A round-up of the latest business travel news, views, appointments and events

from The Business Travel Mag July-August 2022

Trees4travel deals take root

TREES4TRAVEL has partnered with Agentivity, the travel industry management app, and with CMAC Group, the managed ground transport company.

Agentivity will off er Trees4Travel's calculation and carbon positive compensation services to all of its agency customers and their corporate clients, alongside the reporting already off ered by its partner Unlocked Data.

CMAC’s partnership will see Trees4Travel calculate and grow the number of trees necessary to absorb the CO2 emissions produced by CMAC employees during travel, alongside facilities and events, and will also be available to CMAC customers who want to neutralise emissions based on the journeys their travellers take through their managed ground transport solutions.

BloCKCHain-poWErED SCHEME SET To BooST SaF proDuCTion

SHELL, Accenture and American Express Global Business Travel have joined forces to launch Avelia, a blockchain-powered digital book-and-claim SAF solution.

The three companies claim it will be the largest SAF book-and-claim pilot at launch, off ering around 1 million gallons of SAF, which is enough to power almost 15,000 individual business traveller fl ights from London to New York.

A pilot phase, with Aon, aims to show the credibility of the model, which uses blockchain technology to ensure secured allocation of SAF’s environmental attributes to companies and airlines after the fuel has been delivered into the fuel network.

It is hosted on a public blockchain system, where the code is available for any third party to review, ensuring transparency. "This data security and credibility is key to reaching consensus that SAF book-and-claim is a valid mechanism for decarbonising the aviation industry, preventing double-counting," says GBT’s Vice President Global Sustainability, Nora Lovell Marchant.

FinnaiR siGns deal FoR susTainaBle aviaTion Fuel

FINNAIR has signed an agreement with renewable fuels producer Gevo for Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) as part of plans by the Oneworld Alliance to purchase up to 200 million gallons of SAF per year from the Colorado-based company.

The agreement, starting from 2027, outlines the purchase of seven million gallons of SAF per year for the duration of fi ve years.

[ SUSTAINABILITY NEWS BITES ]

>> CORPORATE TRAVELLER has teamed up with Thrust Carbon and Trees4Travel to strengthen sustainability off erings on its booking platform >> SAP CONCUR has partnered with CHOOOSE to integrate its carbon emissions management solution, which automates fl ight-related carbon emission measuring and reporting >> LONDON CITY AIRPORT has published a new sustainability roadmap in a bid to become the fi rst net zero airport in London by the end of the decade through various measures, including ensuring all airport vehicles switch to electric >> VICTOR, the on-demand private jet company, has partnered with Neste to off er members the chance to purchase Neste MY Sustainable Aviation Fuel for every booking around the world >>

11%

- the extra passengers would pay to off set their fl ight

Airline passengers travelling for business and leisure would be prepared to pay, on average, 11% of their ticket price to o set carbon emissions from their fl ight, according to a survey by air transport IT provider Sita

GloBal hoTel BookinGs have suRpassed pRe-pandeMic levels accoRdinG To The laTesT FiGuRes FRoM hoTelhuB, ReachinG 120% oF 2019 voluMes in June and up By 108% in euRope

oneworld airlines switch at Heathrow

IBERIA has moved its London Heathrow operations from Terminal 5 to Terminal 3.

Fellow Oneworld member and joint business partner American Airlines has made the same move, having relocated to T5 in July 2020 at the start of the pandemic.

The switch follows an announcement from British Airways at the end of June that it would be moving all of its current long-haul T3 departures to T5, as well as over half of its short-haul services. All of BA’s fl ights to and from Spain now operate from T5.

Iberia business class passengers and Iberia Plus Gold, Platinum and Infi nita card customers will have access to the Galleries Club or First lounges at Terminal 3.

BTA UPDATEBTA COMMENT

Summer of discontent

As we came out of the dark days of the Covid-19 pandemic, we hoped for a resurgence of international travel in general – business or leisure.

The uptake was far swifter than any of us imagined. The business travel sector was starting to fl ourish once more. Our promises of a global Britain were starting to bear fruit.

Then, things took another turn for the worse that we hadn’t predicted. Airport technology failed, staffi ng pressures increased and queues stacked up across the country.

