Premium travel business news and community blog from TheBeat.travel
A business travel community blog
The Beat
Beat News TheBeat Blog Live Beat Subscribe Now to The Beat for premium travel distribution news About The Beat Supplier Directory
The Beat
Login Login Help
Email Address
Password
Free Membership
2010 Upcoming Events

SEP 06
2010 NBTA Europe (Lisbon) (3 days)
SEP 20
2010 The Beat Live (3 days)
Open TheBeat.travel Event Calendar
Follow us on these popular social networks
News Search
Login or free subscription required
News Feeds ProMedia.travel - Intelligence for Travel Professionals
TheBeat.travel RSS Blog Feed TheBeat.travel blog
TheBeat.travel RSS News Feed TheBeat.travel news
TheTransnational.travel RSS News Feed TheTransnational.travel
Management.travel RSS News Feed Management.travel
Procurement.travel RSS News Feed Procurement.travel
Posted Jun 22, 2010

reduce the size of text on this page   increase the size of text on this page
Debi's picture
Blogging at TheBeat.travel
Putting the term "commodity" in the same sentence as travel and meetings is like adding Lady Gaga as an inductee to the Rock 'n Roll Hall of Fame; you either agree or disagree with the parallelism but there is no denying that it is the big elephant in the room. Do you believe that business travel, meetings and events are commodities? The term caused us to stir in our seats while participating in an NBTA/StarCite-sponsored meeting yesterday.
TheBeat.travel Blog - Read the rest of this entry

beat blog   beat blog
beat blog
Posted by: Blog info More by Debi
beat blog
beat blog   beat blog
Posted Feb 3, 2010

reduce the size of text on this page   increase the size of text on this page
Debi's picture
Blogging at TheBeat.travel
Large, mid-size and small organizations with any kind of spend, in the U.S. or globally, should use enterprise-wide corporate cards to pay for everything from travel and entertainment expenses to legal services in order to increase the card rebate, gain visibility into expenses, decrease fraud and reduce accounts payable cycle time. Although the move to an enterprise corporate card system feels like a complex initiative, the implementation produces a streamlined business process. Even organizations that have already implemented a corporate card may question how to negotiate with behemoth financial institutions.
TheBeat.travel Blog - Read the rest of this entry

beat blog   beat blog
beat blog
Posted by: Blog info More by Debi
beat blog
beat blog   beat blog
Posted Jan 19, 2010

reduce the size of text on this page   increase the size of text on this page
Debi's picture
Blogging at TheBeat.travel

If we fail to plan, we plan to fail. No quote is truer in a crisis management situation. The organization that does not have the time, money or skills to dedicate to crisis management may lose clients, products, services and even worse, staff. To underestimate crisis management importance is like telling your teenager it is okay to text while driving because an accident probably won't happen.

TheBeat.travel Blog - Read the rest of this entry

beat blog   beat blog
beat blog
Posted by: Blog info More by Debi
beat blog
beat blog   beat blog
Posted Oct 29, 2009

reduce the size of text on this page   increase the size of text on this page
Debi's picture
Blogging at TheBeat.travel

How do you measure your travel and meetings Corporate Social Responsibility ("CSR") program?   What are your CSR priorities?

 

TheBeat.travel Blog - Read the rest of this entry

beat blog   beat blog
beat blog
Posted by: Blog info More by Debi
beat blog
beat blog   beat blog
Posted Sept 25, 2009

reduce the size of text on this page   increase the size of text on this page
Debi's picture
Blogging at TheBeat.travel
In speaking with a colleague today, I learned that one of his clients does not have a T&E preferred supplier program in place for airlines, hotels or ground transportation. In fact, this company spends millions on travel and allows their travelers to buy tickets from any place of their choosing. They have no travel policies. Their employees look up the typical trip cost estimates in their travel database and use it as a guideline when booking trips. With the estimated trip costs in hand, they are free to book their travel any way that they choose. When they return, if their trip was less than the estimated cost, they may bank the additional "credit" for their next trip.
TheBeat.travel Blog - Read the rest of this entry

beat blog   beat blog
beat blog
Posted by: Blog info Comments: Blog info Last Comment: Blog info More by Debi
beat blog
beat blog   beat blog
Posted Sept 13, 2009

reduce the size of text on this page   increase the size of text on this page
Debi's picture
Blogging at TheBeat.travel

If your CFO, or another leader, asked this question, can you provide the answer?  Do you know how many internal and external meeting planning professionals were involved in planning meetings and events? Do you know how many executive assistants, marketing or human resource associates planned meetings?   Do you know how many small and large meetings were held globally across all business units?  Can you answer any of these questions within a matter of an hour?

