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Posted Jun 22, 2010
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.
Posted Feb 3, 2010
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.
Posted Jan 19, 2010
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.
Posted Oct 29, 2009
How do you measure your travel and meetings Corporate Social Responsibility ("CSR") program? What are your CSR priorities?
Posted Sept 25, 2009
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.
Posted Sept 13, 2009
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?
Posted Sept 7, 2009
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.
Posted Aug 17, 2009
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. <
Posted Aug 8, 2009
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.
Posted Jul 27, 2009
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.
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