In partnership with Festive Road, The Company Dime’s Jay Campbell and David Jonas chat with experts about business travel and expense management news, best practices and emerging options.
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Upcoming Events 
Teleconference 24
GBTA Recap
September 13, 2018, 12 p.m. EDT
Festive Road and The Company Dime team up to gather intel and opinion on the trends and topics that shape the Global Business Travel Association convention, with an eye toward what’s to come for travel management in 2019. Register.
Archive
Teleconference 23: American Airlines SVP Alison Taylor, Aug. 9, 2018
Alison Taylor spent 16 years at Starwood Hotels & Resorts in various sales roles before jumping to American Airlines in 2016 to become SVP global sales and distribution. We asked Alison about the carrier’s latest corporate sales efforts, the evolution of airline distribution and her experiences as an executive in two industries controlled by male leaders. Airline and TMC veteran Monisa Cline joined us as guest moderator. Download here.
Teleconference 22: Debating The Role Of Traveler Satisfaction, July 12, 2018
This all-star speaker panel included Microsoft global director of travel, venuesource and payment Eric Bailey, tClara CEO Scott Gillespie, EAB vice president of business solutions Steven Mandelbaum and Tripbam CEO Steve Reynolds. The Company Dime and our guest moderator Miriam Moscovici, senior director of research and corporate innovation at BCD Travel, tried to wrangle these opinionated gentlemen. Download here.
Teleconference 21: Egencia President Rob Greyber, June 14, 2018
Festive Road’s Caroline Strachan and The Company Dime last week learned about Egencia president Rob Greyber’s career path, his leadership style, how to be productive and the importance of mentoring and equal opportunity. He acknowledged the challenges of Egencia’s aggressive growth goals, discussed competitive dynamics on the small or unmanaged end, critiqued rewards schemes, spoke to NDC and addressed merchandizing, supplier preferencing and reshopping. Download here.
Teleconference 20: Dave Hilfman, May 10, 2018
In the business world according to soon-to-be-retiring United Airlines SVP for worldwide sales Dave Hilfman, secrets of success are simple if not also hard to execute for many. Truly listen. Kindness isn’t weakness. Confrontation doesn’t have to be negative. Recognize people for their work. Tune in to, as one industry expert said, “walk away a better person.” With guest interviewer Mary Ellen George. Download here.
Teleconference 19: Business Travel Startups, April 12, 2018
Ready for some good-natured ribbing mixed in among expert analysis on the challenges and opportunities of entrepreneurship in business travel? This great speaking trio discussed the prospects for industry new entrants including Freebird, Lola, NexTravel, Pana, Rocketrip, TripActions and Upside: Serko’s Tony D’Astolfo, Brand New Matter managing director Brian Harniman and travel tech startup advisor and board member Ellen Keszler. Download here.
Teleconference 18: Enterprise Engagement, March 8, 2018
In engaging travelers, it’s important to educate them about why policies exist and ask them how travel programs could improve. Engaging with senior executives and other departments in the organization is another challenge altogether. We discussed it with UBS travel operations leader Anne Barlow, Microsoft global employee engagement and user experience lead Julia Fidler and Louise Kilgannon from Festive Road. Download here.
Teleconference 17: Personalization In Corporate Travel, Feb. 8, 2018
Business travelers want a better experience, one designed to their needs and wants. Suppliers want to give it to them. Many employers do, too. There are various travel policy and budgetary considerations, but if HR can personalize employee benefits packages, why not task the travel department with the same? Find out from EY Americas travel services leader Barbara Rose, Festive Road’s Caroline Strachan, tClara managing partner Scott Gillespie and Christa Manning, vice president of solution provider research at Bersin, Deloitte Consulting LLP. Download here.
Teleconference 16: Data Privacy And Security, Jan. 11, 2018
Every week it seems we hear about breaches of data and threats to privacy. American Express Global Business Travel chief privacy officer Kasey Chappelle and Journera chief technology officer Kevin Iverson helped us sort through the issues that should concern you. Hear a sample and download here.
Teleconference 15: The TMC Tech Stack, Dec. 14, 2017
If you could use a primer on what goes on behind the scenes at a travel management company, get it from Travel and Transport CIO Mike Kubasik and consultant Kim Castro. Hear a sample and download here.
Teleconference 14: The Data Future, Nov. 9, 2017
What’s next with business intelligence and the science of data? Check out our chat with Advito’s Lexi Honohan, Susan Hopley of The Data Exchange and Grasp Techology’s Erik Mueller. Download here.