TheBeat.travel Blog - Read the rest of this entry

beat blog   beat blog
beat blog
Posted by: Blog info More by Debi
beat blog
beat blog   beat blog
Posted Sept 7, 2009

reduce the size of text on this page   increase the size of text on this page
Debi's picture
Blogging at TheBeat.travel

How do you measure your travel and entertainment expense behaviors and outcomes?  Most leaders are taught to focus on the bottom line, and then cut, cut, cut expenses.  I recommend reviewing the leading and lagging controls that are in place to obtain cost reduction.

 

TheBeat.travel Blog - Read the rest of this entry

beat blog   beat blog
beat blog
Posted by: Blog info More by Debi
beat blog
beat blog   beat blog
Posted Aug 17, 2009

reduce the size of text on this page   increase the size of text on this page
Debi's picture
Blogging at TheBeat.travel

Years ago, when I worked at Westinghouse Furniture Systems, our conference rooms had a "meeting cost" calculator on the wall.  In theory, if average salaries were input into the system, the calculator would display the cost of each meeting.  While it did not really gain momentum, I often wonder if we recognize the value of time.  <

TheBeat.travel Blog - Read the rest of this entry

beat blog   beat blog
beat blog
Posted by: Blog info More by Debi
beat blog
beat blog   beat blog
Posted Aug 8, 2009

reduce the size of text on this page   increase the size of text on this page
Debi's picture
Blogging at TheBeat.travel

Virtual meetings complement, and sometimes replace, face-to-face meetings.  When supported properly, virtual meetings can be interactive, engaging and build camaraderie.   Without the proper knowledge, skills or attitude, a virtual meeting program will be unsuccessful. 

TheBeat.travel Blog - Read the rest of this entry

beat blog   beat blog
beat blog
Posted by: Blog info More by Debi
beat blog
beat blog   beat blog
Posted Jul 27, 2009

reduce the size of text on this page   increase the size of text on this page
Debi's picture
Blogging at TheBeat.travel

Alan Alda once said, "Have the nerve to go into unexplored territory. Be brave enough to live life creatively."  In today's market, innovation is required by the employed, the unemployed and in all industries.  No one is exempt. Likewise, some in the travel industry are finding creative ways to lift spirits and increase business--even if it is deemed seasonal.

TheBeat.travel Blog - Read the rest of this entry

beat blog   beat blog
beat blog
Posted by: Blog info More by Debi
beat blog
beat blog   beat blog
Login or free subscription required
Premium Travel Business News. Community Blog. TheBeat.travel Management.travel - News for Travel Managers and Travel Management Pros Procurement.travel - The Source for Managed Travel Insight International Travel News, Multinational Travel News. TheTransnational.travel
Business Travel News, Professional Travel Intelligence from ProMedia.travel
Professional Travel Intelligence, Business Travel News from ProMedia.travel
American Express Business Travel Airline Fee Primer (PDF)
The Beat Live 2009 Agenda (PDF)
The Beat Reader Poll: Obama Over McCain (PDF)
The Beat Live: Tom Wilkinson Presents McCain's And Obama's Views On Travel Issues (PDF)
Sabre Data Shows Impacts on Hotels of Air Capacity Cuts (PDF)
ARC 2007 Breakdown of Agency Bookings (JPG)
Procurement Execs Speak Out on Travel (PDF)
Keys to Reining In Meetings Spend (PDF)
NBTA Buyer Survey on Airline Consolidation (JPG)
Blogs and Travel Business Media (PDF)
EU GDS Reg Review (PDF)
GDS Economics (PDF)
Procurement Convergence (PDF)