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 »
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 »
When Amway global sourcing manager Guy Langenburg attempted to gather data for global travel management consolidation, some local managers and suppliers hid it from him. No, really. They acted like children. It’s far from the first illustration of what corporate travel educators have been saying for years about globalization projects. You need to know your company. You need… Read More »
It might be difficult to attach numbers to something as seemingly abstract as travel risk management. How do you measure the return on investing in this area? There are a few approaches, both qualitative and quantitative. To understand the ROI, one first has to understand the risks. Travel risk management gets more attention now than it did a… 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 »