Denver – Despite its headaches, travel management pros who use virtual payment say it’s too beneficial to pass up. Speakers here during the Global Business Travel Association convention last month raised, and attempted to answer, the many questions. Virtual payment is a popular option for travelers without corporate cards. It cuts accounting reconciliation times and…
Most of the recently announced members-only rates from major hotel chains are available in managed travel channels, but that’s not the whole point. Business travelers may still think they can get better rates elsewhere. Absent strong policies related to hotel bookings, travel managers need to wield all the communication and engagement tools at their disposal…
[UPDATE, May 5: Travel agencies will earn commissions on the IHG rates, according to a press official.] [UPDATE, May 3: InterContinental Hotels Group is “working diligently” to make the new member rates available via GDSs “in the coming weeks,” according to an IHG letter to travel professionals.] Confused about how and whether to access some…
[UPDATE, May 9 2016: Hyatt reversed course on GDS participation for member rates.] Like two of its rivals before, Hyatt Hotels on Monday announced a marketing and rate program specifically for loyalty program members. The companies are attempting to neutralize online travel agencies. However, unlike Hilton and Marriott, Hyatt’s discounted rates of “up to 10 percent”…
Hilton Worldwide declined to comment, but several sources said it’s planning to reduce agency commissions on its new HHonors rates. Those are the discounted rates that Hilton revealed in February as part of its “Stop Clicking Around” marketing campaign, designed to compete with online travel agencies. Other travel agencies at first worried they also would…
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….
The corporate travel world’s opinion of Marriott is bipolar. Travelers love the loyalty program, but that can work against corporate program compliance. Many industry professionals respect the company’s success but get discouraged when it takes a hard line on various issues. Travel buyers like the idea of a consistent, high-quality product from a world-renowned brand…
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