WORDS GREELEY KOCH


OPINION


from small companies to global enterprises.


Almost without exception, everyone felt that travel management is a strategic role within the company. Or at least it can be with adequate support, professional education and C-suite backing. And guess how many people felt they were getting that type of back-up? Not too many.


HOW TO GROW YOUR VOICE


Three ways travel buyers can make sure their ideas are heard by senior management


’VE BEEN THE executive director of ACTE since 2012, and in this time I’ve met thousands of your colleagues, attended hundreds of meetings, stayed in numerous hotels and travelled countless miles. In the past, issues were pretty geographic specific – at least for a while. Today, topics are universal and immediate – a sentiment made even clearer recently when I was travelling in Asia, the US and Latin America. I met with travel managers, suppliers and travellers from a wide range of organisations


I


If you have a pressing issue or concern, email me at gkoch@acte.org.


I’d like to address it. I guarantee that if you


are concerned or curious or frustrated about


something in our industry, you have company.


buyingbusinesstravel.com


Regardless of industry, employers spend millions of dollars recruiting and hiring the best candidates for a job – people sought after for their energy, insight and potential. But once someone signs on the dotted line, a company often fails to cultivate their investment in that person. I was recently asked by a


travel manager how to get ideas heard by senior management. The question was posed by a millennial travel manager who knew what younger travellers expected, but she could not get support from her supervisors. No matter how long you’ve been in the field, it’s a common concern. In case you’ve ever felt the same way, here’s what I suggested:


1 Develop alliances in


departments such as finance, compliance and HR in order to find common ground. You will find you get a deeper understanding in how travel management fits into the corporation as a whole – and you’ll get comfortable with people who could one day become cheerleaders.


DEVELOP


ALLIANCES IN FINANCE, COMPLIANCE AND HR DEPARTMENTS TO FIND COMMON GROUND


2 3


Once you have one or two solid ideas, think of potential pitfalls (and solutions). Try them out on trusted colleagues through pilot programmes before going to your manager with a smooth and concise company-wide plan.


Last, play well with others. Manage up, down and


sideways. Employees who work collaboratively lessen headaches for their managers. Our industry is barrelling ahead more quickly than ever and has more moving parts than ever before. It can be overwhelming. Communications and knowledge are key. The ACTE Global Summit and Corporate Lodging Forum takes place in Paris, 14-16 October


Greeley Koch is executive director of the Association of Corporate Travel Executives (acte.org)


2018 SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 147


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