Travelport makes Atlanta its North American GDS headquarters

Travel Conglomerate to add up to 300 jobs, invest $33 million in two metro area locations

ATLANTA—Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue announced today that Travelport will make Atlanta its North American global distribution system (GDS) headquarters, adding up to 300 jobs and investing $33 million.

“Travelport’s decision to locate a division headquarters in Atlanta signals that our position as a hub in the travel and IT industries is second to none,” said Governor Sonny Perdue. “The addition of these high-paying jobs will provide more opportunities for Georgia’s best and brightest to stay in the state and continue to grow our economy.”

Travelport acquired Atlanta-based Worldspan in August 2007. Travelport will make the former Worldspan location in Cobb County at 300 Galleria Parkway N.W. its North American GDS headquarters, adding up to 200 jobs. The company will consolidate operations across its current North American locations of Rosemont, IL; Parsippany, NJ and Denver, CO.  Travelport is also expanding its data center in Hapeville and plans to add up to 100 jobs to that facility.   In addition to the new jobs created, the company will retain the existing 325 metro Atlanta based jobs. 

Travelport is a world leader in the provision of automated travel reservations for airlines, hotels, car rental companies, cruise lines and rail operators, providing service to on-line and off-line travel agencies in over 145 countries. It also runs most of the internal reservations and related systems used by carriers such as Delta, Northwest and United Airlines, as well as more than 40 other airlines globally.

“The consolidation of our business into a North American GDS headquarters is a significant step in building upon synergies between our existing Galileo and recently acquired Worldspan GDS businesses,” said Gordon Wilson, CEO and president, Travelport GDS. “The State of Georgia, Cobb and Fulton counties and the city of Atlanta have demonstrated strong support for our move and we look forward to growing our business and serving our customers from our new North American GDS headquarters.  Atlanta has an excellent geographic position, continually growing international direct airline services and a well educated, technologically literate work force.”

A number of agencies worked together on the Travelport project, including Georgia Department of Economic Development, the Development Authority of Fulton County, the Cobb County Office of Economic Development, the Cobb County Board of Commissioners, the Department of Revenue, QuickStart, ICAPP, Department of Labor and the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce.

“We are proud to welcome Travelport’s GDS North American headquarters to a growing list of industry leaders headquartered in Cobb County,” said Cobb Commission Chairman Sam Olens. “Travelport will bring new jobs, new technologies and its broad global connections to Cobb County.”  

“The City of Hapeville is excited to welcome Travelport to our town,” said Hapeville Mayor Alan Hallman. “Our city enjoys the luxury of being the front door to Hartsfield Jackson International Airport and we benefit greatly from the economic activity generated by the airport. We look forward to a long and bright future with Travelport.”

About Travelport GDS

Travelport GDS is one of the world’s largest global distribution system (GDS) providers operating both the Galileo and the Worldspan brands, providing real-time travel information and booking capabilities to online and offline travel agencies in over 145 countries. It also operates Travelport Business Intelligence providing marketing and other critical data to the global travel industry through Shepherd Systems and Travelport Airline IT Services and Solutions, which provides mission critical reservations and related software and services management to the world’s leading airlines. Travelport GDS is a convergence of traditional and online travel distribution services that empower airlines, travel suppliers, travel agencies, Web sites and corporations to provide informed choice to travelers on a global platform. Travelport GDS is a division of Travelport, one of the world’s largest service providers to the travel industry. More information is available at travelportgds.com.

About Travelport

Travelport is one of the world’s largest service providers to the travel industry.   The company operates two primary businesses - a global distribution system business, which comprises the Galileo and Worldspan brands and a group travel and wholesale hotel business through its GTA brand. Travelport also owns a significant interest in Orbitz Worldwide (NYSE: OWW), a leading global online travel company. With 2006 revenues (including Worldspan) of approximately $3.4 billion, Travelport operates in 145 countries and has approximately 7,500 employees. Travelport is a private company owned by The Blackstone Group, Technology Crossover Ventures and One Equity Partners.

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