Hamburg Süd is advancing in its strategy to focus its business on container transport and logistics with the agreement for the UK-headquartered ATPI Group to acquire its subsidiary Hamburg Süd Reiseagentur (Travel Agency). ATPI Group is one of the world’s leading companies offering corporate travel management services. The corresponding agreements were signed yesterday, and the purchase price has not been disclosed. Hamburg Süd had already initiated the sales process even before the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic in order to be able to completely focus on its main business of container shipping and logistics. However, the pandemic had initially led to an interruption of the sales process last spring.

“We are pleased that we have now been able to find an excellent new home for our travel agency despite the pandemic. This step will now allow us, as planned, to fully concentrate on our core business as a strong brand within A.P. Moller – Maersk, the global leader in container shipping and logistics”, said Dr Arnt Vespermann, CEO of Hamburg Süd. “In ATPI, we have found a very reputable and strong company from the travel industry as a buyer, and it will now be able to strategically establish itself in the German market with the Hamburg Süd Reiseagentur.”

In addition, ATPI is a specialist in the marine business, i.e. booking flights and connecting transport for sea personnel who need to board their ships in or return home from ports around the globe. Having a presence in the Port of Hamburg is therefore of strategic importance to ATPI. Thus, the management and approximately 55 employees of the travel agency will be retained and ATPI is committed to retaining and growing the number of employees. As a result, both the high quality of service and the contact persons for the travel agency’s customers will remain unchanged.

The Hamburg Süd Reiseagentur will also continue to be a member of the Lufthansa City Center network, in which it is one of the top five travel agencies in Germany in terms of turnover. The travel and tourism office of the Hamburg Süd Reiseagentur, located on Burchardplatz in Hamburg’s city centre, will also be part of the acquisition. However, the bulk of the Hamburg Süd Reiseagentur’s turnover is generated in travel management for large corporate customers.

Headquartered in London and with more than 100 offices in 66 countries, ATPI employs more than 1,300 people worldwide. “The Hamburg region has been a strategic priority for ATPI, and we are delighted to have found the right partner at the right time. Our Nordic marine businesses in Norway and Denmark, and Southern European marine businesses in Greece and Cyprus have all highlighted the need to be physically present in Hamburg. The agency staff and knowledge of those staff based on their historic ownership was a critical requirement for ATPI. We were particularly impressed with the corporate client base of Hamburg Süd Reiseagentur and believe existing clients will benefit from the expanded global reach of the ATPI footprint along with additional technology solutions,” says Adam Knights, Regional Managing Director Europe & Middle East at ATPI.