INFORM


WORDS MOLLY DYSON


MEASURING EFFECTS OF TRAVEL IS OUT OF DATE


TRAVEL MANAGERS do not think the metrics used to determine success truly measure whether the US$1.3 trillion spent annually on business travel helps companies meet their goals, according to a new study. ACTE Global and BCD Travel carried out a


survey of 300 travel managers. Their report, Quality Measurement in Business Travel, highlighted that the approaches to quality measurement in corporate travel management have remained unchanged for decades despite advances, such as moving to mainly online bookings and digital trip management. When asked how they measure their programmes’


quality, the majority of respondents said they use a variety of sources for mining data. Ninety-four per cent said they rely on TMCs and 81 per cent on their suppliers. Meanwhile, 71 per cent use internal expense reporting, 67 per cent depend on corporate card data, and just 61 per cent leverage traveller surveys. ■ Benchmarking tips, p74-78


GBTA puts airline bosses in the spotlight


A TRIO OF SENIOR airline executives will discuss the future of aviation at the GBTA Conference 2018 – Berlin in Partnership with VDR. The “2020 Vision on


Aviation” session hosts Shai Weiss, incoming chief executive, Virgin Atlantic; Juha Jarvinen, chief commercial officer, Finnair; and Harry Hohmeister, member of the executive board and chief officer hub management, Lufthansa Group. “We are delighted to welcome these thought-leaders


to centre stage,” said Catherine McGavock, GBTA regional vice-president, EMEA. The conference takes place 27-29 November at the


Estrel Congress Center in Berlin. ■ To register, visit europeconference.gbta.org


MELIA TARGETS 400 HOTELS BY END 2019


An artist’s impression of Melia’s Paradisus Playa Mujeres, Mexico


MELIA PLANS TO GROW its hotel portfolio with a raft of openings in 2019, boosting its portfolio to 400 hotels by the end of next year, writes Matthew Parsons. The expansion comes as the Spanish hotel chain renews its focus on the corporate sector. Innside by Melia are “lifestyle hotels designed for urban and business travellers”. Among the openings in the UK next year will be Innside Liverpool, which will be located in the former Echo Building, while Innside Newcastle will be built on the banks of the River Tyne. Gianni Salvadori, head of global sales, business travel and MICE, told BBT: “This is an exciting time for the UK market, with multiple


20 NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2018


development projects underway. It is great to see one of our most influential regions seeing growth.” Meanwhile, Melia is “becoming more digital” in its latest drive to target the business travel sector, Salvadori said. It is offering corporates dedicated microsites for employees. “We came out with a new offer six months ago. Business travellers can save 30 per cent for leisure bookings. So we asked: ‘Why aren’t you extending your stay?’” Elsewhere, Melia is set to open Paradisus Playa


Mujeres in Mexico in mid-2019. The property is 35 minutes from Cancun International Airport.


■ Melia is a hotel partner for next year’s Advantage Conference, held 17-20 May in Cadiz, Spain


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