Gateway Magazine - Issue 2 by Flight Centre

GATEWAY The magazine of Corporate Traveller Issue 2 â&#x20AC;¢ Winter/Spring 2018

IN T H ER O C TE O LS NT G INE RO N U TA P L

IN M TE AR RN R I A OT TI T O N A L

IN TE H RC O O TE N LS TI G NE RO N U TA L P

TE M A RN RR AT I O IO T T N AL

C A RE RL ZI SO D N O R

H IL T & ON R E SO HO RT TE S L

A C O CO TE LS R

IN T H ER O C TE O LS NT G INE RO N U TA P L

I N TE M A RN RR A IO T IO T T N AL

G e t mo r e o u t o f h ot e l r e wa r d s c h e m es

Hot topic:

NDC

5 fab traveller

hacks

Destination zone:

BOSTON

C A RE RL S Z ID ON O R

PLAY THE GAME

AC O CO TE LS R

WE L C O M E & C O N TE N T S Welcome to issue two of Gateway magazine – our first of the year. We hope 2018 got off to a flying start for readers and their businesses.

I n t hi s i s s ue 4-5

News: What’s happening in the world of business travel

If anyone’s looking at ways to squeeze a bit more out of their travel spend in the future, then our beginner’s guide to hotel loyalty clubs would be worth a read.

6-7

Hot Topic: NDC

We recently saw a report that said many frequent travellers find these schemes quite confusing, so we’re hoping our at-a-glance round-up of some of the key programmes on offer will help. It’s a topic we’ll be coming back to in future issues in greater depth. The focus of this issue’s Destination Zone is Boston in the US. Corporate Traveller’s very own Jillian Jenkins is a south Boston resident – or ‘Southie’ as the locals say – so who better to give us the lowdown on where to go, what to eat and where to stay in this fascinating city?

8-9 Get Ahead: Hotel loyalty schemes 11-12

Destination Zone: Boston, USA

13 Traveller Hacks: Our pick of new products for frequent travellers 14

Q&A: London law firm’s business-trip booker reveals all

Quiz: Tech whiz or get in a tizz?

We’ve dedicated a section of the magazine to the subject of New Distribution Capability (NDC). Justin Penny, head of aviation – Europe, explains the key points and what it all really means for clients.

Village Vibes: News from Corporate Traveller’s UK regional offices

Last but not least, read all about Corporate Traveller’s new technology platform and brand-new look, as well as finding out what the teams around the UK have been up to recently.

Contact deta il s

Hope you enjoy the issue.

Lisa James

Editor editorgatewaymagazine@corptraveller.co.uk

Editor:

Lisa James

Corporate Traveller, 11th Floor, CI Tower, High Street, New Malden, KT3 4TE corptraveller.co.uk

Email us at:

gatewaymagazine@corptraveller.co.uk

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tr avel

n e w s & D e v e lopm e n t s Corporat e T rav e lle r Ne ws Discover YOUR.CT

Profile Management

Invoice Data

Traveller Tracking

Approve & Request

C T ’ s n e w look

orporate Traveller has a new look – its first rebrand in 10 years.

The fresh identity includes a re-designed logo, website, marketing material and, of course, the new quarterly client magazine, Gateway. The rebrand marks the start of an important year. In July, Corporate Traveller celebrates 25 years as a specialist travel management company for organisations with an SME business travel spend.

Log out

Add New Add New

Marketing manager Ashley Gordon explained: “We conducted a number of client focus groups last summer to understand what our valued customers thought of our logo and brand colours.

+11.30% booked 0-2 days in advance +12.48% in 2017

+13.78% booked 5-15 days in advance +13.68% in 2017

“It was clear from the feedback we needed a more modern and stylish brand look to reflect our professionalism and focus.

Travel Policy

Booking

Reports

“However, it was important not to lose our unique ‘watermelon’ colour which shows that we’re dynamic and fun.” Travel Alerts

CT at BT S

orporate Traveller has launched YOUR.CT One Simple Platform, a new travel technology platform designed for SME-spend customers. YOUR.CT One Simple Platform gives bookers, travellers and managers a single access point, via their customised dashboard, to functionality and information that is relevant to their business travel needs. This includes pre-trip approval, booking options, profile management, traveller tracking, travel alerts, reports, invoice data and travel policy. The platform can be accessed via PC, tablet or mobile device.

