American Express Business Travel announced that its Intelligent Online Marketplace (AXIOM) for travel and related business services will be launched in the UK later this year. This follows the successful release of the service in the US in early 2007.

Powered by Rearden Commerce, Inc., the Web-based marketplace for business services brings together inventory from more than 135,000 suppliers to provide an industry leading one-stop-shop, where employees can find, purchase and manage both traditional travel, flights, hotel stays and car rentals, and other services, such as airport parking, dining, ground transportation, package shipping and audio/web conferencing.

Charles Petruccelli, President, American Express Global Travel Services commented, “Web 2.0 technology has opened up the opportunity of “mashup” solutions - two or more diverse sources culminating in an integrated experience.  An example of this is our AXIOM solution which we are pleased to bring to the UK after a successful US implementation. AXIOM has changed the playing field.  Through AXIOM, we are putting on the corporate desktop of travelers, full-access to content and T&E services well beyond air, hotel, and car in a dynamic way.”

Petruccelli continued, “Web 2.0 technology corporate software is built on service-oriented architecture which provides a more flexible way to add new services without the need to rewrite entire applications.  It is a formidable enabler for fast to market innovation giving us the springboard to offer corporations the ultimate desktop solution.  The best gauge of technology adoption is customer reaction and currently we have in the US more than 1,300 corporate customers using AXIOM which was launched in January 2007.”

David Herrick, Senior Vice President and General Manager, American Express Business Travel EMEA and Global Foreign Exchange Services commented, “As European companies continue to keep their finger on the pulse of the current economic climate, many are seeking the savings they can make now and in the future.  AXIOM is an important innovation and best in class service in the travel management industry, and we are delighted to be launching it in the UK marketplace.  It will bring a new level of servicing and vital visibility of the broader costs of travel and its associated expense to UK clients.”

Herrick continues, “We are confident that clients and travelers alike in the UK will be as keen to take advantage of the savings and simplicity offered by the solution as our US clients have been.  AXIOM not only offers greater control for companies, but with its unique online personal assistant, schedule management is simplified and employees have peace of mind while being able to remain productive while on the road.”