Local companies combine to offer complete end-to-end travel and accommodation management services for major industrial projects

EDMONTON, Feb. 3, 2015 /CNW/ – Gemstone Logistics, a leading local provider of travel management services, today announced it has entered into a binding agreement to purchase all of the issued and outstanding shares in the capital of Edmonton-based Orissa Software. Orissa manages tens of thousands of rooms for high profile oil, gas, and mining clients, and is the market leader in North America delivering accommodation and guest management solutions to remote workforce accommodation sites. This transaction—which is due to close on February 27, 2015—is the result of a competitive bidding process, with Orissa attracting investment interest from the U.S., Australia, and local businesses.

The complementary offerings of both Gemstone and Orissa create a compelling suite of integrated solutions for oil, gas and mining companies tasked with managing complex fly-in-fly-out programs and lodging facilities. This agreement combines the strengths of Gemstone’s proprietary travel and accommodation management software, CIRYS (formerly GTMS), and Orissa’s CampWare™ and VICTUS™ web reservation software to deliver seamless and cost-effective travel and accommodation management services for clients.

“We’re so pleased to join together with Orissa. Integrating Orissa’s technology with CIRYS will allow us to deliver end-to-end commercial travel, charter programs, and accommodation management to ensure projects of any scope and scale run smoothly,” said Tom McHale, founder and president of Gemstone. “With the uncertainty surrounding oil prices at the moment, companies are more focussed on ways to save money and increase efficiencies—now, we’re in an even stronger position to help them do this.”

“In addition to the natural, strategic fit between our products, our decision to partner with Gemstone was largely based on an existing working relationship and their extensive industry experience,” said Jim Seethram, founder and CEO of Orissa. “Most importantly, we share similar corporate values that put the client experience first.” Seethram, who will take on an expanded role in addition to overseeing Orissa, added, “Together, we will continue to deliver exceptional accommodation management solutions to existing clients, as well as providing a single travel management solution to both current and future clients.”

About Gemstone:
Gemstone plans, coordinates, and manages the movement of workers to remote locations on behalf of major oil and gas companies. From initial project analysis and strategic planning, to cost analysis and forecasting, Gemstone offers complete program management. Gemstone’s proprietary travel management software, CIRYS, is the quickest and easiest way to book and manage charter travel and camp logistics, while its ACTA and IATA-accredited travel agency, Gemstone Travel, enables commercial travel to be seamlessly integrated too. Gemstone’s experience, knowledge and custom software is proven to enhance travel management processes and deliver extensive time and cost savings.
www.gemstonelogistics.com

About Orissa:
Orissa’s suite of productivity tools, including CampWare™ and VICTUS™, provides a scalable software solution tailored to the accommodation management, food service, and guest management needs of workforce accommodation facilities. Built for high-occupancy facilities such as oil and gas, mining, and security forces camps, CampWare™ and VICTUS™ expedite guest management functions, such as reservations, check-in and registration, dorm and room management, food service attendance tracking, and segmented invoicing across business units, divisions, and subcontractors.
www.orissasoftware.com | www.orissavictus.com

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