In addition, Corporate Traveller is launching YOUR.CT MOBILE, a bespoke app fully integrated with YOUR.CT One Simple Platform, which gives travellers access to their flight and hotel bookings all in one place while they are on the move. Travellers can use the app for online check in, flight status alerts, weather forecasts, currency conversion and destination guides. Depending on the type of user, YOUR.CT One Simple Platform’s dashboard is configured to give instant access to approval and request, bookings, profile management, traveller tracking, travel alerts, travel policy, reports and more. Corporate Traveller UK general manager Andy Hegley, said: “We have invested heavily in developing YOUR.CT One Simple Platform to give our clients the right type of technology that is easy to access, simple to use, and supports them with booking and managing travel costs and processes, as well as duty-of-care obligations. “It’s about blending the appropriate mix of expert offline service with technology solutions that are right for each client’s business.”

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he team at Corporate Traveller is looking forward to catching up with clients at the Business Travel Show (BTS).

Taking place on February 21 and 22 at London’s Olympia, BTS is Europe’s largest specialised conference and exhibition, attracting more than 7,500 European travel professionals. The show brings together business travel buyers and managers with suppliers, knowledge and contacts to help create and develop successful travel programmes. CT and sister company FCM Travel Solutions are holding a cocktail reception at stands B30/B130 on Wednesday February 21 from 4pm and we’re also organising conference sessions for PAs. Check www.businesstravelshow.com for more details.

T ime to reL AX

NE W S I N BR I E F Choose your seat Virgin Atlantic will offer a choice of three different Upper Class seats – for people sitting together, travellers who want to stretch out or those who want extra privacy – as well as extra amenities, from March when its new Airbus A330200s join the fleet. The aircraft will initially operate Manchester-New York, Boston, San Francisco and Barbados routes.

merican Airlines has opened its new Flagship Lounge and Flagship First Dining area for business and first-class travellers at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). The new areas are part of American’s $200 million investment, which also includes a new Admirals Club at LAX’s Terminal 5 and a refurbished Admirals Club in Terminal 4. American is the largest carrier at LAX with more than 200 daily flights on peak days to 70 destinations on five continents. The airline’s senior vice president Suzanne Boda said: “As our West Coast gateway to the Asia-Pacific region, Los Angeles is where many of our customers begin long flights either internationally or across the US. “We are proud to offer best-in-class lounge and dining options at the start of their journey.” Flagship areas have also recently opened in Miami, New York JFK and Chicago O’Hare.

Cumb ria on the map

usiness travellers to and from the north west of England will be able to fly from Carlisle Lake District Airport from this summer, operator Stobart Group has confirmed. The flights will connect Cumbria to Dublin, London and Belfast, where passengers can catch onward flights to international cities. Graham Haywood, executive director of the Cumbria Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP), which has committed £5 million to the project, said: “As well as growing visitor numbers and supporting tourism businesses, development of the airport will open up more commercial industry opportunities, especially in key sectors such as logistics, nuclear and advanced manufacturing.”

Amber Nectar Nectar card users can now get points on vehicle bookings with Europcar UK, earning one point for every pound spent, under a new partnership between the two companies. New route Bmi has further developed its network from Bristol with a new flight to Gothenburg. The service, which is the latest development in bmi’s ongoing growth strategy to provide connectivity between key regional business destinations in Europe, operates on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Luggage allowance Etihad Airways’ baggage allowance is now based on total weight rather than number of bags checked in, on all bookings from February 1. Economy passengers can check in between 23kg and 35kg of baggage, depending on the fare. Business-class customers get 40kg and First 50kg. The Residence guests onboard Airbus A380s are allowed four 32kg bags. Time out Clashes over taking time off work are the number-one cause of office disputes, according to a survey by Kiwi.com. One in 10 said they felt their boss prioritised his or her leave over those in the team and 62% said the issue was the main cause of co-worker bust ups.

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H OT TO P I C : N D C Anyone struggling to get their head around New Distribution Capability (NDC) needn’t worry because Corporate Traveller is doing all the work behind the scenes. NDC is designed to meet the evolving needs of travellers by aggregating the widest and most relevant choice of travel content, maximising cost savings and personalising the booking experience. Justin Penny, head of aviation – Europe, for Corporate Traveller’s parent company Flight Centre Travel Group, explains more.

Key objectives of NDC 1

Maximise content and choice

Better customer experience

Speedy and easy aggregation

Old distribution model

What is NDC? NDC is a travel industry-supported programme launched by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) for the development and market adoption of a new, XML-based data transmission standard. The NDC Standard enhances the capability of communications between airlines and travel agents and is open to any third party, intermediary, IT provider or non-IATA member, to implement and use.

