Feature: Travel Management Companies


Shades APART


A series of events have conspired to help travel management companies regain their status as an essential strategic partner for travel buyers, but the industry continues to evolve at speed


AT AN industry event towards the end of 2010, Carlson Wagonlit Travel’s Andrew Waller was pleased to announce that journalists across the business travel industry had ceased using the ‘d’ word in reference to TMCs. ‘Dinosaur’ was the term pinned on TMCs by


some in the industry in recent years, but a global recession and what feels like wave after wave of disruptions – snow, ash and strikes


among them – have helped erase that notion, as TMCs have come to the fore. “Over the last couple of years TMCs have


been able to really demonstrate their value in two ways,” said CWT’s executive vice president UK and Ireland during the pre- Christmas blizzards. “Hotel rates and airfares have been rising and buyers have been squeezed between these and pressure to stick


to budgets, which they can only do by working with a TMC. There are many smaller corporates out there without the muscle to do deals, and we bring them real value in that respect.” Waller continues, “Secondly, there’s what


we are experiencing today – widespread snow – and the ability of travel management companies to re-book and reposition people.” It’s no surprise that, after being virtually written


22 I THE BUSINESS TRAVEL MAGAZINE 18 I THE BUSINESS TRAVEL MAGAZINE


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