number of platforms [CWT] will support,” and is integrated to CWT’s various service centers around the world, Serko CEO and cofounder Darrin Grafton said in an earnings call on Wednesday. The two companies are working together to create “a consumer-grade booking experience” with Zeno available within the myCWT platform, according to Serko.

Serko’s partnership with CWT will help it further grow its North American presence, which the company said is “still in the early stages.”

“Having a partner of this caliber prioritize Zeno as one of their globally preferred options is a key proof point in our global expansion,” Serko SVP for North America Tony D’Astolfo said in a statement. “The market has been clear that it needs innovation to solve the challenges of post-pandemic travel.”

The first global launch customer for the partnership, which Grafton identified in the earnings call as Visa, is now live on Zeno in 27 countries in North and South America as well as the Asia/Pacific region. Visa previously had used GetThere as its booking tool, BTN sister publication The Beat reported.

Serko has established other TMC partners to expand Zeno’s U.S. presence, including Direct ATPI Global Travel, FCM, Ovation Travel Group, Frosch, Atlas Travel, Acendas Travel and Connoisseur Travel.

Michael B. Baker  www.businesstravelnews.com