Now we fi nd ourselves in the middle of the so-called “summer of discontent.”

This isn’t just about international travel: it’s train strikes, tube strikes and the ever imminent threat of the next strike.

The business travel sector has always taken pride in looking after its staff , its customers and providing almost frictionless travel to its corporate customers.

Today, that’s become a diffi cult pledge to deliver. Our members (TMCs) are dealing with changes to one in four bookings. This is up from 1 in 11 bookings pre-pandemic. And many of these bookings require multiple changes rather than just one.

Airline or rail bookings are only the start. Every action has a knock-on consequence and our colleagues in the hospitality, car hire and events industries are working hard to service the needs of the corporate traveller.

Conversations, wait times and changes take longer. But, they are happening.

As we face more disruption, we ask the corporate traveller to understand the work our members are doing on their behalf and to understand this is a short-term problem.

To airlines, rail networks and all those considering going on strike, we need to come through this post-pandemic period together.

We need to support recovery and create a climate where profi ts can be shared, pay rises given and a new boom in British business is supported. business is supported.

Clive Wratten

Chief Executive Offi cer

SErviCED aparTMEnTS SECTor SET For FurTHEr groWTH

THE SERVICED apartment sector has continued to grow its share of corporate accommodation spend despite the pandemic, says a new report.

According to the Global Serviced Apartment Industry Report 2022, 15% of surveyed UK businesses increased their overall use of serviced apartments during 2021, while 52% of corporates and 60% of TMCs say their use of serviced apartments for relocation purposes has risen since 2020.

The report says the trend looks set to continue, with 9% of UK companies having added non-hotel accommodation options to their travel programmes since Covid.

Based on recent fi gures, the report predicts business trips in 2022 will continue to be fewer in number but longer in duration. It found the proportion of trips of seven to 14 nights in 2021 was double that of 2019 and that 39.2% of business trips in 2021 were of eight nights or more.

It also says 68% of operators plan to open more apartments in existing locations, the highest number since the report began.

iTM To hold inauGuRal auTuMn conFeRence in london

ITM is holding its fi rst ever one-day Autumn Conference on October 3 at the Grand Connaught Rooms, London.

The agenda will focus on what travel buyers should be doing to unearth opportunities and optimise their programmes when faced with current industry challenges, such as resource constraints amongst suppliers, the residual eff ects of Covid, border considerations and the cost of living crisis.

yotel goes cockney with london opening

BUDGET chain Yotel has opened a 161-room hotel in London's Shoreditch, its fi fth city centre hotel in the UK.

The property has an all-day bar, restaurant and co-working space, Komyuniti, where all menu items off er guests their ‘Cockney rhyming slang’ names, such as Jack the Rippers (Chicken Strippers) and the Mona Lisa (Pizza Margherita).

Guests on the go can opt to ‘build your own breakfast’, taking a breakfast bag which contains a breakfast burrito, choice of pastry, yoghurt or granola pot, fruit juice, fruit and tea or coff ee.

YOTEL London Shoreditch also incorporates YOTEL’s signature design and technology features with self-service stations allowing guests to check in in under a minute.

22%

of UK execs are travelling more than pre-pandemic

A survey commissioned by risk management specialist World Travel Protection, of 500 UK business travellers who travel internationally for business at least once a year, found more than a fi fth (22%) are now travelling more than before the Covid pandemic

[ TMC NEWS BITES ]

>> AMERICAN EXPRESS Global Business Travel has introduced a virtual assistant capability on its mobile app, including natural language and free text input for requests >> GOOD TRAVEL MANAGEMENT has been appointed the offi cial travel and accommodation partner and supplier to Medilink UK, supporting it at trade fairs and exhibitions globally >> CWT has introduced a new subscription fee model, promising its customers simple and transparent pricing and billing and with fees based on several criteria, including forecasted transaction volume and any value-added products and services >> ATPI has expanded its Africa and European footprint with the appointment of four new network partners in Gabon, Rwanda, Liberia and Israel >>

BTA UPDATEITM COMMENT

Surviving the perfect storm

These are, even by our standards, extraordinary times for the business travel industry. The giddiness many of us felt with the return of travel has rather been replaced by a need to rapidly respond to disruptions and challenges that have hit the headlines.

