HRS

HRS Approach To 2021 RFPs Annoys Chains, Recalls Questions About Contracting With Brands Or Properties

HRS tested the patience of some hoteliers with a decision to direct client requests for proposals to individual properties rather than brand representatives.  According to sources in hospitality, the approach caused confusion and threatened brand value by disintermediating national account managers. In some cases, HRS agreed to revert after high-level talks. Asking not to be…

Reporter’s Notebook: Communication Breakdowns, Policy Leakage, Virtual Pay, Government (In)action

With no one conducting in-person corporate events, the industry calendar is filled with webinars and other virtual programming. No one can listen to it all. Nor should they want to; many are beset by technical difficulties or stray too far into supplier marketing. But plenty deliver education for travel management pros and enable networking, benchmarking…

Hotel Cleanliness: Know Before You Book, And Maybe While You’re There

Hotels are taking hygiene very seriously. Instilling confidence is the top strategic challenge, but the practicalities are difficult. One is getting the specifics of new cleanliness programs and certifications in front of travelers when they book. Travel management companies, booking tech providers and others are working to address the issue. BCD Travel global hotel practice…

Hotel Cleanliness: Making Sense Of Certifications And Brand Initiatives

Buyers may or may not issue formal RFPs for next year’s hotel rates, but most will look for assurances that properties are safe. There’s an array of new, branded hygiene programs announced by chains, certifications from various entities and recommendations from health authorities and industry associations. There’s a lot of commonality between these programs but…

As Associations Explore Virtual Payment Standards, Providers Push Solutions

Corporate travel players continue to smooth out the seams in virtual payment use, especially at hotel check-in where confusion remains commonplace. Sabre is testing the placement of virtual payment indicators along with booking info in its global distribution system. Associations are working on a new payment “channel” that would operate in parallel to booking channels….

Tripbam Automation Will Relentlessly Bug Hotels Violating Deals

One of the most frustrating aspects of hotel relationships for corporations is that the better the negotiated rate, the more often it shows as sold out. Hotels tinker with room inventories and in the process sometimes violate contracts stipulating last-room availability. Tripbam is testing a program that alerts hotels when they fail to live up…

Results Are In: Corporates Held The Line On Negotiated 2019 Hotel Rates, Tripbam Clients Did Better

With another annual contracting season mostly in the rear view, the three largest travel management companies reported modest increases in their clients’ negotiated corporate hotel rates for 2019. At properties in North America, the average contracted rate is up around 1 percent from 2018. Tripbam CEO Steve Reynolds said his clients secured corporate rates that averaged…

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