American Express Business Travel formed a joint venture with Spain's Barceló Business Travel, part of tourism company Grupo Barceló, that initially will service 400 customers. For Amex, the Spanish joint venture follows JVs established on China, Itlay and Japan.

Germany's BASF "turned over" its internal travel booking service to Carlson Wagonlit Travel, which will service the chemical firm in 45 European, Middle Eastern and African nations.

Corporate negotiated hotel rates this year will rise throughout the Asia-Pacific region, according to an American Express forecast. The company expects steep hikes in Mumbai (40 percent), Delhi (36 percent), Singapore (29 percent), Taipei (25 percent) and Beijing (21 percent).

FCm Travel Solutions partnered with Korean travel management company Sejoong Tour Co Ltd. FCm claimed Sejoong Tour--with locations in Seoul, Kangnam and Busan City--handles 20 percent of Korea's business travel market. FCm also opened an office in Singapore to serve local clients and handle business in Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam.

Hogg Robinson Group signed Shell Oil Products in Africa to a two-year contract covering 15 African countries and including HRG's Web-based, traveler tracking system.

BCD Travel parent BCD Holdings N.V. reported "record" 2007 earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization of $120 million. Sales volume increased to $10.4 billion, or $13 billion when including BCD Travel partners and franchisees. The company anticipates that "autonomous growth" would generate a "modest increase in sales" in 2008. BCD chairman John Fentener van Vlissingen said the company "will be focusing on the emerging markets in the Asia-Pacific region."

Lufthansa and JetBlue Airways "will begin exploring innovative commercial arrangements" now that the former's 19 percent investment in the latter has closed. Asked if there is an opportunity to bring JetBlue into the Star Alliance, United Airlines CEO Glenn Tilton said, "The East Coast of the United States, as a market of connectivity for our Atlantic partners and ourselves, is a market of interest."