Many of ITM's buyer members are reporting the need to internally defend their appointed partners and suppliers and we are assisting them in terms of benchmarking and fact-checking. Very few, if any, sectors and players have not been severely impacted and there are multiple reasons why we are in this tricky position.

Travel was amongst the fi rst industries impacted by the pandemic, with a sudden and prolonged stoppage, with few exceptions. Travel was also the last major industry to be allowed to restart, with very short notice. Large assets like hotels, airports and planes take considerable eff ort, resource and expense to switch on.

When the time came to bring staff back or new staff in, other industries had

Scott Davies

Chief Executive been able to tempt people away with the suggestion of more stable, fl exible and predictable job prospects. And just in case we needed any further hurdles to overcome, the UK is now considerably less able to bring in EU-based people to fulfi l essential positions and security clearance for many roles is taking longer too. More recently, multiple instances of industrial action have joined the perfect storm.

In the medium to long term, of course, those companies who nurture strong cultures that value their people will be the most successful in attracting and retaining the talent needed to build robust operations and deliver great service.

As we look to compete for talent, it is incumbent on us all to sell the travel industry as a career. But, for now, we must do what we have always done; dig deep, rise to the challenge and keep each other going.

Although the diffi culties we face today are immense, I for one prefer this current situation to the one we were in two and half years ago.

TripStax takes over ownership of TapTrip

TRIPSTAX has announced the acquisition of TapTrip and will add TapTrip's online booking platform to its tech solutions.

The deal will see TapTrip co-founders Tom Young and Jack Timblin and all existing staff join TripStax.

ATPI has an interest in both companies, having invested in TapTrip in March 2020 and being responsible for developing the TripStax technology before it was spun off as a separate entity earlier this year.

Under this new deal, TripStax is acquiring TapTrip from its multiple shareholders, which also include Barclays, Techstars, and Founders Factory. The ATPI Group, as an investor in TripStax, will retain a fi nancial interest through the acquisition and, as a TMC customer of TripStax, can use TapTrip as one of the modules within its tech stack.

CoviD CHECKS HinDEring TECH aDopTion aT airporTS

MORE airline passengers are embracing mobile and touchless technologies but Covid checks are hampering the rate of adoption, according to research by aviation IT specialist SITA.

Its 2022 Passenger IT Insights report shows an increase in the use of mobile devices for booking, on board the airplane and for bag collection in the fi rst three months of this year compared to the same period in 2020.

Passengers are also more likely to use automated gates for identity control, boarding and border control.

But the report also found that health verifi cation is a pain point that has slowed end-to-end automation. Despite some uptake of technology, over half of passengers still do their own research on health verifi cation requirements and manually submit documentation.

IN BRIEF

Easy does it

EasyHotel, the low-carbon, affordable hotel chain, has acquired its first site in the Spanish city of Valencia. The 95-room hotel, with parking, is expected to open in 2024.

Stay alert

Risklike has launched TravelPrep, available via subscription, to give travellers pre-travel advisory emails two weeks and 48 hours before their departure and risk alerts during their trips.

Doubling up

Qatar Airways will increase its services from Doha to Melbourne from once daily to double daily from October 1.

Travel tool

Cytric by Amadeus has been chosen by Microsoft to manage its employee travel. The tool will enable Microsoft employees to plan, book and change their journeys.

Direct link

Eurostar will add a fourth direct train service from London St. Pancras to Rotterdam Centraal and Amsterdam Centraal stations from September 5, with tickets from £39 one way.

Back in focus

Channel Island-based TMC, Island Business Travel, one of the founding members of the Focus Travel Partnership, has re-signed with the business travel consortium 20 months after leaving, mainly to take advantage of its competitive fares.

Business FiRsT TickeT holdeRs on The heaThRow expRess aRe now aBle To use pRioRiTy lanes aT aiRpoRT secuRiTy Thanks To iTs Business FiRsT FasT TRack seRvice

CTM BuyS inDEpEnDEnT TravEl group

CORPORATE Travel Management has acquired 1000 Mile Travel Group, a network of independent travel experts specialising in SME business travel services across Australia and the UK.

