Continent Express

Corporate Travel Managementcontinent.ru

Continent Express is a Russian Travel Management Company (TMC) founded in 1997 that provides end-to-end corporate travel management, visa services, and MICE event organization to 1,024+ enterprise clients including major Russian banks, oil & gas, and telecom firms, processing 6 million bookings annually.

Company typePrivate
Founded1997
HeadquartersMoscow, Russia
Headcount251–500
GTM typeB2B
OfferingServices

What Continent Express does

Continent Express is a Russian Travel Management Company (TMC) founded in 1997 and headquartered in Moscow, with branch offices in Saint Petersburg and Tyumen. The company provides end-to-end corporate travel management for large Russian enterprises — covering airline ticketing, hotel booking, rail, transfers, car rental, visa and migration services, business aviation charter, VIP airport services, and MICE event organization. It claims 1,024+ permanent corporate clients including Sberbank, Rosneft, MTS, Bank Otkrytie, Sanofi, Bosch, and Prosveshcheniye, and processes roughly 6 million bookings per year against an annual turnover of 13 billion RUB.

The company's technology stack centers on proprietary platforms developed by its in-house IT subsidiary IT4TI: OBT Continent Express (online booking tool integrating Amadeus, Sabre, and Sirena-Travel GDS), SMARTA (analytics with 200+ built-in reports on travel budget and policy compliance), SmartPORT (supplier management), and EMS Consol (expense management). Distribution is hybrid: direct enterprise field sales via dedicated account managers and implant/outplant office models, RFP/tender participation, and consortium partnerships (Radius Travel). The company is IATA-accredited and holds visa accreditations in 8 embassies plus FMS and KD MID RF, supporting a 35-specialist visa-migration department that processes 30,000 visas annually.

Revenue is generated through five streams: travel booking commissions and transaction fees (the largest), corporate travel management services (managed services contracts), visa and migration professional services, MICE event management fees, and bespoke individual tourism. Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed. The GTM motion is primarily enterprise field sales targeting large corporates, with sales-led RFP engagement and event-driven lead generation from MICE work. Founded by Stanislav Kostyashkin (still CEO), the company remains privately held with no disclosed external investors.

Continent Express firmographics

Firmographics

Name: Continent Express
Legal name: Continent Express
Website: https://continent.ru
Company type: Private
Founded year: 1997
Operating status: Operating
Headcount range: 251–500 employees
Short description: Continent Express is a Russian Travel Management Company (TMC) founded in 1997 that provides end-to-end corporate travel management, visa services, and MICE event organization to 1,024+ enterprise clients including major Russian banks, oil & gas, and telecom firms, processing 6 million bookings annually.
Ownership category
akta.pro rank

Continent Express industry classification

Industry

Product category: Corporate Travel Management
NAICS: Travel Agencies (561510), Other Travel Arrangement and Reservation Services (56159)
SIC: Transportation Services (4700)
akta.pro primary industry: Full-Service Corporate TMCs (End-to-End Managed Travel) (THAKACAA)
akta.pro secondary industries: Corporate Booking Platforms & Online TMCs (THAKAAAG), Enterprise/Global Account Corporate TMCs (THAKACAD)

Keywords

Corporate travel management
Business travel services
Online booking tools
Visa migration services
MICE event management

Where Continent Express is headquartered

Location

Headquarters

HQ city: Moscow
HQ country: Russia
HQ region: Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

Continent Express business model

Business model

GTM type: B2B
Offering type: Services
Cost components: Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

Travel Booking Commissions and Transaction Fees: Commissions and transaction fees from booking flights, hotels, rail tickets, car rentals, and other travel services through the platform. Revenue generated per transaction based on bookings made for corporate clients.
Corporate Travel Management Services: Comprehensive travel management services including travel policy development, supplier management, reporting, and 24/7 support. Billed through service fees and management contracts.
Visa and Migration Services: Visa processing, work permits, immigration legal services, and visa expert opinions. Professional services revenue from migration law expertise.
MICE Services: Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Events organization services including VR-based Digital MICE. Revenue from event management fees and project-based professional services.
Individual Tourism and Concierge: Bespoke travel design, concierge services, and exclusive experiences for high-net-worth individuals. Premium pricing for personalized travel arrangements.