New distribution model

With GDS Today

Schedule Availability

With IATA NDC

Shop

Price

Pay

Order

Airline

Limited information

Rich information Travel Agent Customer/Traveller

What does it mean?

How does it work?

The response to a search for travel content will be automatically more personalised and simplified. Currently, it’s a one-size-fits-all approach, where personalisation happens via a ‘pick and choose’ buffet-style concept. NDC turns the search into an Amazon-type ‘shopping’ model. The key differences are more in the level of access: The current GDS is primitive, industry specific and in early phases of being unbundled. NDC is retail generic, high level transaction (shop, order, pay), with all ancillaries directly part of the offer, everything is completely unbundled. The offer will be different, depending on who is making the booking.

There are different approaches. Corporate Traveller’s global approach is to partner with some of the world’s leading technology providers and global distribution systems (GDSs), such as Amadeus and SABRE, and major NDC-ready airlines as well as utilising our own in-house technology. Our aim is to ensure NDC content is integrated into our core booking systems, both offline and online.

Give us an example If an adult with two children and a business traveller were booking the same return flight to Chicago via New York, the airline offer returned could be automatically more personalised to suit their needs and look more attractive. So the adult travelling with two children could be automatically offered extra free baggage allowance. The business traveller’s airline membership profile will show this as a regular route, they know their way through the airport quickly and, as such could be offered a minimum 60-minute connection instead of the standard 90-minute. NDC is much more personalised and could offer other extras – lounges, chauffeur, transfers, meals, airport shopping discounts – as part of the standard airline offer.

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What’s the timescale? Work started in 2012 and it is still in very early stages. I believe that NDC is ready now for simple point-to-point journeys, once it is integrated into our core booking systems. IATA wants to see 100% NDC adaptation by 2025, but there’s a huge amount of work to do before this is possible. We’re working with many airlines and Corporate Traveller will be fully NDC ready through integration into our core booking system in 2018.

Is it a good thing? No-one really knows, but Corporate Traveller is seeing it as a positive. It’s a huge technological advancement and a huge cost for airlines, for us as a TMC, and for our technology partners. It is our aim to ensure a seamless integration, remove the complexity and at the same time maximise the content available. We don’t want our customers to have to worry about any of it.

THE EVOLUTION OF DISTRIBUTION

Pre 1950s

Late 90s

2008

2015–2018

Reservations made on the telephone or at the airport

• Growth of airlines.com • Increase in low cost carriers • More choice for consumers

• Financial Crisis • Disgruntled airlines • Changing economics

• EU carriers introduce surcharge • Maturity in NDC

1959

2000s

Global Distribution System (GDS) was born

• Airlines began investing millions in their product to differentiate from competition • GDS isn’t able to represent these differences as products are represented by a single letter • Airlines identify NDC as a way of being able to truly showcase their product and differentiators

NDC MYTHS NDC is a new technology platform No, NDC is simply a standard way for airlines to distribute rich content.

NDC will replace the GDS No, NDC content can be distributed directly to any third party including the GDSs, travel agents directly or new technology entrants.

2012 • Growth of APIs • First GDS surcharge • NDC is born

Customer benefits

More dynamic fares and richer content to improve the shopping experience

Greater ability

to access booking functionality via TMC previously only available on airline website, eg part points, part cash payment

NDC will completely change the travel industry as we know it Not really, the travel industry continues to reinvent itself (remember paper tickets?) and this is just another evolution.

All airlines are adopting NDC Some airlines are very deep into NDC, other major airlines have publicly stated they are very happy with the current methods of airline distribution.

NDC is bad news for TMCs Not in our opinion. Airlines, now more than ever, recognise the beneﬁts of the TMC to distribute their content and strong partnerships will be important. TMCs deliver far more than just airline bookings to their customers.

More personalised bundled options: For example specially negotiated lounge access in economy class re dynamic

Better online experiences

through Corporate Traveller booking tools with more content and functionality

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GET A H EA D B usin e ss kno w- ho w, t ips a nd mot ivat ion to h e lp you a chi e v e you r g o a ls

HOTEL LOYALTY SCHEMES

A recent survey revealed 14% of British business travellers are unsure of what a loyalty scheme is and 45% aren’t being very satisfied with the rewards they get.* But hotel loyalty clubs can work well for frequent travellers and small businesses can use them to save money. Rebecca Lee, hotel supplier relations manager at Corporate Traveller’s parent company Flight Centre Travel Group explains: “Points can be used to redeem a huge variety of products and services, not simply future hotel stays. “For people travelling in key business locations, many chains often have a business lounge that rewards members have exclusive access to. “This is a quiet working environment, which often provides breakfast and evening snacks, therefore reducing the total cost of the trip.

