The two sister travel management companies (TMCs), which are both part of Travel Leaders Group, have already been working closely for two years with Altour now becoming the overarching brand across the world.

Alexandre Chemla, Altour’s founder and chief executive, said: “We will maintain a laser-like focus on the customer experience, cement our lead as an innovator and continue our goal of winning the hearts and minds of corporate travel managers and business travellers alike.

“As we learned more about each other’s businesses and recognised how complementary our cultures were, this coming together was a natural evolution.”

Altour and Travel Leaders Corporate had previously been co-operating on international accounts, airline agreements and entertainment travel.

The enlarged Altour brand employs more than 2,000 staff across 57 locations, with travel transactions running into billions of dollars per year.

The companies said combining the two brands would bring “immense buying leverage to new and existing customers in the midsized-market”.

Travel Leaders Group chief executive J D O’Hara added: “Bringing these two great companies together will enhance our core value proposition for our customers by matching the customer to the right service model, while gaining efficiencies and creating synergies that will allow us to compete effectively and grow for the future.”

Altour’s leadership team will include Chemla, alongside chief revenue officer Gabe Rizzi and chief operating officer Lee Thomas.