Pricing tiers

Model	Billing	Price
Transaction based/ take rate	Pay-as-you-go	Corporate car rental through partner suppliers SIXT, Hertz, Europcar, Avis, Budget
Transaction based/ take rate	Pay-as-you-go	Hotel bookings through Amadeus GDS (350,000+ hotels), consolidators, and Radius Travel program (30,000+ hotels in 137 countries)
Other	Pay-as-you-go	Visa and migration services for work permits, business visas, and immigration support

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels6 records

Continent Express product offering

Product offering

Core offering

Continent Express is a Russian Travel Management Company (TMC) that provides end-to-end corporate travel management including online booking of flights, hotels, rail, transfers, and car rental through a proprietary OBT platform, backed by SMARTA analytics, supplier management, visa and migration services, and MICE event organization. The company serves 1,024+ corporate clients with 24/7 support, dedicated account management, and on-site implant offices, processing 6 million bookings and 30,000 visas annually across Russia and internationally.

Product overview

Continent Express is a Russian business travel management company (TMC) offering a platform of integrated travel management solutions. The core technology platform consists of OBT Continent Express (online booking tool), Smarta (analytics and reporting with 200+ reports), SmartPORT (supplier monitoring), and EMS Consol (expense management). These are complemented by comprehensive services including airline/rail/hotel booking, corporate transfers via Yandex.Taxi integration, car rental, business aviation charter, VIP airport services, visa and immigration support, courier services, 24/7 support, traveler profile management, and MICE/event services. The company operates with 3 branches (Moscow, St. Petersburg, Tyumen), an internal IT company, 2 R&D centers, and 500 employees serving 1,024+ corporate clients.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

OBT Continent Express: Online Booking Tool platform for business travel management and automation
Smarta
SmartPORT
EMS Consol
Continent Adventure Club
IT4TI
Continent Express FIT
Continent Alumni Club

Products and services

OBT Continent Express Online Booking Tool (OBT) platform for corporate travel enabling online booking of flights, hotels, rail tickets, transfers, and other travel services with integrated travel policy compliance controls and access to corporate discounts.
SMARTA
SmartPORT
EMS Consol
Corporate Travel Management
Airline Ticketing
Hotel Booking
Railway Ticketing
Car Rental
Corporate Transfer
Visa Support
Labor Migration Services
MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, Events)
Digital MICE
Individual Tourism / Travel Design
Implant Office / Travel Desk
24/7 Support Service
Business Aviation Charter
VIP Airport Services
Travel Policy Development
Supply Management
Management Reporting
Group Booking
Courier Service
Traveler Profiles

Quantifiable outcome

6 million bookings processed annually
+4 more outcomes

Companies that use Continent Express

Customer profile

Named customers7 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Continent Express technology and API

Technology

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API: No
API docs
API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature6 records

Continent Express partnerships and signals

Strategic signal

Partnerships

19 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

Amadeus GDScoreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 1997Long-standing partnership with Amadeus global distribution system providing access to flights, hotels, and travel services inventory. Amadeus serves as primary booking platform with 350,000+ hotel properties and comprehensive airline inventory for corporate bookings.
Sabre GDScoreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 1997Partnership with Sabre global distribution system for flight bookings and travel inventory access, complementing Amadeus integration for comprehensive market coverage.
Sirena-Travel GDScoreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 1997Russian GDS provider integration for domestic and regional travel services, particularly important for Russian airline inventory and regional routes.
IATA (International Air Transport Association)coreOthers · 1 January 1997IATA accreditation providing BSP access to all international airlines for ticket issuance. Essential certification for legitimate air ticket sales in the global aviation market.
TKP (Transport Clearing House)coreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 1997Partnership with Russian Transport Clearing House for access to domestic Russian airline inventory and settlement services for ruble-denominated transactions.
Radius TravelcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1997Exclusive membership in Radius Travel global TMC consortium providing access to Radius Hotel Program with 30,000+ hotels in 137 countries, preferential booking rates, and high-demand period access to 450+ hotels worldwide. Strategic partnership for international service delivery.
Gulliver (GTA)majorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorHotel consolidator partnership for accessing global hotel inventory with negotiated corporate rates and preferential availability.
Horse 21majorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorHotel consolidator partnership providing access to additional hotel inventory and competitive pricing for corporate clients.
AcademicservicemajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorHotel and travel services consolidator partnership for Russian and international hotel inventory.
A&AminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorHotel consolidator partnership for specific market segments and regional coverage.
OstrovokminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRussian hotel aggregator partnership for domestic hotel inventory and booking services.
SIXTmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPremium car rental partner providing corporate rental services across 165+ countries with preferential corporate rates and dedicated account management.
HertzmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGlobal car rental partner providing corporate fleet services with global coverage and negotiated corporate pricing.
EuropcarmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorEuropean car rental partner with strong presence in Europe, Middle East, and Africa for corporate travel needs.
Avis Budget GroupmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGlobal car rental partner providing corporate services with extensive network coverage and accessibility options.
Soglasie Insurance CompanyminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTravel insurance partnership with Soglasie, a leading Russian insurance company, for comprehensive travel coverage for corporate clients.
Rail EuropemajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorEuropean rail booking platform partnership for accessing European train services including TGV, Eurostar, ICE and other European rail networks.
Tsar VoyageminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRussian rail booking partner for domestic and regional train services in Russia and CIS countries.
Deutsche BahnminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDirect partnership with German railway for European rail travel booking and corporate rail solutions.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves2 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Continent Express competitors and assessment

