AMERICAN EXPRESS Business Travel has become the latest global travel management company (TMC) to try and attract more business through SMEs.
The TMC has scrapped its American Express One product and created a revamped SME offering called aXcent. Rival TMC HRG launched its own SME product at the tail-end of 2009 - Simply HRG - while Carlson Wagonlit Travel bosses last year confirmed the SME market had become increasingly important to its business during the recession.
Kaveh Atrak (pictured), Amex BT's recently appointed vice president and general manager for the UK and Ireland, said that while the TMC never ignored the SME market, the segment was more significant than ever as the company attempts to pull away from the economic downturn.
Independent TMCs have criticised their global rivals for attempting to break into the SME market, accusing them of being ill-equipped to meet the needs of smaller businesses. But Atrak dismissed talk of Amex BT being unable to tailor its offering to small companies. "From point of sale we service our clients in small teams, not large call centres," he said.