Gekko Group, a company that helps businesses book hotel stays, is increasing its direct deals with hotels across six European countries: the United Kingdom, Benelux (which includes Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg), the DACH region (Germany, Austria, and Switzerland), Spain, Italy, and Portugal. To support this effort, the company has hired two new managers: Cristiana Sartore and Silvia Villazala. Sartore will oversee hotel partnerships in Northern Europe, including the UK, Benelux, and the DACH region, while Villazala will manage contracts in Spain, Italy, and Portugal. Gekko Group says this move should help deepen its relationships with hotel partners and expand the range of available options by negotiating better local prices and terms. Cristiana Sartore has over 20 years of experience in the online travel and hotel booking industry, having worked at companies such as Expedia, WebBeds, Hotelbeds, Miki Travel, and GTA. Silvia Villazala has previously held roles at Trip.com Group, Expedia Group, and Orbitz Worldwide. Antoine Marmain, Vice President of Supply at Gekko Group, stated that improving direct contracting is a key part of the company's growth strategy in Europe. Other recent developments at Gekko Group include Teldar Travel and Infinite integrating Travelgate and Travel Compositor, which are platforms used to manage travel bookings. SAP Concur, a company that helps businesses manage travel expenses, has also added Gekko Group’s hotel services to its offerings. Additionally, Adam McKnight has joined the company, and Hervé Boffelli has been appointed as the new commercial director for leisure travel distribution. Mohamed Ferkal has been named Head of Revenue Management, a role focused on optimizing pricing and availability strategies.