Each year the Business Travel Show hosts Fundamentals sessions for new travel buyers, PAs and EAs, also providing a chance for experienced buyers to get back to basics on some of the key elements of a travel programme. As the business travel industry gears up for this year's edition, here's 10 videos and the accompanying presentations from 2015's conference sessions covering topics including traveller safety, tips negotiating with airlines and advice on communicating your policy.
Security at the centre of policy
Duty of care and managing your travellers in a risk or crisis situation is crucial, but are you prepared? Kia Forsman White, travel manager at Spotify shares her experience of safety and security within a travel programme during this session with International SOS's Nicola Lomas, who is the former travel category manager of Omnicom. Crisis management planning, communication, technology and health are all covered. You can also read and watch a case study on a travel risk strategy here.
Seven steps to communicating change
Three travel and procurement buyers devised a seven-step plan to communicating changes a travel policy. Henrik Lundberg, manager of group procurement at ISS; Michael Munoz, global procurement leader at Pepsico Europe and Richard Sebald, manager of meeting and travel service at BearingPoint shared their blueprint from preparing with a fact base to conducting negotiations. In an interview with Business Travel iQ, Barcardi's global category manager for travel and entertainment Nathalie Ansermoz shared seven ways to become a better communicator.
Balancing maximum compliance with traveller experience
Getting a travel programme off the ground, or reinventing the current one, requires thinking about what a policy needs to entail for the benefit of both the company and travellers. In this video TCG Consulting's managing director EMEA Mark O'Brien highlights the reasons why companies need a travel policy, which stakeholders are involved, the types of suppliers buyers should be working with and where matured programmes could develop, such as open booking.
Finding value in airline negotiations
It's possible to negotiate substantial discounts with airlines if you do your homework but think about how you can add value too. This was the main advice for travel buyers from the panel at this Business Travel Show session. Hear perspectives and tips from a travel buyer, travel management company and airline with speakers Karoly Hogye, business travel and fleet procurement at Scania Europe; Johan Sparfel, director of consulting at Egencia and Scott Davies, general manager UK sales at Virgin Atlantic.
Negotiating the best savings and value with hotels
Buyers have to think more than just the amount of room nights to get the full value from hotels. The channel used to make those bookings, whether direct or through an intermediary, also impacts the way a hotel programme is managed and evaluated. Is it even worth having negotiated rates when you could buy the best on the day? Inntel's managing director and Business Travel iQ Expert Douglas O'Neill hosts this session.
Choosing a travel management company (TMC) and other partners
Do you really need a TMC and if so, which one? That depends on factors such as volume and mix of business, as discussed by Nick Hurrell, partner, 3SIXTY Global during this video. Advice is offered for the pre-bid, issuing and award stages with detail on what questions to ask, costs and the evaluation process. Read and watch a case study on choosing a TMC with Bacardi's Nathalie Ansermoz and H&M's travel manager Alexander Glavas here
What to consider in corporate payment RFPs
What should you consider in a RFP from corporate payment providers? This video shares what buyers should be looking out for when speaking to card suppliers and what ROI they should be able to get out of a contract. The video is led by Carlson Wagonlit Travel's senior director global card products Clive Cornelius who also provides an overview of how mobile payments and wearable technology will change the market in the future.
How to choose the right technology
Tools used for booking travel online need to be 'sexy' to appeal to travellers but all the development behind it is pointless if the benefits have not been communicated to travellers. This is the starting point for Clare Murphy from Bouda's advice during this session, using examples of travel management companies that are changing the way travel is booked and processed. In a separate interview, ex-Nokia buyer Nina Ruokonen explained 10 ways that mobile is changing travel management.
Using data for improved savings and control
Data is crucial for creating, negotiating and gauging the success of a travel programme. In this video Stephanie Smook from Smook Project Management talks about the types of objectives buyers have when they are using data, the opportunities data can present, where to get information and overcoming the various challenges that come with managing vast amounts of data.
10 quick wins to get started
Getting a travel programme off the ground, or reinventing the current one, requires thinking about what a policy needs to entail for the benefit of both the company and travellers. In this session Institute of Travel and Meetings CEO Simone Buckley and former Omnicom travel category manager Nicola Lomas summarise the essential questions buyers need to answer.