CTM founder and Managing Director, Jamie Pherous, said CTM has been partnering with 1000 Mile Travel for nearly a year through the provision of its proprietary Lightning online booking technology.

“During that time, we have recognised a strong alignment between our businesses based upon shared values, common technology systems and high growth objectives, and we believe – through the leadership of 1000 Mile Travel – we are well-placed to expand the 1000 Mile Travel model into our largest markets of North America and the UK,” he said.

Ben Ross, founder and Managing Director of 1000 Mile Travel, said the acquisition paves the way for significant growth.

Travel risk platform launches for SMEs

A NEW travel risk management platform, aimed at individual travellers and SMEs, has launched in the UK.

Mia Bazo, created by John Scott and J Laurence Sarno, provides a number of services, including traveller tracking, expense management, document storage, travel security, and tax and visa compliance. The founders have also added carbon management, available for free, to help businesses calculate their carbon footprint and purchase carbon offsets.

Mia Bazo shares its technology with sister platform, Voyage Manager, which has been providing similar travel risk services to large organisations since 2010. "We created the self-service Mia Bazo platform so individuals and SMEs could access the same technology at an affordable price," says Sarno.

app ConSiDErS CarBon, CoST anD CaloriES

THE MILES Consultancy claims it will revolutionise how corporates manage multi-mobility ground transportation with its new Mobility ‘super-app’, Mobility iQ.

Launching this summer, the app is designed to promote more responsible traveller behaviour by allowing corporates to manage all available methods of ground transportation, including car rental, ride, taxi and rail, based on company preferences surrounding cost, calories, carbon and clock.

It will also use AI to deliver real-time trip alerts and travel recommendations.

iTM buyers make plea to suppliers

TRAVEL MANAGERS are urging TMCs and other suppliers to be more transparent over staff shortages in the face of ongoing servicing problems.

ITM members are demanding more open communication on operational issues, staffi ng limitations, recruitment plans and timeframes for scaling up businesses as buyers struggle to manage the expectations of their travellers and internal stakeholders.

At an ITM Buyer Knowledge Exchange in June, some said their travellers are opting to book directly with suppliers after becoming frustrated with TMC wait times, which is causing further issues around compliance and duty of care.

agiiTo EXpanDS parTnErSHip WiTH rail ConTEnT SpECialiST

TRAINLINE'S B2B arm, Trainline Partner Solutions (TPS), has secured a long-term extension with Agiito and further expanded its partnership with the TMC.

The agreement will give Agiito's clients access to UK rail content on Platform One, Trainline’s tech platform, including Splitsave as part of the future partnership.

Liz Emmott, TPS Global Distribution Director, said Agiito was a perfect fi t for its ongoing strategy of promoting rail as the simple and sustainable choice for business travel within the UK.

Both parties will share insights and support the ongoing sustainable shift towards rail within the corporate business travel sector.

Josh Collier, Head of Proposition Rail & Ground Transportation for Agiito, said: “We know our customers will value gaining access to Trainline’s thought leadership and industry-leading technology features in the future, such as their impressive SplitSave feature, which will ensure they have access to the best value fares available."

[ AIRLINE NEWS BITES ]

>> BAMBOO AIRWAYS, the new Vietnamese airline, will start a non-stop weekly service from London Gatwick to Hanoi at the end of October, serviced by a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft >> AIR CANADA has announced the launch of a daily non-stop seasonal service between London Heathrow and Mumbai, running October 29 to March 24 2023, subject to receiving government approvals >> EASYJET has launched fl ights to Liverpool from George Best Belfast City Airport, with daily departures every day except Wednesdays >> JETBLUE is introducing a second daily fl ight between London Gatwick and New York JFK from October 29 >> OMAN AIR has confi rmed it will join the Oneworld alliance in 2024, with Qatar Airways acting as a sponsor >>

venue daTa cenTRe, venuediRecToRy, is acQuiRed By cvenT

CVENT has taken over VenueDirectory, a data centre of venue information for the UK MICE industry. It will continue to operate as a standalone business unit. Announcing the deal, Cvent said it would provide additional support and resources so VenueDirectory can connect more venues with corporate event planners across Europe and “elevate its position as a regional leader in the venue sourcing space”.

