When Amway global sourcing manager Guy Langenburg attempted to gather data for global travel management consolidation, some local managers and suppliers hid it from him. No, really. They acted like children. It’s far from the first illustration of what corporate travel educators have been saying for years about globalization projects. You need to know your company. You need… Read More »
Boston – It’s folly to look for consensus on which way corporate travel policy is moving. Speakers at the Global Business Travel Association convention here last week displayed a wide range of approaches and opinions. On one panel, a travel manager wished his company’s policy was stricter while his co-panelist said she strives for a softer touch and… Read More »
Efforts encouraging corporate travelers to do the right thing run the gamut. Punitive measures for policy noncompliance range from informing managers to withholding reimbursement. Short of requiring pre-trip approval, other strategies use incentives like gift cards, cash or simple positive reinforcement. Why not reward travelers with loyalty program points? Frequent flyer, guest and renter programs are the lifeblood for… Read More »
Those who travel for business view warnings about the mental and physical hazards either as an “identity threat” or a “more concerning reality check.” This was a finding from an academic study published last week on the reaction to an earlier study exploring the “darker side of hypermobility.” The first study argued that the perceived glamour of frequent… Read More »
[UPDATE, April 26, 2017: Rocketrip said Carlson Wagonlit Travel, Deem, Ovation Corporate Travel, Sabre and Travel Leaders Corporate joined Concur in its partnership program.] Rocketrip CEO Dan Ruch thinks too few travel managers are advocates for travelers. He said the profession has a policy compliance problem and lacks innovation. His new, big-name clients apparently agree with at least… Read More »
Traveler engagement is an area of opportunity, but translating touchy-feely principles for a procurement mindset of compliance and savings is problematic. Many practitioners remain in the earliest stages of a more robust engagement program, studying and planning. According to an Association of Corporate Travel Executives/American Express Global Business Travel September 2016 survey of 254 corporate travel managers, 90… Read More »
Microsoft has avoided “significant disruptions to stakeholders” since deploying in May 2016 a travel management outsource model that pushes the frontier of process over people. While the client continues to “own” strategy and sourcing, American Express Global Business Travel handles day-to-day travel manager tasks previously assigned mainly to travel department contractors. The setup freed Microsoft’s own travel professionals… Read More »
Travel suppliers want to provide personalized offers to travelers. Some travel managers want to customize travel policies to better fit individual travelers and the specifics of a trip. The problem is, some online booking tools can’t or don’t easily handle the nuances. OBTs connect with traveler profiles. Those often include basic data like an employee’s level in the… Read More »
Traveler Engagement Feb. 9, 2017 Thanks to all our attendees and speakers! This event’s recording may be purchased here or gifted here for $10. Grab the slides here. A big part of travel management is traveler management, or it should be. Our sixth teleconference featured four practitioners discussing the tools, metrics, benefits and challenges of traveler engagement. Speakers: Festive… Read More »
Adoption of online booking technology means corporate agencies can grow without a commensurate increase in headcount. But when new travel agents are needed, especially as the retirement bubble looms, how do they find them and what competencies are they looking for? For young people considering their careers, travel isn’t as glamorous as it used to be. There are… Read More »