ON THE GROUND IN BRIEF
• RAIL booking specialist
Loco2.com has launched a new service to make it possible to book tickets for journeys starting from any UK station to thousands of European destinations in one transaction. It has combined the booking systems of the French and German national rail operators (SNCF and Deutsche Bahn) plus the full range of tickets offered by the UK’s Association of Train Operating Companies (ATOC). The company claims it is the fi rst and only place where it is possible to combine the fares of UK, French and German trains, including high-speed services such as Eurostar, TGV and ICE. Customers travelling from outside London will also be able to ensure they are fully-protected under international passenger rights similar to those afforded to air passengers by selecting a 'London International CIV' ticket for the UK portion of their journey.
• SIXT rent a car has add the Mercedes S-Class to its premium fl eet at its London Heathrow branch. The company already operates the largest fl eet of Mercedes vehicles in Europe.
• THE long-awaited direct TGV service from Paris Gare de Lyon to Barcelona Sants is now in operation. The new service means that it is now possible to travel from Paris to Barcelona within 6hrs 25 mins without the need to change trains in Figueres.
• A SHIFT to car hire in place of mileage reimbursement has enabled London Probation Trust to dramatically reduce the cost of employee transportation. In the fi rst four months since the introduction of car rental, the Trust estimates that it has potentially reduced transport costs by £60,000 annually, saving on average £13.55 per journey. It introduced a blanket car hire policy for its 2,500 employees after an assessment of its existing reimbursement policy – just over 60 pence per mile – revealed that rental was by far a more cost-effective option, even for trips of around 60 miles.
• HERTZ car hire has enhanced its Supercar range in Europe. Now available for hire are the McLaren MP4-12C Spider in both the UK and Germany, the Ferrari F12berlinetta in France, and the Porsche Cayenne and Cayman in the Netherlands.
booker's new look
European rail
Greeley Koch Executive Director, Association of Corporate Travel Executives
T
TRAVEL management companies using the Rail Europe website rather than the GDS to book continental rail will experience a more modern, easier to navigate and quicker process now that the rail distributor has relaunched and rebranded as
Voyages-sncf.com. “It has more functionality and, looking forward, we’ll introduce a journey planner, the ability to handle cancellations and more
product,” says Paul Lacey, head of trade sales at the company. “More and more medium-size agents are using our website to book.”
Voyages-sncf.com incorporates
TGV Europe and has been brought together to create a pan-European rail brand. “It’s a positive thing as we’re conscious of how competitive the marketplace is so we need to make our offer the most compelling out there,” says Lacey.
FGW ROLLS OUT FREE WIFI
he typical business traveller flies into a city totally focused on their corporate
objective (usually sales or product support). Evenings are generally spent in reviewing the day’s results, going through email, and prepping for the next morning, the next meeting or the next trip. Following this regimen, I have
visited some of the most culturally significant cities and countries without ever leaving the hotel or a corporate office. I am beginning to feel cheated. So this year, I am resolved to travel differently. The beginning of a new year
comes with an opportunity for change and personal improvement through resolutions. Traditionally, these are promises one makes to improve health, success, or romance. My resolutions are designed to get the most out of the dozens of international business trips I will take throughout 2014. I am resolved to become part of city for the brief time I am there; not to merely pass through it. For at least one meal, I will eat
like a resident, choosing the local delicacies or the standard fare. I am looking forward to octopus salad, roasted moose, raw cuttlefish and hundreds of cheeses. I also plan to visit a museum
or famous landmark (whenever possible) when visiting a city. The Hagia Sophia in Istanbul, the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam, the State Hermitage in St. Petersburg, and Sainte-Chapelle in Paris are all on my list. Business may be the pulse of the world’s economy, but art and architecture are the element’s of a city’s soul. More ambitious is my determ-
FIRST Great Western will begin rolling out free wifi on its fleet of high-speed trains and Night Riviera Sleeper services this spring. Work on fitting its 53 high-speed
trains with wifi will start in May, with full completion due by the end of the year, and free wifi will be available on its two daily Night Riviera services by June 2014. First Great Western managing director, Mark Hopwood, says,
“We have trialled wifi on board our fleet of Class 180 trains, serving the north Cotswolds, and it has been very well received by customers. Hopewood continues, “I am delighted that we are able to extend this free service, and within the next year all high speed and Sleeper fleet customers will be able to read their emails, browse the web, or simply catch up with friends while on the move.”
ination to learn a foreign language well enough to ask directions, or to order a meal, in the correct accent – or something that sounds less like my native Chicago. The flow of commerce is smoother and more elegant when visitors to another country have an appreciation for its art, food, culture and language. I think these resolutions would work well for anyone aspiring to a global outlook. Have a Happy New Year!
ACTE UPDATE
THE BUSINESS TRAVEL MAGAZINE 45 53
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