Do rigid, frugal travel policies jeopardize employee performance? It’s debatable. Tripbam CEO Steve Reynolds is in the cost-control camp. His argument goes like this: It’s not the airplane seat or the hotel that makes for an effective trip. Get employees to their destinations safely and let their job training and specific skillset take it from there. “The cost… Read More »
Tripkicks is a new tech company focused on helping companies spend less on business travel through employee incentives. Its approach is similar to that of Rocketrip, which helped popularize the notion of behavioral change based on shared savings. Tripkicks’ largest investor is Acquis Consulting, which also is a strategic partner helping with implementation. Tripkicks CEO Jeff Berk is… Read More »
AirPlus International has made mistakes by not asking customers the right questions in advance. It’s a humble admission by executive director of marketing Yael Klein about a challenge many companies face. She believes that recognizing the problem will help the business travel industry innovate. Klein also encourages people to accept the risks of failure. Failing is an important… Read More »
CCRA’s Dic Marxen sees corporate travel agent salaries rising by double-digit percentages because of the profession’s aging workforce and dearth of new labor. He wasn’t surprised to see Travel Leaders Group this month create a scholarship program for military veterans. Marxen had a similar idea three years ago that died at the feet of federal bureaucracy, but he isn’t… Read More »
In corporate travel, sometimes there is tension between what is best for the employee doing the traveling and what is best for the organization footing the bill. Travel programs strive to find a balance that suits both. Arlene Coyle is chief commercial officer for corporations in the Travel Channels division at Amadeus IT Group. She discusses how a… Read More »
The decision by Siemens to move all hotel sourcing to HRS isn’t only about improving the $101 billion industrial manufacturer’s lodging program. It supports a traveler-centric philosophy through flexibility and choice that’s also reflected in other areas like air travel and booking channels. Process efficiencies are a bonus. “This is not open booking by definition,” said Albert James… Read More »
During decent economic conditions, traveler satisfaction is big in travel management circles. Everyone wants happy, healthy and productive employees, and many see that translating to improved corporate performance. Tripbam founder and CEO Steve Reynolds takes a contrarian view. He argues that it’s impossible to measure the return from giving travelers what they want. And once they start getting… Read More »