One way travel managers and management companies earn their stripes is guiding travelers through trip disruptions. Better still is helping them avoid such snafus. Using predictive analytics, that’s Flightsayer’s game. Some beta testers are intrigued. Better-known in corporate travel circles, FlightStats also is working on predictive analytics. It’s keeping a lot of that close to the vest for… Read More »
Return on investment for particular business trips is elusive. Amadeus is hoping to address that with new integration between its cytric booking tool and Salesforce. Amadeus expects cytric to be available on the Salesforce AppExchange by early fourth quarter, meaning clients can install its booking capabilities into the Salesforce mobile app. The integration will attach Salesforce CRM’s “opportunities”… Read More »
Hi-Mark Software made its mark more than a decade ago, and Kevin Austin sold it to TRX in 2007. Concur now is shutting down what remains of Austin’s technology, and he’s back with something new. His Big Data Experts has created a platform for building mobile apps, going to market as ONEtechnology. They’re not just any mobile apps.… Read More »
Sometimes the things we write about peter out. Sometimes more developments happen, but they don’t warrant an entirely new article. In other cases, something unexpected or counterintuitive is noteworthy in its continuance. Hence, the Updates post. Click to jump to United’s self-service portal enhancements, the next step for an emerging college-level corporate travel education program, Advito’s expanding collaboration… Read More »
[UPDATE, June 8, 2017: Adds Global Business Travel Association statement, at bottom.] Corporate travel constituents want a greater focus in Washington on FAA funding and the related issue of air traffic control modernization. The Trump administration on Monday proposed privatizing air traffic control. Hardly a new one, the idea drew lots of fresh criticism and questions from members… Read More »
U.S. authorities this week said an expanded “laptop ban” is “still on the table.” A prohibition on large personal electronic devices in passenger cabins on all transatlantic flights would decimate productivity. The International Air Transport Association estimated the impact at $1.1 billon annually. How did it come up with that number? Moreover, do corporate travel managers work out… Read More »
Disadvantaged relative to bigger companies that negotiate their own airfare discounts, small businesses mostly pay retail. TravelBank co-founder and CEO Duke Chung is out to change that. In a market full of business travel startups, one of his company’s angles is rebates for users. TravelBank introduced its first products in November. They are an expense app and budgeting… Read More »
You’re making a pitch in an unfamiliar city. The flight home is in a couple of hours, but you’re making headway with the client. Your phone dings: “If you don’t leave in the next 30 minutes, you’ll miss the flight. Would you like to rebook?” Tap yes and get back to the meeting. Too good to be true?… Read More »
[UPDATE, July 12, 2017: Mezi announced profile and dashboard functionality — and partnerships with Adelman Travel, Casto Travel and W Travel — as part of its Mezi for Business platform.] Conversational commerce startup Mezi hired former SAP Concur exec and risk management entrepreneur Johnny Thorsen as VP of travel strategy and partnerships. He offers contacts and expertise as… Read More »
Many travel management companies and tech firms are working to process more of their clients’ hotel bookings. Continuing its push, Carlson Wagonlit Travel is rolling out a simplified rate aggregation system and using loyalty points as incentives. During a Wednesday interview, CWT president of hotels Scott Brennan said some clients in Europe that use the KDS and Traveldoo… Read More »