CDS Groupe, the French leader in hotel booking and payment solutions for corporate clients and travel management companies (TMCs), has announced the acquisition of SIAP, a historic Italian company with over 40 years of experience in developing software for the tourism and business sector. As part of the deal, SIAP, whose ERP software is used by over 1,000 Italian TMCs, will join the Group but remain autonomous, with no changes in terms of management structure or brand.
- SIAP, Italy’s premier ERP provider for travel management companies (TMCs), serving over 1,000 clients, joins CDS Groupe, Europe’s leading hotel booking and payment solutions platform for business travel.
- SIAP’s 90 employees bring CDS Groupe’s total workforce to over 450, with offices in six European countries (France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Croatia, Romania) and an annual hotel booking volume of €800 million.
- “This milestone acquisition reinforces our leadership position and aligns with our ambition to achieve €1 billion in business travel hotel bookings within the next three years,” said Ziad Minkara, Group CEO.
Investing in Excellence and Innovation
CDS Groupe’s robust financial performance enables it to make strategic investments that benefit its clients and the broader market. These include:
- Technological innovation to enhance payment solutions at a European level,
- The expansion of its service offerings, ensuring seamless delivery across all operational markets,
- Investments in market expertise, ensuring tailored, high-quality service through local specialists.
“This acquisition reflects CDS Groupe’s commitment to innovation and excellence. With the integration of SIAP, we gain not only a stronger foothold in the Italian market but also access to advanced ERP technologies and a deep understanding of local travel management practices. This news also means that we are now on target to hit €1 billion in annual hotel booking volume by 2027. Watch this space for more acquisition news as we continue consolidating the market– including plans for entering into the Anglo-Saxon market.” said Ziad Minkara.
Enhancing Corporate Services Across Europe
The acquisition also brings the inclusion of SIAP’s innovative Methodica solution, which specializes in services for TMCs and corporates. These tools will be rolled out across the Group, enhancing its value-added services and strengthening its ability to meet the needs of its corporate clients.
Antonio Rosa, founder of SIAP, commented:
“Joining CDS Groupe allows us to combine SIAP’s expertise with the Group’s extensive resources and network, creating new opportunities to serve our clients better. We are excited about the journey ahead as we contribute to building Europe’s leading business travel solutions platform.”
About SIAP
Founded more than four decades ago, SIAP has revolutionized the Italian software market, standing out as a pioneer in introducing cloud technology even before the advent of the internet, and more recently, artificial intelligence for business travel. With a suite of innovative and high-performing solutions, SIAP has supported major Italian companies in business travel, tour operating, travel agencies, and MICE sectors. SIAP’s history has been marked by a strategy strongly oriented towards understanding market needs. The company’s offerings have always been guided by a special focus on its users, enabling the constant evolution of its software solutions to address the challenges of a continuously transforming sector successfully.
Press contact: Rebecca XERRI – rxerri@cdsgroupe.com