23%

will seek a new role if travel schedule doesn't improve

A SAP Concur survey of 3,850 global business travellers has identifi ed growing pressure due to companies taking a "more travel on fewer shoulders” approach, with 23% of frequent travellers saying they’ll look for a new position if their travel schedule doesn’t improve

EVENTS

AUGUST 14-17 2022

GBTA CONVENTION

San Diego Convention Centre

convention.gbta.org

SEPTEMBER 13 2022

BUSINESS TRAVEL PEOPLE AWARDS

Leonardo Royal London City Hotel

thebusinesstravelpeopleawards.com

SEPTEMBER 26-27 2022

BTA CONFERENCE

Belfast

thebta.org.uk

OCTOBER 3 2022

ITM AUTUMN CONFERENCE

Grand Connaught Rooms

itm.org.uk

OCTOBER 3 2022

DINNER CLUB

Corinthia Hotel, London

thebusinesstravelmag.com

NOVEMBER 8-10 2022

GBTA EUROPE CONFERENCE

Square Convention Centre, Brussels

europeconference.gbta.org

DECEMBER 5 2022

CHRISTMAS DINNER CLUB

Corinthia Hotel, London

thebusinesstravelmag.com

SALLY HIGGS

JOINS: Festive Road AS: Travel & Events Sustainability Manager FROM: American Express GBT

Sally Higgs, formerly Strategic Account Manager for American Express GBT, has joined Festive Road as Travel and Events Sustainability Manager for an outsourced practice.

DAN WOODBURN

JOINS: CAP Worldwide AS: EMEA Brand Partner Manager FROM: Suitehub

CAP Worldwide Serviced Apartments has appointed Dan Woodburn to its expanding global management team. He joins from Suitehub and also worked for Citybase.

XIAN MAYES

JOINS: Advantage Travel Partnership AS: Chief of People FROM: IMServ Europe

Xian Mayes has joined Advantage as Chief of People from Milton Keynes-based IMServ Europe, a data and energy metering specialist, where she was HR Director.

TOM ROWLANDS

PROMOTED AT: FLEETCOR TO: MD Global EV Solutions FROM: VP Strategy Europe

FLEETCOR, the parent of Allstar Business Solutions, has promoted Tom Rowlands to head up operations for FLEETCOR’s EV product solutions worldwide.

GRANT SMITH

JOINS: Sabre UK AS: Senior Sales and Account Manager FROM: Amadeus

Grant Smith, who was previously Senior Commercial Account Manager, OTA UK & Ireland for Amadeus, has joined Sabre as Senior Sales and Account Manager.

TARA JERRARD

JOINS: ACE Travel Management As: Head of Sales and Marketing FROM: Traveleads

After briefl y leaving the travel industry due to the pandemic, Tara Jerrard has joined ACE Travel Management as Head of Sales and Marketing, replacing Martine Holland-Robinson.

ALSO ON THE MOVE... >> Locomote has appointed Cathryn Cole, APAC Director of Sales and Account Management Airplus International, as Enterprise Solutions Director >> Chris Wayne-Wills, CEO of Crerar Hotels, has taken over as UKHospitality Scotland Chairman >> Festive Road has appointed Marc Zuber, previously Global Travel Category Lead at Nestlé Group >> MAG has announced the appointment of Chris Woodroofe as the new Managing Director of Manchester Airport >> CWT has made a series of appointments, including Doug Vincent as VP, Enterprise Sales Defense & Government, Patrick Burke Director, Sales NORAM, Thomas Nicholson as Director of Sales NORAM, Sergiu Les as Director of Sales EMEA, and Uschi Koch and Joanna Brewer as Sales Managers, EMEA >>

EXPERTS AT TALENT RECRUITMENT, DEVELOPMENT AND RETENTION.

Dedicated to the business travel sector.

The Business Travel Magazine Dinner Club

Corporate travel buyers and representatives from TMCs and travel suppliers gathered at the Corinthia Hotel, London, in May for a threecourse dinner and networking, followed by a captivating talk on managing travel risk by Bob Quick, Executive Director and Founder of Global Secure Accreditation (GSA). The event was kindly sponsored by HotelHub, South Western Railway, Reside Worldwide and Sixt Rent a Car.