Rail Europe and Emerging Travel Group Announce Strategic Partnership

WHY IT RATES: Rail Europe and Emerging Travel Group formed a strategic partnership to integrate European rail services into RateHawk and Roundtrip platforms, enhancing booking efficiency and promoting eco-friendly travel.

Rail Europe, the reference brand for European train booking, is pleased to announce the signing of a strategic partnership with Emerging Travel Group, a global travel company operating brands for individual travellers, B2B travel professionals, and corporate customers. Rail Europe has integrated European rail services into two of Emerging Travel Group’s leading brands: RateHawk, an online booking platform for travel agencies worldwide, and Roundtrip, a travel booking platform for corporate travellers.

Covering 13 countries—including iconic rail destinations such as the UK, Italy, Germany, France, Switzerland and more—this partnership provides access to an unparalleled range of train services, from high-speed and intercity connections that make travelling between cities a breeze, to scenic regional routes that showcase Europe’s stunning landscapes, and rail passes offering unlimited travel across Europe or Switzerland.

The partnership is powered by RailAPI, Rail Europe’s state-of-the-art API solution, which seamlessly integrates its rail network into RateHawk and Roundtrip’s platforms. RailAPI offers a robust and scalable solution that allows for real-time booking, instant access to a wide range of European rail services, and easy management of after-sales services such as exchanges and refunds directly via RateHawk and Roundtrip websites, ensuring a smooth and efficient user experience.

Additionally, with Rail Europe’s API, travellers can now enjoy a streamlined booking experience for multi-carrier journeys, effortlessly exploring and combining routes across different countries. The API’s multi-inventory capability also enables users to compare offers and select the best option, making travel planning more efficient and user-friendly.

“This partnership brings us closer to our vision of making European rail travel as simple and accessible as possible. By integrating our network with RateHawk and Roundtrip’s platforms through RailAPI, we’re opening up new ways for travellers to experience Europe—efficiently and sustainably. Notably, for corporate travellers, this means a more flexible and profitable way to manage business travel, while offering a truly memorable experience with the added benefit of reducing their carbon footprint,” said Björn Bender, CEO of Rail Europe.

Fredrik Bonnalt, Head of Non-Accommodation Supply at Emerging Travel Group, commented: “Rail travel offers great opportunities for our partners’ businesses, enabling them to meet customer needs and attract new clients. Rail transportation is widely recognized as the most environmentally friendly option, and with many companies prioritising carbon footprint reduction and incorporating Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) initiatives into their corporate travel programs, our partners can greatly benefit from this new booking service.”

Travelers using RateHawk and Roundtrip can now enjoy a unified booking experience, seamlessly navigating through extensive and complex train options, filtering by criteria such as price and comfort level. By choosing rail, travellers are opting for a greener way to travel in Europe, be it for leisure or work. Together, Rail Europe and Emerging Travel are making rail journeys more accessible than ever before.

SOURCE: Rail Europe press release.

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