Boston – Big hotel companies have a monumental task in keeping their properties safe. Many are in far-flung locales, some of which are deemed risky. They may be terrorist targets. They’re unwitting havens for human traffickers. They host high-profile events and high-profile guests. People from all walks of life are always coming and going. Corporate security and travel… 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 »
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 »
You generally will not see interviews published here, but an opportunity that came up last week made an exception worthwhile. What follows are excerpts of separate interviews with top executives at the three largest travel management companies. We spoke by phone with American Express Global Business Travel president Philippe Chérèque last Monday, Carlson Wagonlit Travel president and CEO… Read More »
It’s a classic tale of challenges and opportunities. And disclaimers. For when the three biggest travel management companies help clients use Airbnb, they say, they’re not endorsing it. Whether to use it is up to clients. TMCs are simply capturing data. Well, they might be marketing it, too. And they could soon be booking it. In any case,… Read More »
[UPDATE, June 10: Airbnb announced the program. An official said travel agents are not part of it for the moment, but on-site agents might be. More context here.] Breaking from its standard policy of allowing only the guest to book his or her own accommodations, Airbnb is preparing a feature for its business clients allowing travel agents or arrangers… Read More »
As they work for advantage, clients, suppliers and those in between keep business travel management interesting. Changes to underlying and consumer-facing technology make it a dynamic business function. The personal and geopolitical elements of business travel offer points of note from the micro to macro levels. As one of our featured practitioners noted, this job is about economics, geography, psychology and then some. And so last… Read More »
Airbnb last month announced that “business demand” surged and more than 1,000 companies had “formally” made it “part of their corporate travel programs.” The statement garnered press about corporate executives clamoring for the service, but it overreached. After our queries, Airbnb deleted the word “formally” from its announcement. [UPDATE, Sept. 21: Oddly, Airbnb has since reinserted the word.] It is… Read More »
Airbnb has set up a pilot program in San Francisco to “help hosts tailor their listings to business travelers.” It’s now gathering “business-ready” property information. Among the qualifications, the property must be listed in its entirety, keys must be available at all hours on check-in day, pets and smoking are not allowed and the host must have accepted at least three… Read More »
International SOS for a few months has been taking data from Airbnb to help joint clients locate employees in a crisis. Sources said Airbnb also is soliciting other types of support from travel risk management companies to increase its appeal to corporate travel programs. Meanwhile, Airbnb seems to be expanding its business travel sales and account management capabilities. The home… Read More »