Travel Leaders Group in July acquired Raleigh, N.C.-based Travel Management Partners. It’s another in a string of deals pushing TLG to the extremes of travel agency heft. Twenty-three year-old TMP employed about 135 people as of a year ago. According to The News & Observer of Raleigh, TMP in 2015 arranged more than $300 million in travel for about 40… Read More »
The International Air Transport Association disallows travel agencies from using their own credit cards for purchasing airline tickets on clients’ behalf. If an IATA proposal to revise its rules gains approval from members, that prohibition will be history. Even if IATA members approve the amendment at a conference in November, though, Lufthansa Group seems to have no interest… Read More »
Airbnb inventory is coming to corporate booking channels. Concur and Flight Centre this summer went public with their plans. Amadeus is considering if and how to link its booking tool. Airbnb’s self-reported data shows rapid growth even before these integrations. Anecdotal reports indicate increased corporate acceptance. Concur in July said “in the coming months” it would integrate Airbnb… Read More »
The reception to some hotel chains’ new 48-hour cancellation rules has been “perfectly fine,” according to Hilton Worldwide CEO Christopher Nassetta. “Nobody likes incremental restrictions on the flexibility of reservations, but I think most customers understand that we’ve got a need to manage our inventory and avoid walking people,” said Marriott International CEO Arne Sorenson. “As a consequence, the response… Read More »
Airbnb’s continued buildout of corporate travel capabilities has awoken the sleepy serviced apartments sector. New investment capital supports startups for bookings, sourcing and property management. Traditional operators are creating their own distribution platforms. Design norms are shifting along with client expectations for something interesting. Useful for relocation, internships, project work, insurance services and emergencies, serviced apartments and variations… Read More »
Travel management sources said British Airways parent IAG should go back to the drawing board on recently discussed alternatives to its surcharge program, due to take effect Nov. 1. An IAG official offered no comment on news that the firm is in the market talking to travel management companies about an incentive program not unlike the one described… Read More »
Measuring lodging’s environmental impact is less straightforward than for air travel or car rental. All three contribute to a business trip’s carbon footprint, but hotels also use lots of water and electricity, and deal with a lot of trash. When deciding which properties to work with, most companies don’t consider environmental data. Many, though, ask for it. More… Read More »
Breaking into travel risk management is no easy task. One startup whose leaders spoke at the 2016 Global Business Travel Association convention pivoted away from TRM. Some are focusing on one TRM component and partnering for others. It’s an active sector, with a few providers now targeting the small and medium enterprise market for the first time. Heavyweight… Read More »
Sabre’s new leadership is remaking the company. At the start of this month, they attributed a decision to lay off approximately 900 people to a desire to become faster and more efficient. They’re attacking overhead. They’re streamlining products in the division housing airline reservations and related systems. Sometimes stocks go up on news about layoffs. Not this time.… Read More »
After beating the packaging drum for more than a year, Jay Walker’s Upside Travel is now also offering flights and hotels individually. It added Uber as a packaging option and will soon announce new support services. TMC relationships have not advanced, but Walker reiterated during a Thursday interview that they’re part of the plan. Upside publicized the new… Read More »