This post is part of the 2015 Keynote Vote for The Beat Live, in Arlington, Va., Sept. 29-Oct. 1.
Topic: Navigating Winding Ground Transportation Roads
While the volume of chatter about ridesharing/on-demand ground transportation players has increased, travel managers are still unsure how to navigate this evolving landscape. They remain concerned about duty of care, customer privacy and data protection, global availability and their ground spend. Yet, increasingly they are met with a traveler who desires convenience and flexibility. I will discuss how travel mangers can balance their needs with that of their travelers to deliver a safe, reliable and convenient ground transportation program.
Why The Audience Should Listen
Ground transportation is the fifth-highest travel and entertainment spend category, superseding car rental spend. Yet, many companies do not have a full policy surrounding it. When you look at the ridesharing/on-demand piece of the business, an alarming 70 percent of companies do not have a policy governing this area, according to the Global Business Travel Association. Travel managers cannot afford to sit on the sidelines. They need an acceptable duty of care and risk mitigation strategy so they're not putting their travelers in harm's way and potentially putting their company in financial danger. I will take the audience beyond the typical rhetoric and offer a lively talk about the true issues that others have left out of the conversation.
How You'll Avoid Delivering A Sales Pitch
As an industry expert, I am very familiar with the legal and operational side of the business as it relates to insurance, privacy and protection. I will share a view that speaks to the real issues facing travel managers as it relates to ground transportation and will not engage in delivering a commercial message.
Liz Carisone is CEO of GroundLink.