Corporate travel firms risk missing out on new business if they fail to embrace social media, according to the event director of the Business Travel and Meetings Show.
David Chapple said social media should form an integral part of a contemporary business strategy: “It is a valuable procurement, marketing and customer service tool,” he said.
“With Facebook recently valued at $50 billion dollars, social media simply can’t be ignored by anyone – especially a global, customer service led industry like corporate travel.”
He said the leisure travel market may have beaten the business market in spotting the potential of social media, saying, "travellers are using it for information sharing and suppliers as a new marketing tool."
However, Chapple ackowledged that some business travel firms were forming solid social media propositions.
The subject will be a hot topic at this year’s BTMS, where the closing panel debate will be devoted to the subject.
The session Socialising Travel Management will look at how the industry can make best use of social media sites, as well as the real effect of social networking on procurement.
The show will be held at Earls Court, London on February 8 and 9.
www.businesstravelshow.com