Hotel sourcing expert and ex-Finnair Maarit Rimpelä joins Get-e to lead hotel sourcing integration for airlines
Amsterdam, 28th May 2021: Crew transportation expert Get-e has appointed Maarit Rimpelä as global sales director and hotel sourcing expert, bringing airline industry expertise to the development of Get-e’s crew transfers, accommodation, and passenger disruption capabilities. We caught up with her to find out what plans she has for her role.
Q. After spending 25 years at Finnair, why did you make the move to Get-e?
During my time at Finnair, I had a meeting with Get-e at Finnair headquarters ‘The House of Travel and Transportation’, and realised the companies’ values were very similar. Both focus on simplicity, commitment to care, and working together to improve customer service and satisfaction. Using this ethos, Get-e is creating a high-tech platform that will streamline many manual processes that I witnessed first-hand and allow airlines to build back stronger. This resonated with me and as I am always looking to expand my knowledge and take on new challenges, working for Get-e is an amazing opportunity and enables me to support the airline industry in digital transformation and explore new ways of working.
Q. What are your responsibilities at Get-e?
I will be working closely with airline companies to get to know them, understand their individual
situations and explore opportunities for cooperation and support.
In addition to this, because of the experience I have from working in the airline industry, I’m hoping to work closely with the network team on product development. We will be able to use our combined knowledge to grow Get-e as the optimal single flexible solution for carriers outsourcing crew transfers and accommodation, as well as streamlining passenger disruption procedures.
Q. What is your hotel sourcing vision for Get-e over the next 12 months?
There is so much opportunity for Get-e to develop new digital and streamlined services over the
next 12 months. One size does not fit all, so Get-e will offer flexible solutions to airlines. To do this it’s important that we understand the customer, their business targets, and what their exact needs are. Currently, airlines have adjusted their resources and as we ramp up air travel this year the market will be more competitive than ever. Through outsourcing manual operations to digital companies such as Get-e, more attention can be paid to their core business and what they are best at.
The digital transformation that we are seeing throughout the aviation industry is set to revolutionise the way airlines’ supply chains and networks integrate for the better and I cannot wait to support this through my work at Get-e.
Q. Where will you be based?
I live near Helsinki so will be the first Get-e employee based in the Nordic region, but once travel
restrictions allow, I hope to be visiting the offices in Amsterdam on a regular basis. We are all so
used to working remotely but it’s also important for me to meet both colleagues and clients face to face in order to build strong relationships and partnerships. I’m looking forward to the time when we can do this again.
Further information on the move of hotel sourcing expert Rimpela to Get-e:
With more than 25 years of experience at Finnair, Rimpelä is primed to develop the Get-e offering and support airlines with digital solutions as they prepare to restart activity with reduced resources. Within her role as global sales director, Rimpelä will work across the sales, product, and network teams.
Rimpelä began her career at Finnair Group’s Tour Operator Finntours which saw her working in Gran Canaria, Sri Lanka, and several Greek islands, before spending time within ground operations, training & development, and procurement divisions at Finnair.
Rimpelä says: “My passion is to help travel and airline businesses in digital transformation,
operational excellence and finding new efficient ways of working with internal and external
partners.”
Rimpelä thinks that cultural fit and similarity in values are also important factors in cooperation. She has found that Get-e’s values are very similar to those at Finnair – courage, simplicity, and
commitment to care. Rimpelä says: “I strongly believe that airlines will gain a competitive advantage by using new technologies and platforms to automate manual processes. Get-e has the perfect solution for airlines to support in this.”
“Airlines have adjusted their organisations and resources to fit the current market conditions, and as air travel ramps up the airlines’ international business environment will be extremely competitive. Through outsourcing manual operations to digital companies such as Get-e, more attention can be paid to their core business. The digital transformation that we are seeing throughout the aviation industry is set to revolutionize the way airlines’ supply chains and networks integrate for the better and I cannot wait to support this through my work at Get-e.”
Alexander van Deudekom, CEO and founder of Get-e says: “Maarit’s extensive experience at Finnair working alongside hotels and transportation organisations means that she knows the exact pain points within an airline’s operations. Using this knowledge, we can continue to grow Get-e as the optimal single flexible solution for carriers outsourcing crew transfers and accommodation, as well as streamlining passenger disruption procedures.”
Operating out of Helsinki, Rimpelä becomes the first Get-e employee to be based in the Nordics.
Rimpelä has a BSc. in Management and Marketing, as well as MSc. in International Business and
Business Law from Aalto University School of Business in Helsinki. Rimpelä is currently studying for a Diploma in Global Sourcing at Aalto University Executive Education to gain the latest knowledge on supply and network management and strategic sourcing.
Company profile
Get-e is the transport services partner of choice for airlines, assistive travel, and business travelers worldwide. Get-e offers customers a technology-driven ground transport booking and management service with 24/7 expert support from its headquarters in Amsterdam.
Currently, companies across the travel industry can book their rides with Get-e in 110 countries and more than 900 destinations. Get-e offers a complete cross-section of safe and secure vehicles, with the fleet offered including; Sedans, Minivans, Sprinters, and Coaches.
If you’d like to find out more about Get-e, pick up the phone to speak to one of our advisors. For a call, you can reach us 24/7 at +44 203 856 8655. For a digital approach, get in touch via our contact page.
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