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Posted Oct 26, 2011
Democracy blooming in the Middle East. Leaderless revolutionaries occupying Wall Street. Student athletes organizing to get paid. Presidential candidates wanting to overthrow the U.S. Tax Code. Do you see the implications for managed travel?
Posted Aug 31, 2011
Posted Jun 18, 2010
Some forms of simplicity are pure genius. Therein lies the lesson for all you travel managers who wrestle with travel policy issues. After all, it’s not changing the words in the policy that matters – it’s changing people’s behavior. Let’s learn from Starbucks how a simple chalkboard can be the centerpiece of a massive campaign to change people’s behavior.
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 17, 2009
Many people believe that having a systematic travel approval system increases control. For example: Software is used for the travelers to submit a request to travel; the request is routed to the manager, cost center manager, etc. Another: Your online booking tool requires formal approval before the reservation is queued for ticketing.
Posted Aug 5, 2009
Found this courtesy of TechCrunch and a blog called Hacking Netflix. It's a way different take on corporate policy, from an Internet company I have patronized for years. Actually, my family dumped cable TV because of Netflix. What's noteworthy for travel management pros?
Posted Apr 23, 2009
We have heard it a million times. Organizations that are willing to pay a little extra can ensure that their travelers arrive at their destinations refreshed and ready to conduct business. Others risk losing out by having tired, frustrated and generally irritated employees. They won't be at the top of their game, and their competition will have the advantage. Executives for the San Francisco Giants have examined this delicate balance and decided that extra travel expenses are worth the attempt at winning more games.
Posted Mar 6, 2009
Posted Jan 23, 2009
Congrats to NetApp for taking No. 1 on Fortune's list of the 100 best companies to work for. We recently profiled NetApp here in Procurement.travel, regarding how travel fits in with the people-friendly culture. Here's a related excerpt from Fortune on its Feb. 2 issue: "Typical of its down-to-earth management ethos, NetApp early on ditched a travel policy a dozen pages long in favor of this maxim: 'We are a frugal company. But don't show up dog-tired to save a few bucks. Use your common sense.' "
Posted Jan 1, 2009
Happy New Year.
Just posting to let you know that the December issue of Procurement.travel has been published online. Click here for Mary Ann's summary of what's inside, including features on AstraZeneca, Bank of America and Procter & Gamble; a commentary from United Airlines; a cover story on the relationship between job satisfaction and travel policies; and an update on the U.S. government's e-gov initiative in travel.
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