p26 Biz May 8 5/5/09 17:29 Page 26
Business travel
Martin Ferguson
020 7921 8011
maferguson@ttgbusiness.com
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GTMC aims to end
billback problems
Martin Ferguson.
He said: “At present a fax needs to be sent by
THE GUILD of Travel Management Companies the GDS to the hotel to confirm a billback. Often
BMI in talks over
has invited hotel operators to a meeting in the information goes astray and front-desk staff
London to discuss the growing problem of would not receive the authority, causing check-
billbacks. A billback is a hotel charge a travel out embarrassment and delays for the guest.
Baghdad route
management company pays on behalf of their “Even if they did receive the authorisation
clients as part of their service. the guest would sometimes be asked for the
The guild says business travellers too often booking credit card to show the CSC code from
BMI wants to launch a service between Heathrow encounter problems when checking out as they the reverse of the card and this would not be
and Iraq’s war-torn capital, Baghdad. do not carry the TMC credit card used to make possible.”
The airline predicts growing numbers of the reservation that hotels often demand. It has been suggested the GDSs introduce a
business travellers will require a connection as Some travellers are often forced to use their new field in the booking process which would
British investment in the country is stepped up. own credit card while others are left in the convey a guarantee of payment for extra charges
BMI bosses met Iraqi prime minister Nouri embarrassing position of not being able to pay if authorised in advance. This would require
al-Maliki at an investment forum in London. at all, said GTMC general manager John Williams. hoteliers to update their software.
Nigel Turner, BMI’s chief executive, said: The guild’s hotel working party has been Other suggestions include a virtual credit card
“I have handed a letter to Iraq’s transport working with GDS partners, the payment card or an e-voucher.
minister, Amr Abduljabber Ismail, and told him industry and property management systems to
we recognise the considerable efforts being try to resolve the issue. ■ The meeting will take place on May 27 at
made to get business and commerce between Williams claimed hotels still do not fully 11am at Jumeirah Carlton Tower in London.
our two countries to develop and grow. understand the problem but believes they can Lunch is provided. To sign up to attend, call
“For those efforts to succeed normal transport help the industry find an answer. the GTMC on 020 7637 1091
links have to be in place. The ability to travel by
air between Heathrow and Baghdad is vital.”
Turner added that the route would make good The Guild of Travel Management Companies,
business sense for the airline, due to its network
Travel budgets
whose 31 members manage about 80% of
in the Middle East, but would also need UK business travel in the UK, last week released its
government approval. ‘to bounce back’ quarterly transaction figures.
The hotel, car hire and ancillary sectors were
CORPORATE travel spending cuts could already all down, with air travel suffering the biggest
Hotel web player
have bottomed out, according to a leading travel slowdown. Rail was the only sector to show growth.
management boss. But CTM reported its hotel transactions had
‘wins corporates’
Anthony Rissbrook, head of The Co-operative increased 12%, rail by 23% and car hire by 55%.
Travel Management (CTM), said business travel Rissbrook was happy CTM had performed
AN ONLINE hotel reservations company has had picked up in April and he hinted that the better than average, but admitted companies
claimed corporates are increasingly using its worst could be over. were in the unusual position of not
services during the recession. “The last few weeks have shown being able to properly compare
Bosses at Hotel.info said business had grown a considerable bounce back and we the first quarter of 2008 with the
by 20% in the last year. are hopeful the trend will continue first quarter of 2009.
The company believes travel managers who in May,” said Rissbrook (pictured). “Easter fell in March last year
are under pressure to cut costs are implementing “I tentatively suggest that we and in April this year,” he added.
self-booking tools and mandating their use. may have reached the bottom of “So this year’s March figures
Warini Munshi, the company’s managing the spend pattern downturn.” have improved the position that
director, said: “Previously it was up to individual Like most TMCs, CTM has seen a would have existed if only January
employees whether to use such services; now fall in air travel transactions. But and February had been reported. A
edicts are being issued from above. We also see the Manchester-based company is better comparison would be to look
this growth reflected in new contracts.” bucking the trend in other areas. at January to April year-on-year.”
26 08.05.2009
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