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Email your views to BBT editor Paul Revel at
editor@buyingbusinesstravel.com
I WAS INTERESTED TO READ your online article, Rail firms could ‘gain bigger market share’. Increasingly, there is a place and demand for intermodal travel, for both business and leisure travellers. With new high-speed lines opening regularly across the Continent and excellent links to major airports, the train is becoming a more and more viable option for business travellers. Add to this the availability of
onboard wifi on some European trains and in stations, short check-in times, dedicated meeting spaces, such as Le Salon onboard Thalys services, and the availability of power points onboard, and the train can become an extension of the office, allowing business travellers to maximise their time, while travelling in speed and comfort, to arrive at their destination refreshed and ready to work. At
voyages-sncf.com we
have worked hard to develop a simple, easy to use booking system to address the issue raised by Claire Murphy of substandard booking platforms. We recognise that while a flight can be booked in just a couple of clicks, it takes a little more to book a train ticket, particularly if your journey involves changes. But our belief is we have developed the functionality and the tools to make it as simple as possible for our customers. Our newly launched
120
UK website will bring this functionality to the British market and we hope to be able to introduce more UK consumers to the European network in 2014.
Yves Tyrode
Director general,
Voyages-sncf.com
BOOKING INTERNATIONAL GROUND TRANSPORTATION has become a topical subject, particularly with regards to international sporting events such as the forthcoming 2014 World Cup and 2016 Olympics in Brazil. It sounds simple. Book a car for pick-up on arrival at Rio de Janeiro, organise transfers during the stay and make sure visitors get to the venues on time. In my experience, however, although organising a ground transportation supplier is often considered a straightforward decision, when you add the international element, combined with your CSR responsibilities and a limited knowledge of the local area and customs, it can become something of a minefield. To avoid these issues I
would suggest: providers get booked up quickly.
especially when you are travelling abroad.
the-clock support and a dedicated point of contact.
have been stringently selected, can speak English and understand the local area and customs.
going to a place where there are potential security risks, such as Brazil, ask your provider what security procedures they have in place.
Be aware that chauffeur vehicles vary in different countries and you may find some unusual choices, but
inbox BBTWEETS
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@richardbranson England last won World Cup in ’66. Heathrow last got a runway 66 years ago. Let’s hope we don’t wait so long again
http://virg.in/ewp
@McWhirterAlex Great news for @Airbus following Air AsiaX order for 25 A330-300s. Maybe they’ll appear on European routes.
@US2EU 21h Did you know? #US & #EU are each other’s largest trading partners w/ US$2.6bn worth of goods & services flowing between us each day #TTIP
they are the local norm.
adequate local licensing and insurance. Safe travels!
Dean De Beer
CEO, Tristar Worldwide Chauffeur Services
ONLINE & FORUM COMMENTS
RE: HEATHROW AND GATWICK MAKE SHORTLIST FOR NEW RUNWAY THE PROCRASTINATION on this issue is appalling and highlights a total lack of strategic thinking on the part of successive governments as well as Britain’s slow, lingering economic death. Look at what other countries do – they decide and get on with it!
SACKING, OR RELOCATING workers from Heathrow to Kent is daft. New York and Paris both operate two hubs successfully. Allow LGW to have a second runway and 24-hour operations and you will see airlines
EASYJET will this summer fly from LGW to 107 destinations – the perfect long-haul feed. Let workers, passengers and airlines chose and benefit. As we have learnt over the past 50 years... premium long-haul travellers don’t want Gatwick, and they certainly don’t want to fly short- haul connections on Easyjet. Long-haul is uneconomic without those 30 to 50 high revenue paying passengers at the front.
RE: BUSINESS TRAVELLERS BACK HIGH SPEED 2 EVEN LOCAL AUTHORITY leaders in the north-east have said HS2 will have no benefit for the region. It would be better to scrap APD and have a decent range of domestic flights instead.
56 PER CENT of travellers backing HS2? That’s a far from convincing majority.
@ZacGoldsmith In ‘Cameron Direct’ events across West London, DC made the “no ifs, no buts” pledge re Heathrow. Does anyone have a video recording?
@AirlineReporter So many people hated the “New” @AmericanAir and then it grew on them. Now they want to change it again?!
http://ow.ly/rPpSt #KeepTail
@winglets747 25 Nov Travel manager of a large bank says to Thalys and Deutsche Bahn reps on stage: “Please modernise. PLEASE.” #CAPAsummit
migrate overnight. Transfer all of BA’s (Oneworld) flights to LHR and allow Star Alliance and Skyteam long-haul services to use Gatwick.
JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2014
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