Re s o r t s Hilton Hotel s & ors Loyalty club: Hilton Hon orts; uding Hilton Hotels & Res Brands: 14 brands, incl orts Res & els Hot ria Asto f ldor DoubleTree by Hilton; Wa and Conrad Gold, Diamond Levels: Member, Silver, rs3.hilton.com ono onh Hilt : ails det More details Member level: key changeable and • Guaranteed discount, refundable rates 24 hours in advance • Mobile check-in up to ess • Standard internet acc ck-out • Late and express che • Second guest stays free

details Diamond level: key Hilton s, 60 nights or 120,00 0 stay 30 r afte d ieve • Ach r; as Memberyea r nda cale a in ts Poin Honors Base level, plus: available • Room upgrades when h as ts or another option, suc • Choice of bonus poin ck sna or er wat complimentary breakfast, tee • 48-hour room guaran Honors Base Points earned • 50% bonus on Hilton using points to book a stay • Fifth night free when access where available ge loun r • Executive floo

r n ation a l M a r r iott I nte

tt Rewards Loyalt y club: Marrio Marriott, luding Ritz-Carlton, JW inc , nds bra 29 s: Brand n rato , Westin and She Renaissance, W Hotels ld Elite, mber, Silver Elite, Go Levels: Rewards Me Platinum Elite tt.co.uk More details: Marrio : ke y details Rewards Member eligible spend frequent flyer miles per or nts poi of • Choice ys sta n paid and redemptio • Credit earned on events and gs etin me for ned • Rewards points ear • No blackout dates y details Platinum Elite: ke efits plus: ben er • Rewards Memb ys us points for eligible sta bon nal itio add % 50 • type • Guaranteed room m upgrade • Complimentary roo t access anced in-room interne enh ary ent lim mp • Co to t jec sub . late checkout, • Guaranteed 4 p.m els hot tion ven con and availability at resort for two access and breakfast • Guaranteed lounge

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“And, as Corporate Traveller has access to rates for rewards members, there is no need for travellers to go directly to the hotel website.” All loyalty programmes work along similar lines, allowing members to earn points on room bookings and other purchases. Members start off on an entry level and work their way through different tiers, with each tier giving a higher number of points and better perks. It can be confusing to work out which scheme is best for a particular business and the best scheme on paper may not be best for an individual or their business. * Travel Loyalty Report 2017, compiled by Wanup ** Diagram shows main loyalty programmes on the market – others are available. Contact individual hotel groups for full list of benefits.

C a r l s on

Re z ido r

Loyalty club : Club Carlso n Brands: Se ven in total, in cluding Radi Plaza; Park In sson brands; n by Radisson Park Levels: Red, Silver, Gold, Concierge More details : Clubcarlso n.com Red level: ke y details • Up to 10 % of f rates • Points ca n be earned on room serv meetings and ice and on events • 9,00 0 po ints earn an ‘Award Night dates on stand ’, with no blac ard rooms kout • Points ca n also be rede em ed for airline cards, prepai miles, gift d cards and more • 5% discou nt on food an d beverage Concierg e level: ke y details • Red level benefits plus : • 75 nights/ 30 stays per ca lendar year; as • Early chec Red level, plus k in or late ch : eck-out on re • In-room we quest lcome gift • Room avai lability guaran tee when book • Continen 48 hours ahea tal breakfast d • 20% disc ount on food an d beverage • 75% poin t bonus on el igible stays

I nte r C ontinent a l Hotel s Group Loyalty club: IHG Rewards Club Brands: 13 brands, including InterC ontinental Hotels & Resorts; Kimpton, Hotel Indigo, Stayb ridge, Holiday Inn, Crowne Plaza Levels: Club, Gold Elite, Platinum Elite, Spire Elite More details: ihg.com Club level: key details • Collect points or miles • Exclusive rates • Dedicated customer service phon e assistance • No blackout dates for reward night s • Reward nights count towards Elite Status • Free internet Spire Elite: key details • 75 qualified nights per calendar year; 75,0 00 Elite qualifying points; Club level benefits plus: • Extended check out, if available • Priority and early check in • Elite Rollover Nights • Room upgrades • Guaranteed room availabilit y (with 72 hours notice; not valid for reward nights) • 100% bonus earnings on top of base points • Exclusive reward partnership with Hertz

