For the corporate travel and meetings industry SMEs REAP REWARDS
THE NEEDS of the SME buyer are finally being attended to. Suppliers are launching products and services that suit, and at entry levels that are accessible. Expense management technology is one such area that’s woken up to SMEs. The
systems are now less expensive with pay-per-use models, and that’s something buyers are more comfortable with, having put a toe in the water by automating travel with simple self-booking tools. No surprise that buyers want to replicate those efficiencies in the expense process. Read our report on what’s out there on page 54. According to one SME buyer, however, there are still glitches. Peter Macey of MDDS shares his views, on page 8, on why mixing offline, online and direct connect works best for him. A success story with online adoption is profiled on page 6; views on why one particular supplier – American Airlines – got it wrong, forcing TMCs to direct connect before standing down, is aired on page 12; and how best to book hotel accommodation is discussed on page 60. The Institute of Travel & Meetings has also been turning its attention to SMEs with the launch of a toolkit on the basics of travel management. Read about the bare bones of it on page 10, plus a profile of the organisation’s chair, Jamie Hindhaugh, on page 20. Switching mode of transport can be an easy bottom line win. Many buyers
are encouraging travellers to migrate from air to rail. If it’s booked online and in advance the savings can be significant. See page 22 for the details. And what of air, to complete the modes of transport? The ramifications to buyers following the trend for airline mergers and acquisitions are thrashed out in our Debate feature this issue, on page 18. We also guide you around Reykjavik, meeting venues in Plymouth and getting to – and staying in – the Asia-Pacific region.
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CONTRIBUTORS
Mike Swindell TECHNOLOGY EDITOR Mike is a veteran of the travel industry, specialising in business travel, trade technology and aviation. He has been features editor of Travel Trade Gazette and deputy editor of Airline World.
Linda Fox JOURNALIST Linda has worked as a freelance travel writer for over three years and prior to that spent seven years covering the hotels and technology sectors on Travel Trade Gazette.
Colin Ellson JOURNALIST Colin is a highly experienced travel journalist, specialising in the aviation sector and the Middle East. Before venturing into the travel sector, Colin was an award-winning journalist on the TV Times.
Andy Hoskins DEPUTY EDITOR Andy has been deputy editor of The Business Travel Magazine since its launch in 2006. He was named Travel Trade Journalist of the Year at the 2009 Travel Press Awards and also writes across the BMI Publishing Ltd portfolio of magazines.
Dave Richardson JOURNALIST Dave has more than 30 years' experience as a travel industry writer. He is a previous winner in Carlson Wagonlit's Business Travel Journalism Awards and has visited over 70 countries.
Gillian Upton EDITOR
Dinah Hatch JOURNALIST Dinah began specialising in travel writing ten years ago. Today she contributes to a variety of publications including The Observer, The Times and Travel Weekly.
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TRAVEL TRADE PUBLICATION OF
THE YEAR 2009 & 2010 THE TRAVEL
PRESS AWARDS
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