Farelogix is inviting 15 to 20 corporate travel buyers "who are proven industry thought leaders" to a new forum in January to address what they "need to do [their] job more effectively as relates to the changing face of airline products, technologies, travelers, and managed travel programs." At least one invited buyer is not sure of whether to attend for fear of legitimizing the effort.
Based upon the feedback from my
keynote speech at The Beat Live in Vegas, I'd like to make a few points regarding innovation within the corporate travel industry. While I do agree that there is innovation going on, what I'm most concerned about is the level of innovation as compared to the leisure or OTA market.
"We're not currently seeing a reduction in business demand," United Continental Holdings CEO Jeff Smisek last Thursday declared during an earnings call. The operative word is
currently, since a United filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission that same day referred to "reduced demand from business travelers in the third quarter of 2011."
Travel management companies are offering customers all the airfares and optional services an airline can muster. Tech firms are facilitating it. The economics make room for all parties. Even corporate buyers have returned to their day jobs.
This is not 2011.
At some point, though, one would think optional services will be available. So what will that look like? How will it change things? At The Beat
Live Sept. 19-21, we'll put aside the day's clashes and imagine the other side. Former airline distribution executive
Al Lenza joins current airline distribution executive
Graham Wareham of Air Canada, United merchandizing strategy director
Maria Walter and Airline Information co-founder
Roger Williams to discuss The Future Of Airline Merchandizing in the corporate market.
Register today for
The Beat Live
Our early-bird rate expires Aug. 18!
The Future Of Airline Merchandizing will cap a busy Sept. 20 at The Beat
Live, including a keynote by Amadeus EVP for Commercial
Philippe Chérèque, interview of Carlson Wagonlit Travel President for Suppliers, Products and Technology
Andrew Winterton and 'Hot Seat' quizzing of Concur Chairman and CEO
Steve Singh.
Check out our full agenda here:
The Beat Live
And don't forget, you can attempt to earn free admission and a speaking gig by submitting a pitch in our Keynote Vote.
http://TheBeat.travel/keynote-vote
See you in Vegas!
We know that every company has a basic duty to treat traveling employees fairly and to protect them. Protecting means not exposing them to "known or foreseeable harm or risk of harm." An equal duty is imposed on travel management company "agents," even though they are agents appointed, accredited and paid by suppliers. (For agents, overrides continue, although not visibly.)
MacNair Travel Management, a privately owned American Express Representative Office in the Washington, DC area, announced today a complimentary Webinar titled “Travel Management Solutions for Association Staff, Committees and Members” scheduled for Thursday, July 22nd at 12pm EST.