Acco r Hotel

Club AccorHotels Loyalty club: Le votel s, Sofitel, Ibis, No Brands: 13 brand ld, Platinum Go , ver Sil c, ssi Levels: Cla corhotels.com More details: Ac

ke y details Classic level: n-members twice 48 hours before no • Exclusive rates a year ra off • Up to 10% ext n and check-out k-i ec ch e lin On • et ern int • Free ss port lounges acce • Priority Pass air l: ke y details Platinum leve nefits plus: • Classic level be in k ec ch ty • Priori • Welcome drink on request • Late check-out request on n k-i ec ch • Early availabilit y m roo • Guaranteed ity en am me lco We • ilit y , subjec t to availab • Room upgrade able ail av if ss ce ac e • Executive loung

CHECKLIST

Hy a tt Loyalty club : World of H yatt Brands: 14 , including Pa rk Hyatt, Anda Hyatt House z, Hyatt Place and Levels: Mem ber, Discoverist , Explorist, Glo More details balist : Hyatt.com M ember le vel: ke y d etails • ‘Base po ints’ earned and redeemed spa experienc on stays, dini es, as well as ng and M life Reward (the loyalty pr s destinations ogramme for • ‘Bonus po MGM Resorts ints’ ca ) events and on n be earned on hosting m eetings and bo ok in g Av • Earn mile is car rental s with airline partners • Share po ints or free ni ghts with othe Hyatt membe r World of rs • Convert po ints for car re nt • Standard als and airline complimenta travel ry internet • Sapphire status at M lif e Rewards Globalist level • Member level benefits plus: • Preferred room within type booked • Upgrade to best room , up to stand • Guarantee ard suites d room at pa rticipating ho 48 hours in ad tels when bo va nc e oked (b lackout dates • Late chec apply) k out until 4p m • Dedicated check-in area • Club loun ge passes • Gold statu s at M life Re wards • Premium internet wher e available

hotel group that ha

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D e s t in a t ion Z on e :

DOING BUSINESS I N bos t on Boston is a key business destination among Corporate Traveller’s clients. It’s a fun, interesting and welcoming city. And, with our insider tips from Corporate Traveller’s regional sales director east, Jillian Jenkins, there’s no excuse to hang out in the hotel lobby or order room service – get out and about and explore!

FY I Time difference: Boston is on Eastern Standard Time, 5 hours behind Greenwich Mean Time. Daylight savings starts the second Sunday in March and ends the first Sunday of November.

Baseball

Fenway Park, or – as you might hear the locals call it, the Cathedral of Boston – is our beloved baseball stadium. Opened on April 20, 1912, it’s not only the oldest ballpark in the US, it’s also known as America’s Most Beloved Ballpark. Take a tour or catch a game in the bleacher seats for cheap if you’re visiting in the spring. www.mlb.com/redsox

Flight time: About 6.5 hours from the UK. Tipping: Taxis expect a 10-15% tip; restaurants expect 15-20% on the total BEFORE local tax (6.25%). A few restaurants build in a 20% gratuity; always check your bill. Getting around: Buy a Boston CityPASS which gives savings on regular admission prices to various attractions, including the Skywalk Observatory at the Prudential Center and a choice of a Boston Harbor Cruise or the Harvard Museum of Natural History. citypass.com/boston ‘Build Your Own’ itinerary and get discount on entry fees with a GO Boston card. smartdestinations.com Download a ValuePASS for discounts at bostonusa.com

The Freedom Trail The Freedom Trail is a 2.5 mile-long path that takes you through several of Boston’s greatest neighbourhoods, specifically Faneuil Hall, the heart of Boston’s history. Visit the Boston Tea Party museum and learn about all the key players and Boston’s importance in the American Revolution. Some of the original cobblestone still exists in the streets (ladies, leave your stilettos at home!). The Freedom Trail ends at Charlestown where visitors can round off the tour at the Warren Tavern and sit at the bar where documents were drafted and carried off by Paul Revere in 1775. Hungry? Try Pier 6, a casual seafood eatery on the waterfront. Quincy Market Pick up a few souvenirs in this historic building and sample a bite to eat. Several vendors offer lunch and dinner in a countertop environment. A great experience for solo travellers and fun for groups, too.

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Dining alone? Neptune Oyster is hands down the best seafood restaurant in Boston. The owners do not take reservations and only have about 10 tables so one of the best ways to visit is to dine as a single at the bar. It’s located in the North End, Boston’s Little Italy, where you can stop by Café Vittoria for an after-dinner drink or espresso. And, of course, a cannoli (crisp Italian shells filled with spiced cream). Shopping Newbury Street, located in Boston’s Backbay, is known for its boutiques and high-end fashion. Stop off at Stephanie’s for a cocktail. It’s a great spot for lunch and dinner with colleagues.

