COMPANIES WHO WANT to make their travel programmes recession-proof are being offered free assessments by American Express. Until now, the travel management company has only made the service available to its own clients.
Amex will use specialist software to analyse key performance indicators, such as online booking adoption, non-refundable ticket usage and compliance to preferred vendors and travel policies. In 2007, it claims to have helped North American clients save more than $1 billion through improvements in these areas.
"We understand that companies are walking a tough economic road right now, yet the imperative to travel has never been greater as companies seek to cement business relationships," says Charles Petruccelli, president, American Express Global Travel Services. "Because travel programmes represent the second highest discretionary cost a company incurs on an annual basis, smart travel policies are crucial in the current environment," he says.
The offer is open to companies of any size. To request a free assessment, log on to Amex's corporate travel online community, www.businesstravelconnexion.com, by January 6, 2009. According to a recent Amex study, 38 per cent of senior decision makers within medium-sized companies (employing between 50 and 249 people) admit it is a struggle to decide which cost saving measures will benefit their business.