Company assessment

Direct peers

UTS Group: Russian corporate travel management company providing business travel, MICE, and visa support to enterprise clients — direct domestic peer with overlapping service portfolio and target customer base.
Aeroclub: Russian TMC and direct domestic competitor offering corporate travel management, MICE, and visa services to enterprise clients in Russia — most direct peer comparison given shared market, overlapping service portfolio, and similar customer profiles.
Direct Travel: US-based mid-to-large market TMC specializing in enterprise corporate travel management with proprietary technology, dedicated account teams, and 24/7 support — comparable in targeting large enterprises with full-service TMC model.
FCM Travel (Flight Centre Travel Group): Global TMC serving large enterprise and SME segments with consulting-led travel management, proprietary technology, and 24/7 support — comparable in business model, enterprise GTM, and tech-enabled service delivery to Continent Express.
BCD Travel: One of the three largest global TMCs offering end-to-end corporate travel management, technology platforms (TripSource, DecisionSource), and MICE services to multinational enterprises — directly comparable to Continent Express in service mix, though with global rather than Russian geographic focus.
American Express Global Business Travel: Largest global TMC (post-merger with CWT) serving enterprise clients with managed travel programs, proprietary OBT and analytics platforms, and 24/7 support — directly comparable offering to Continent Express but at global scale.
CWT (Carlson Wagonlit Travel): Legacy global TMC with deep enterprise client base and full-service corporate travel, MICE, and visa support offering; most direct historical peer in the global TMC space before its merger with American Express GBT.
Corporate Travel Management (CTM): APAC-headquartered global TMC that grew by acquiring regional TMCs (including former Russian operations) and offers enterprise travel management, MICE, and proprietary technology — comparable business model and growth trajectory.

Emerging players

Navan (formerly TripActions): Tech-first corporate travel and expense platform combining OBT, payments, and AI-driven personalization — competes for the same enterprise clients as Continent Express with a modern SaaS-native approach rather than traditional full-service model.

Others

Radius Travel: Global consortium of independent TMCs that Continent Express belongs to; relevant as both a distribution channel and an ecosystem peer set that competes for enterprise RFPs under a unified technology and service standard.

Market position

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks1 record

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Continent Express financial estimates

Financial estimate

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Continent Express leadership team

Management profile

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Continent Express subsidiaries and ownership

Company hierarchy

Subsidiaries2 records

Continent Express funding detail

Funding detail

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Continent Express M&A and investment

M&A and investment

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Continent Express

What does Continent Express do?

Is Continent Express a public or private company?

Continent Express is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.

When was Continent Express founded?

Continent Express was founded in 1997. It employs 251 to 500 people.

Where is Continent Express based?

Continent Express is headquartered in Moscow, Russia, in the Europe region.

How does Continent Express make money?

Five revenue lines are on record. Travel Booking Commissions and Transaction Fees are the primary driver. The others are corporate Travel Management Services, visa and Migration Services, MICE Services and individual Tourism and Concierge.

Who are Continent Express's main competitors?

Direct peers on record are UTS Group, Aeroclub, Direct Travel, FCM Travel (Flight Centre Travel Group), BCD Travel, American Express Global Business Travel, CWT (Carlson Wagonlit Travel) and Corporate Travel Management (CTM). Navan (formerly TripActions) is listed as an emerging player. Radius Travel is listed as an others.

Does Continent Express have an API?

No public API is recorded for Continent Express.

What industry is Continent Express in?

Continent Express's product category is Corporate Travel Management. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THAKACAA, Full-Service Corporate TMCs (End-to-End Managed Travel), with a secondary code of THAKAAAG, Corporate Booking Platforms & Online TMCs. Its NAICS code is 561510 and its SIC code is 4700.