What’s hot The Seaport District is the new hot new place to be with several bars, restaurants and clubs. It’s a great neighbourhood, whether traveling alone or with colleagues. Dining options range from super-casual to five-star fine dining and everything in between. Eating out with colleagues Legal Harborside is Legal Seafood’s three-story flagship restaurant in the Seaport District overlooking the Boston Harbour. The first floor is more casual classic New England fare. The second floor is a fine-dining setting and the third is a rooftop bar (open in winter) offering sushi and a raw bar menu. Great for lunch or dinner. Grab a snack Yankee Lobster, a little shack in the Seaport District is great for a ‘grab and go’ lobster roll.

Other suggestions JFK’s Boston Take a walking tour of JFK’s Boston, including 83 Beals Street, where he grew up, which is now the JFK National Historic Site; Harvard University, where he studied and the JFK Library, where inspiring words from his inauguration speech are etched in the walls. Cheers bar Fans of the long-running show can pull up a stool at the bar ‘where every body knows your name’, at 84 Beacon Street in the Beacon Hill area. It also sells officially licensed Cheers merchandise. Boston’s black history Also in Beacon Hill, at 46 Joy Street, is the fascinating Museum of African American History. It’s part of Boston’s 1.6-mile long Black Heritage Trail, which includes the African Meeting House and Abiel Smith School.

Wh e r e t o s tay ? Boston Park Plaza One of Boston’s best-loved hotels. When it opened in 1927, it redefined a standard of hospitality that guests came to expect. Part of the Preferred Hotel & Resorts brand.

Hilton Boston Downtown Stay in the heart of the Boston Financial District, one block from the waterfront and 10 minutes from Logan International Airport.

enVision Hotel Boston A good-value, boutique hotel experience in the charming neighbourhood of Jamaica Plain, close to major attractions such as Fenway Park.

To find the best deals and see all available hotels visit http://corptraveller.co.uk/offers and check out our smartSTAY range.

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5 G e nius

TRA V E L L ER H A C K S Check out the latest apps, products and tips designed to make travelling on business easier

3 5

B O O S T I N A B OTT L E

Nervous about flying? Need a confidence boost for that all-important business presentation? A few drops of Ilapothecary’s rescue remedy, SOS Pearl Drops, under the tongue provides an instant calming effect, while a spritz of Beat the Blues room spray in your hotel room will help boost self-esteem, confidence and mental strength.

Anyone at a loose end while away on business can get ideas from IQPlanner, a new trip-planning website full of itineraries suggested by bloggers and local experts. Topics cover anything from 48 hours in Brisbane to what to see at the Louvre in Paris.

Drops: £15 for 15ml; spray: £28 for 50ml. www.ilapothecary.com

It also works as a free platform for anyone wanting to publish travel stories and make a bit of money. Commission is paid on any bookings made that have been inspired by a particular post.

I T’ S I N T H E B AG

www.IQPlanner.com

Sympatico Onyx luggage from Briggs & Riley has revolutionary compression technology that allows the user to lift two inside handles to expand the height, then push back down to original size once packed and closed. The hard-sided case should withstand most bashes, but if it is damaged – even by a third party – it comes with a lifetime guarantee so it can be repaired free of charge. Plus, double spinner wheels and lower centre of gravity mean effortless 360° navigation. Available in three sizes, from carry-on size upwards, the cases can be styled with three matching types of bag. Price range: From £139 for the bags and from £429 for the cases. Stockists include John Lewis and Selfridges. www.briggs-riley.com

I Q P l a nn e r

Tr avel Collection Made from exotic natural ingredients and with a fragrance that appeals to men and women, the newly launched Kukui Oil Travel Collection by Connock London compiles hand and body wash and lotion, both in 75ml bottles and a 30ml eau de parfum – perfect sizes to pop in hand luggage. From Hawaii, the emollient oil helps keep skin supple and is great during or after long flights or to combat the effect of air-conditioned hotel and meeting rooms. Anti-oxidantrich Manuka honey and anti-inflammatory andiroba oil collections are also available. Price: £39 www.connocklondon.com

