JTB Americas Group returns to the Power List for the first time since 2012 (previously listed as JTB) and does so with a striking increase in sales, from $531 million to $1.37 billion.
According to Tsuyoshi Arai, manager of business management, the company did not participate in Power List for several years “due to changes in management direction.” He said the dramatic increase in sales resulted substantially from its joint venture with Brazilian firm Alatur in 2013, creating a new company called Alatur-JTB. All of the $1.37 billion in sales involves direct bookings from either B2B or B2C.
“We’ve been focusing on growth in U.S. outbound business in recent years by merging traditional inbound and outbound companies into one entity to maximize the use of limited resources in the U.S.,” Arai said. “Also, the inbound business with a focus on China as well as South America markets has been developing through organic growth. We also see merger and acquisition opportunities."
JTB Americas Group is No. 16 on the 2015 Travel Weekly Power List.
Arai said being a subsidiary of a Japanese company results in a “strength in a hospitality mindset combined with technologies. We believe we have an edge in providing superior service and solutions to the U.S. market.”
View JTB Americas Group's entry in the 2015 Power List.