James Diaz, the former UK CEO of Travel Planet, has launched Absolute Travel Management (Absolute), a London-based TMC aimed at small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
Absolute successfully closed an oversubscribed seed investment round at the end of 2024 raising over £500,000, with a further round to follow soon.
This initial round attracted angel investors and OpsTalent, a specialist in customer experience solutions based in Poland looking to “capitalise on growth opportunities within the SME market”.
Absolute is launching with pilot customers in the transport and technology sectors and has a “healthy onward pipeline” of clients.
The business will be supported by Global Travel Collection (GTC), a division of Internova Travel Group, giving it access to GTC’s “extensive network of trusted partners, industry accreditations and a robust business platform”.
An advisory group, made up of key industry figures from both the corporate and supplier network, will be launched formally next month.
The launch announcement said: “Exciting collaborations and announcements are on the horizon, underscoring Absolute’s commitment to driving innovation in business travel.”
Diaz, who is Absolute’s CEO, will be joined by Mark Firth, previously Business Travel Director at Travel Planet, who takes the role of Head of Services, and Emma Mawson, previously Travel Planet Operations Manager, who is Operational Director.
Diaz said: “I am truly humbled by the support and encouragement we’ve received from the industry as we prepared for this launch.
“This reinforces our belief that the market is ready for a fresh, innovative player. Having a solid pipeline of clients already in implementation is a fantastic position for a new entrant.”
Absolute will have an omni-channel communication platform, including phone, email, live chat, and WhatsApp.
