Tag Archives: HRS

HRS Tests Blockchain For Corporate Hotel Negotiations, Check-In Procedures

By | April 19, 2018
HRS vice president of product Martin Biermann

One of the first applications of blockchain to corporate travel is in the works at hotel distribution and contracting specialist HRS. Spurred in part by discussions with sourcing client Siemens, HRS is testing blockchain-powered smart contracts, allowing clients and hotels to negotiate rates that change based on environmental conditions. In another scenario, blockchain supports identity verification at check-in. The… Read More »

The Year In Polls: Travel Risk Is Ubiquitous, Preparation Isn’t

By | December 20, 2017
Year in polls

It’s clear that travel risk management is a top priority for travel management professionals (1, 2). Recent industry research, though, showed companies are at varying stages of preparedness. The demand is there. Company leaders, investors and regulators may insist on certain measures. Travelers are asking, too. One-quarter of the travel managers polled in April 2017 by the Association of… Read More »

The Year In Polls: Despite Irritations, Business Travelers Are Happy

By | December 18, 2017
Year in polls

Travel management’s top priority for a long time was cost control. Now, duty of care and traveler safety are front and center. Traveler satisfaction continues to rank a bit lower (1, 2). Nevertheless, corporate travelers seem to be a pretty satisfied bunch, at least according to 2017 industry research. It sounds counter-intuitive. Business travel is grueling. The list of headaches and… Read More »

GBTA May Add Airbnb To Hotel Sourcing Tool

By | November 6, 2017
GBTA RFP

GBTA will consider “all forms of accommodations” for a forthcoming update to its hotel request for proposals template. Aiming to complete the update in time for 2019 rate negotiations, GBTA will establish a volunteer task force to determine which new elements to incorporate, according to an association official. Bringing home-sharing into the annual hotel RFP process would be… Read More »

CWT Using Points, New Rate System To Capture More Hotel Bookings

By | May 19, 2017

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 »

Providers: Audit To Improve Hotel Sourcing Results

By | May 5, 2017

Companies that do not audit hotel rates and availability are leaving piles of cash on front desks, according to BCD Travel analysis of client data. Without standard rate audits, a firm spending about $20 million annually on hotels overpays them by $490,000, the travel management company found. The same client would save about $900,000 per year using both rate and availability audits. Extrapolating the findings, BCD… Read More »

2017 U.S. Corporate Hotel Rates: Small Increases, Some Happy Surprises

By | January 4, 2017

[CLARIFICATION, Jan. 4, 2017: An HRS spokesperson explained that while the company promotes independent properties, it does not require sourcing clients to commit to using them. Rather, those clients are asked to funnel “a reasonable” share of total hotel volume through HRS systems. This article has been updated with that information.] U.S. corporate negotiated hotel rates generally are… Read More »