At the IFTM Top Résa 2026 trade show, **Nabil Maillard**, commercial director of ATPI France, and **Nick Hatherall**, general director of ATPI France, visited the TMC stand. The merger between ATPI and Direct Travel is designed to help TMC scale its operations. After eight years of collaboration, the two companies officially announced their merger in September 2025. Hatherall humorously remarked that the companies were "somewhat engaged for seven or eight years before finally getting married." The merger includes a new executive team, with **Steve Singh**, co-founder of Concur, serving as executive chairman and **Christal Bemont** as CEO. Their goal is to create a new generation of global TMC by combining advanced technology with human assistance. Hatherall explained that the aim is to provide a service that is both experienced and technologically advanced. Within this new organization, **Spotnana**, led by Steve Singh, acts as the "sister company" of ATPI. It provides the technology behind **Avenir**, the group's booking and travel management platform. **Avenir**, an all-in-one platform, was launched about two years ago in the United States, using cloud-based architecture. The platform connects directly with airlines to reduce reliance on GDS (Global Distribution Systems) and to access NDC (New Distribution Capability) content and promotional fares. Hatherall noted, "With Avenir, everything is grouped within the same platform. There is no additional middle-office to manage, which simplifies operations considerably." Avenir connects directly with a dozen airlines, including low-cost carriers, as well as with aggregators, hotel groups, and rail distribution actors. The GDS remains integrated when necessary content is required. Travelers can also request assistance from an agent via chat or directly with an available advisor. "Behind the technology, there are always our networks of experienced agents ready to intervene," Hatherall emphasized. According to the Managing Director of ATPI France, the adoption rate of Avenir reaches an average of 90%, while the NPS (Net Promoter Score) is generally above 60. The platform aims to meet the expectations of travelers and travel managers by reducing the complexity of traditional technological environments. "We have removed the technological layers that complicate things," Hatherall affirmed. Avenir allows users to make changes directly and simplifies reporting processes. ATPI France currently employs approximately 65 people, compared to 4,500 at the group level with Direct Travel. "We have almost doubled the size of the business in three years and we continue to develop in France," Hatherall said, noting he took over ATPI France three years ago. The merger is expected to open access to new markets and strengthen the group's international presence. ATPI is now present in more than 90 countries, with its own networks and local partners. External growth remains a priority to complete this expansion. In France, ATPI intends to focus on its specialty sectors, including maritime, yachting, and energy. Corporate travel now accounts for about 50% of its annual revenue in France. The TMC also aims to expand its activities in sports and media. "Our ambition is to remain a leader in our specialty sectors, while accelerating our growth on the corporate travel market," Hatherall said. He believes the consolidation of the sector creates space for new players and new solutions. "Some customers regret the lack of choice. There is a need for new challengers, new models, and new platforms," he added. On the French market, corporate travel activities are expected to grow. The TMC plans to develop under the Direct Travel brand while maintaining visibility for ATPI in its specialized sectors. "The goal is to make Direct Travel known in Europe, where the brand is still little known, and to explain to our ATPI customers what this new organization can offer them," Hatherall said. The TMC plans to enhance its communication and media presence in the coming months with the support of **Travel-Insight**. AI and new features are in development. The evolution of Avenir must continue quickly. Several features incorporating artificial intelligence are being developed to simplify bookings and assist travelers. The platform notably includes a travel assistant named Ava, capable of checking reservations, providing help, or querying the traveler's calendar to assist in organizing a trip. **Spotnana** is also working with **Troop**, a company specializing in events. This partnership could lead to features related to venue sourcing, group bookings, and hotel reservations. In parallel, ATPI continues to develop its proprietary tools for specialized sectors. In maritime and energy, its systems can integrate into crew management and staff planning tools, up to ticket booking. "We continue our developments both on the global technology and on the solutions dedicated to our specialty sectors," Hatherall concluded.