Global travel technology and distribution provider, Amadeus, has added new features to its self-booking tool (SBT), e-Travel Management, that enable enhanced real-time communication between business travellers and travel managers.
Version 10.1 accelerates the travel approval process as those in charge of signing off trips can do so when either away from their desks or abroad, via their handheld device (such as a BlackBerry). Travel approvers who will be unavailable for a period of time, on annual leave perhaps, must always provide an alternative contact to ensure approval is given in time for the trip.
Control and enforcement of travel management policies can also be improved with the new system, as travellers who do not make a hotel booking within their travel itinerary will have to justify their reason for not doing so. This helps the company and the travel management company (TMC) push hotel bookings within the travel policy, as well as gain valuable feedback based on employee explanations.
Travellers booking their trip will have an enhanced selection of available flights, with options and fares for all available airports within a 150 mile (240km) radius displayed on one screen. Once abroad, the traveller will have direct access to their hotel from a handheld device or laptop, enabling requests to be sent and travel arrangements modified, without the need to contact a TMC.
”The easier SBT technology is to use, the more positive the user experience will be,” said Amadeus e-Travel commercial director, Jerome Destors. ”As a consequence, it empowers the traveller to use the tool for all his or her needs. The latest enhancements to Amadeus e-Travel Management v10.1 will also help the travel arranger increase productivity by further streamlining the booking process thus leading to valuable time savings.”