WO R K I T! When working as a high-powered City slicker Heidy Rehman struggled to find clothing that could stand up to a demanding job, while being easy to care for. So she created her own brand of washable and crease-resistant workwear for businesswomen. Her company, Rose and Willard, has a range of stylish, comfortable clothes that are suitable for all ages. The company has won several awards and has created garments for A-list style icons such as Dame Judi Dench and Naomie Harris. Limited-period discounts of 50% off are available on selected products. www.roseandwillard.com/collections/business-travel-wardrobe

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I N TER V I EW W I T H A

TRA V E L B O O K ER Travel booker Karen Cross, legal secretary at international law firm Winston & Strawn, talks soul music, spinning plates and the time Eric Morecombe came into the office Tell us about yourself I’m 58 years young, PA to four litigation/international arbitration partners, the admin director and team lawyers. That makes me a multi-tasker of the highest order! I commute from Rochester in Kent and I love my home town for its history and various festivals throughout the year. I’m a single parent to 28-year-old daughter, who’s back living with me whilst studying for a degree in midwifery. I love soul and funk music, singing, cooking and watching sport. How long have you been in your job? Nearly 11 years. I was working locally and wanted to get back into London. I was told by an agency that I was ‘institutionalised’ because I’d been in my last job for 12 years. But they were wrong. What was your career path? I wanted to be a diplomat when I left school, but the Foreign Office was not for me! I’ve worked as a secretary for an engineering company, a manufacturer of toilet rolls and tissues, the Dartford Crossing when the QEII Bridge was under construction and a management agency, where clients included Eric Morecombe. As in Eric and Ernie? Yes. His son Gary worked there with me. Eric came in one day while I was on reception and kept making me laugh by going in and out of the lift doors as they closed and opened. He was ever the joker. Tell us a bit about Winston & Strawn LLP It’s the London office of an international US law firm, with a head office in Chicago and 16 offices throughout the US, Europe, Dubai and the Far East. How much of your time is spent booking business travel? It varies enormously from no time to 50% of my time. What else does your job entail? Full PA support to the four partners and some support to the admin director, such as managing diaries and billing, plus anything else thrown at me! I try to pre-empt rather than react, which keeps me on my toes. I also meet with sales representatives of local hotels in the City, which I enjoy.

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Who do you book business travel for? All the above and I receive travel requests from other offices from time to time. Where do they travel to? It’s often the US, Europe, Middle and Far East, although it could be anywhere. Do you organise other elements of their travel? Yes, visas and cars. Visas can be tricky, particularly when you work for lawyers who hold different passports, such as US passports. Do you ever get to travel on business yourself? No. I’m firmly chained to my chair! What’s the worst bit about booking business travel? Last minute changes to complicated itineraries can be challenging. What would make life easier when booking travel? Get a great travel consultant. For complicated itineraries that change often − and when working for many people who are all travelling at the same time − they are an absolute Godsend. What advice do you have for someone new to booking travel? Build your own itinerary for the traveller including timings and all contact details to make sure that all eventualities are covered (such as collection from airport) so that the whole trip can be seen in one place. Include an out-of-hours number for emergencies such as cancellations for when you are not available to speak to them. This is also useful for the traveller to pass to their partner. What do you know now that you wish you’d known when you first started? Each person you work with is different and has a totally different approach. To do this job, you need to be a bit of a chameleon. I sometimes describe my job as similar to spinning a lot of plates at the same time. With experience you become more confident.

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Do you know your RAM from your ROM, or has the fast-moving world of technology left you behind?

T a k e ou r quiz Q 1 . You can’t connect to the internet. What’s the first thing you do? A Switch the device off and on again, obvs

to see how tech-savvy you are.

Q2. You’ve settled into your hotel room and have a spare evening before work starts tomorrow. Do you:

B Use it as an excuse for an early lunch

A Watch a movie on Netflix

C Scream down the phone at IT and demand they sort it out immediately

B Play games on my phone

D Consult my handy trouble shooting guide and check IP address conflict; computer firewall malfunction; broadband router and access point

C Spend 45 minutes trying to work out how to switch the TV on, then give up and get an early night D Research some computer coding for fun

Q 4 . What’s your attitude to security…

Q 3 . Your password is: A My first pet’s name and a memorable date

A I back up files regularly

B The password is ‘password’

B I only think about it when there’s a problem

C Can’t remember – but it’s written on a stickie on my screen

C What do you mean? D I run automatic system checks

D A mix of numbers, capital letters, lower case letters and symbols that I change regularly

Q 5 . There’s talk of introducing a self-booking tool for the office travellers. Your reaction…

Q 6 . People are talking about a ‘virus’ in the office. Your immediate response…

A Sounds interesting. I’ll give it a go

A It’s a computer virus – I’ll wait for IT to tell us when it’s fixed

B Result! Self-booking means I’ll be able to choose my own hotel

B Use it as an excuse to tell the boss I feel ill, then go home eary

C Oh no! More technology to get to grips with

C I thought Sheila in sales was looking a bit poorly yesterday

D About time – I’ve been saying they should do this for years

D It sounds like that new UDoom trojan virus I’ve read about. I’ll research it on my phone and tell IT what they need to do

T o t up t h e s c o r e s …

TEC NEWH S

Technology scares me!