Teleconference 13: Hotel Negotiating, Oct. 26, 2017
With buyers and hoteliers in the throes of 2018 rate discussions, we discussed today’s negotiating climate. Our expert panel included travel management pros Yvonne Moya from Festive Road, Sharon McManus from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and AccorHotels global account director Susan Shaid. Download here.
Teleconference 12: Corporate Airline Relationships, Sept. 14, 2017
We convened an expert panel to discuss how both buyers and airlines are approaching their relationships in the current environment. It included American Airlines’ managing director for strategic account sales Hank Benedetti, GoldSpring Consulting partner Neil Hammond, Novartis travel and fleet director Kathy Kaden and Microsoft global travel sourcing manager Diane Lundeen Smith. Hear a sample and download here.
Teleconference 11: Introducing Blockchain, Oct. 12, 2017
We talked with travel tech consultant William Niejadlik, Blockchain Academy founder Bryant Nielson and Hospitality Technology Next Generation senior director of strategy and workgroups Armand Rabinowitz about this possibly disruptive force in contracting, payment, traveler identity and maybe even travel distribution. Hear a sample and download here.
Teleconference 10: One-On-One With John Snyder, July 13, 2017
BCD Travel president and CEO John Snyder is a good sport. He joined us live to take questions from Jay Campbell with help from Festive Road’s Paul Tilstone and attendees. Download here.
Teleconference 9: Payment, May 11, 2017
Featuring an interview with Citi managing director Gonca Latif-Schmitt and a roundtable discussion including Conferma co-founder and CEO Simon Barker, CHG Healthcare travel manager Gordon Cowley and U.S. Bank head of corporate payment systems emerging markets and strategy Nicole Schrader Tackett. Download here.
Teleconference 8: NDC In Corporate Travel, Apr. 13, 2017
Featuring Festive Road managing partner Caroline Strachan with NDC Travel Manager Advisory Group members Pascal Struyve (Ingersoll Rand global travel, fleet and meeting services director) and David Weaver (Bechtel Corporation manager of travel procurement). Download here.
Teleconference 7: Mobile Technology, March 9, 2017
With American Express Global Business Travel vice president Evan Konwiser, Festive Road associate Aurélie Krau, head of Sabre Labs Mark McSpadden, BCD Travel VP Will Pinnell and Roadmap CEO and co-founder Jeroen van Velzen. Hear a sample and download here.
Teleconference 6: Traveler Engagement, Feb. 9, 2017
With Festive Road associate Mia Andersson, Shire senior global travel procurement manager Mary Batal, Microsoft global employee engagement and user experience lead Julia Fidler and Advito principal and vice president Lesley O’Bryan. Download here.
Teleconference 5: Inside TMC Economics, Jan. 12, 2017
Special extended episode With AmTrav CEO Jeff Klee, Short’s Travel Management CEO David LeCompte, Meritor global travel manager Jack Reynaert, CTBR managing director Don Swartz and Festive Road managing partner Paul Tilstone. Hear a sample and download here.
Teleconference 4: Cost Vs. Comfort, Dec. 8, 2016
With then-Nvidia senior global travel manager Karoline Mayr, tClara managing partner Scott Gillespie, DUFL co-founder and CMO Andrea Graziani and Carlson Wagonlit Travel Solutions Group vice president Christophe Renard. Download here.
Teleconference 3: Online Booking Tools, Nov. 10, 2016
With Microsoft global travel and venue group lead Eric Bailey, Dart Container travel services manager Cheryl Benjamin, Deem chief commercial officer Tony D’Astolfo, Travelport group vice president Scott Hyden and Upside Travel chairman and CEO Jay Walker. Hear a sample and download here.
Teleconference 2: Hotel Buying, Oct. 13, 2016
We gained insight from ABC Global Services CEO Eric Altschul, Hilton executive director for business travel sales Maria Chevalier, Festive Road associate Lora Ellis, Anthem travel and events director Cindy Heston and HRS VP of the Americas Suzanne Neufang. Download here.
Teleconference 1 (beta): Airline Direct Distribution, Sept. 8, 2016
Featuring American Airlines managing director for distribution and data commercialization Cory Garner, ARC president and CEO Mike Premo, WestRock corporate travel manager Karen Hatch and World Travel Inc. president Dee Runyan. Play here.