Interviews

Carlson Wagonlit Travel this year brought Eric Tyree onboard as chief data scientist, a role he'd previously had at U.K.-based professional services company Capita. During an Association of Corporate Travel Executives conference in London this month, The Beat's Michael B. Baker spoke with Tyree about his role and how the mega travel management company plans to transform services for travelers and travel managers by reshaping its approach to data.

British Airways and Iberia are asserting more control over which agencies can secure, via global distribution systems, full fare content and waivers of their booking surcharge, which will take effect next month. American Express Global Business Travel is among the travel management companies that have entered into a new arrangement with the International Airlines Group airlines to waive the surcharge, assure sustained access to fares and inventory and, via the GDS channel, set the course for upgraded connectivity. Amex GBT EVP of global supplier relations Mike Qualantone caught up with The Beat editor-in-chief Jay Boehmer to discuss IAG's distribution model.

The Beat caught up with FCM Travel Solutions president for the Americas Billy McDonough to discuss FCM's growth ambitions, acquisitions and technology. An edited transcript follows.

Travel and Transport chief information officer Mike Kubasik spoke with The Beat editor-in-chief Jay Boehmer about mobile strategy, its mobile patent and API connectivity with travel suppliers through the Dash Mobile app. An edited transcript follows.

Last year, BCD Travel commenced a plan to grow earnings by 35 percent over three years. As CEO John Snyder sees it, such growth is essential to reinvesting in the business. Achieving growth targets requires strong sales, high client retention and most likely more acquisitions. Snyder discussed the company's strategic direction, corporate travel distribution, mobile technology and BCD's growing role in hotel sales.

In addition to death and taxes, it's near certain that Direct Travel will acquire more travel management companies. After flipping to a new private equity owner, the TMC last year purchased Atlanta-based Georgia International Travel, Cleveland-based Traveline Travel Services and Massachusetts-based Colpitts World Travel. Since embarking on its ongoing agency roll-up plan in 2011, Colorado-based Direct Travel has done enough deals for CEO Ed Adams to lose count: "Twenty-one or 22? It's probably 21," he said. "We've still having fun and plugging away." He caught up with The Beat editor-in-chief Jay Boehmer to discuss agency acquisitions, integration and growth.

Mantic Point CEO Mike Atherton caught up to talk about traveler engagement and trends in mobile travel technology.

British Airways has provided a steady flow of distribution-related announcements in recent weeks, including the ability to offer negotiated corporate fares via New Distribution Capability messaging and signing up to Concur TripLink. Ian Luck has led distribution strategy at BA for the past 18 months, so The Beat contributing editor Amon Cohen caught up with him to understand better where the airline is heading with its distribution to corporate clients.

"The current model is going to change." So says HRG chief information officer Bill Brindle, who should know. He addressed British Airways’ New Distribution Capability conference in London last month, and has supported its client, Volkswagen, which has established a direct connection to Lufthansa (as has Siemens). Brindle spoke with The Beat contributing editor Amon Cohen about why emerging alternative distribution channels present huge opportunities but need to become as robust as more established technologies.

BCD Group founder John Fentener van Vlissingen discussed his approach to acquisitions, his outlook for BCD Travel and agency consolidation during an on-stage interview at The Beat Live.