South American travel management companies Jet Stream Turismo and Viajes Verger S.A. have become Global Partners of UNIGLOBE Travel International.

“Travel and tourism in Brazil and Argentina are rising steadily, not least in part to the lure of Buenos Aires, as well as Brazil’s successful bids for both the 2014 World Cup and the 2016 Olympic Games,” says UNIGLOBE president and chief operating officer Martin Charlwood. “UNIGLOBE clients around the world now have access to local knowledge and preferred pricing when travelling to these countries.”

Headquartered in São Paulo, Jet Stream Turismo is one of the largest travel management companies in Brazil and specializes in business, leisure and event travel. “There is an exciting future ahead for tourism and business travel in this country,” says owner and general manager, Francisco Leme da Silva, “We look forward to working with UNIGLOBE agencies to introduce more international travellers to Brazil.”

Viajes Verger S.A., with offices in Buenos Aires and Rosario, is part of the Barceló Travel Group spanning 14 countries worldwide. Since it opened its doors in the late 1940s, Viajes Verger has grown into one of the leading travel agencies in Argentina and will open other locations in the country in 2011. It specializes in corporate, leisure and event travel and was the first Argentinean agency to represent Rail Europe online. “Our new partnership will enable UNIGLOBE clients worldwide to take advantage of our regional preferred supplier relationships,” says director comercial Silvio Zappa.

Forecasters predict more foreign investment and growth in South American economies. According to the United States Office of Travel and Tourism Industries, more than 1,000,000 U.S. air travellers visited South America in the first five months of 2010. In 2009, it was the fourth most popular overseas destination for U.S. travellers and showed a 1.1% rise in visitors from that country, while Europe, the Caribbean and Asia all posted declines from the previous year.

The UNIGLOBE Global Partner Program is open to top-performing agencies in select markets. Member agencies get access to international buying power, systems, technology and networks to collaborate on international accounts not previously accessible to them. In turn, UNIGLOBE clients worldwide receive the benefits of locally negotiated rates for leisure, meeting and business travel.

A globally-recognized and trusted brand name for more than thirty years, UNIGLOBE Travel International is the world’s largest single brand travel franchise organization. UNIGLOBE agencies and global partners serve clients in 750 locations in more than 50 countries across North America, South America, Europe, Asia, Australasia, Africa and the Middle East. UNIGLOBE combines worldwide buying power with local vendor relationships to deliver personalized travel services tailored to the needs of corporate clients and vacation travellers.

Uniglobe Travel International LP is headquartered in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.