UK-based travel tech company plots Aussie expansion

A UK-based travel tech company is seeking to expand into Australia with the appointment of an APAC business development manager (BDM).

Vibe, which specialises in booking tech, has hired Graham Whyte as a BDM to lead its expansion in Australia, New Zealand and the whole of Asia Pacific from his base in the Gold Coast.

Previously working as the regional commercial manager at Sabre, Whyte has over 30 years of senior travel industry experience, including at Travelport and Virtuoso in Australia, New Zealand and the United States.

For the past 15 years, Vibe has been growing its footprint by powering travel agencies (both OTAs and TMCs) around the world including Qatar Airways Holidays, Agiito (one of the UK’s largest TMCs) and Ireland’s leading agency Cassidy Travel – and in 2019, it helped clients to cross-sell, up-sell, and increase margins on over 2 million bookings.

Commenting on his recent appointment, Whyte said he had admired Vibe’s innovation and commitment to clients for many years.

“Vibe’s products are Australia and New Zealand ready with one-way faring, Tasman fares, NDC connectivity, access to low-cost carriers and much more,” he said.

“Already since I joined the reaction from the local market has been very positive once businesses learn about the wider Vibe tech offering.”

The news follows the appointment of interim CEO Steve Barrass, who has over 30 years of senior travel industry leadership experience, most recently as the CEO of The Appointment Group (TAG).

Vibe also announced earlier this year it will power the technology behind the newly launched travel agency website of The Royal Automobile Association (RAA), which provides a range of motor, home, and travel products and services to more than 780,000 members based in South Australia.

Martin Eade, co-founder and e-commerce director of Vibe, said it seemed “only natural” to have someone on the ground locally as the company expands in Australia.

“Graham’s vast array of experience in some of travel’s leading companies over the last 30 years, along with his strong network in the region, makes him uniquely qualified to lead our expansion in Australia, New Zealand and the wider APAC region,” he said.

“Watch this space for further news soon as we grow the team and our client base there.”