United Kingdom

 

Travel Management Priorities for 2013

Many travel managers will currently be implementing new measures to strengthen their travel programme and meet their targets for 2013.

 

Here’s an overview of travel managers’ priorities for 2013, along with top tips on how to achieve success in these focus areas.

 

Top 10 priorities for travel managers globally in 2013:

 

1. Drive air and ground savings

2. Improve traveller compliance

3. Optimise hotel spend

4. Raise online adoption levels

5. Optimise the travel policy

6. Enhance the traveller experience

7. Further consolidate the travel programme

8. Develop key performance indicators

9. Address safety and security needs

10. Track meetings and events (Strategic Meetings Management)

 

Areas with the greatest savings opportunities ranked higher on the agenda than those linked to the traveller experience.

 

Tips to help travel managers achieve success in their travel management priority areas for 2013...

• Keep an eye on ancillary fees added to fares and rates in all areas of your travel programme, leveraging them in negotiations

• Maintain the safety and security programme to employees as awareness of business responsibilities and travel stress will rise worldwide during 2013

• Focus on expense management to improve data consolidation and the user experience

• Use game techniques (gamification) as a way to reinforce traveller compliance with your travel programme

• Improve the travel experience and boost negotiations with hoteliers through encouraging hotel reviews from your travellers via CWT HotelIntel

• Track your company’s carbon footprint (including emissions from travel) via key performance indicators to comply with stricter reporting regulations in the UK for 2013

• Optimise air transport savings by considering the low-cost carriers currently gaining ground in travel programmes (but don’t forget to keep an eye on ancillary fees!)

• Explore ‘hybrid’ meetings and events (combining face-to-face and online aspects) and implement a strategic meetings management programme to control costs

• Implement a social media strategy as a key action to improve the traveller experience

• Encourage travellers to take advantage of technology, as mobile/Wi-Fi connectivity and a growing range of business travel apps are helping to make travel smoother and more productive in 2013

• Be aware of the real risks of ‘unmanaged’ travel programmes to employee safety – access to appropriate content and cost optimisation must be taken into account

• Maintain vigilance around visa regulations. Despite evidence of relaxation in some countries, travellers need to be aware of formalities

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