Mostly As

Mostly Bs

Mostly Cs

Plugged in and switched on

Tech savvy, but a little reckless

One word: Dinosaur

GEEK

Mostly Ds

Total tech geek

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V I L L AGE V O I C E S

Pa r ty time

Corporate Traveller staff including regional sales leader Gary James, head of sales Donna Crompton (picture 1) and general manager Andy Hegley (picture 2), welcomed clients to celebrate a successful 2017 and look forward to an even better 2018 at a party in London.

Guess wh o? Members of the Edinburgh team dressed up as famous people during a recent Buzz Night – where CT teams celebrate their internal achievements.

M a k ing a diff e rence Corporate Traveller is supporting the charity initiatives of its parent company’s Flight Centre Foundation. The foundation works with charity partners all over the world and Flight Centre Europe has chosen to sponsor Qhobosheane Primary School in Soweto, Johannesburg over a five-year partnership. The school has 430 pupils, ranging from four to 13 years of age, and 12 teachers, who work in a run-down building with leaky ceilings, broken windows and dangerous electrics. Many of the children are vulnerable or orphans. They don’t have regular food and often receive just one meal a day, which is provided by the school. There’s a lack of learning resources and no library to speak of. During winter, the barren classrooms are

cold and damp, with little protection from the elements. Flight Centre Travel Group’s staff are organising fundraising events such as the Three Peaks Challenge and climbing Kilimanjaro. Every pound raised will be matched pound-for-pound by Flight Centre Travel Group. UK charity partner Flight Centre Foundation also supports local charities and is continuing its support in 2018 for mental health charity, Mind. The charity works tirelessly to ensure that everyone experiencing a mental health problem gets both the support and respect they deserve. Mind received an overwhelming majority of votes from employees and, together, we have pledged to raise £200,000 over a two-year partnership.

Charity Single The staff at CT Gatwick used their love of singing to raise over £3,000 for Mind by recording a charity single with the help of some musician friends. Gatwick assistant team manager Nicolle Hope said: “We’re a very vocal office, always singing when the radio is on. The voices you hear on the track are all ours – however, some tactical editing may have been used to disguise the less beautiful voices!” The single, a medley of Christmas hits, was posted to YouTube in December and raised an amazing £1,580 for Mind, which was matched by Flight Centre Travel Group. Check out the team’s creation on the Corporate Traveller UK Facebook page.

Through Corporate Traveller’s regional UK hubs, clients have access to a team of local experts to ensure they get the most from their corporate spend. Each issue, we’ll bring readers a round-up of office news – and ask some of the team a travel-related question.

This issue, we ask:

“What are your top ice-breakers and networking tips?” Elysia Temple, client relationship manager, Newcastle upon Tyne ”My opening line would be: ‘Do you travel for business? Where was your last business destination?’ A classic ice-breaker, which I always ask, is: ‘If you were a biscuit, what would you be and why?’ Another one is: ‘If you won and all-expenses-paid trip to anywhere in the world, where would you go?’ ”

Edinburgh Glasgow

Darren Lang, senior manager, Gatwick “At networking events, I always try to arrive early and have a look at the attendee list, do a quick Google search and work out who I want to approach. Knowing what the business does can help with an in.

Newcastle

Leeds

Use eye contact and a cheeky smile. Always look interested and approachable. If you’re sat on your own with your arms crossed you have zero chance of engagement.

Hull

It’s always easy to speak to people at the buffet – grab the same food. Waiting at the bar is another opportunity to get talking to someone. Remember, everyone is there for the same reason!“

Manchester Liverpool

Phil Gardner team manager, Birmingham

Loughborough Birmingham

“At a network event, I’d say: ‘Hi, what are you looking to get out of today?’ I’d get them to talk about themselves: who they are and who they work for. If they don’t specifically have any travel needs, you never know who they know…“

Oxford Bristol

London

Woking Crawley

Clerkenwell Chancery Lane Vauxhall Wimbledon New Malden Waterloo

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